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Original poster

14 year old babysitting sibling ?

36 replies

Eighteight · 04/10/2024 20:38

My son is 14 ( he’s very responsible ) I’m just wondering if it’s an okay age to let him babysit his younger brother who is 7? Every weekend I have to drag my poor 7 year old along to his brothers football and rugby games at 8am and he hates going ! I would too at his age ( it’s cold , rainy and boring ) I’m already taking my baby as I’m a single parent to 4 kids ! Just thinking 2 hours tops on a sat and Sunday morning . Do you think he is too young for this responsibility? I don’t have anyone else to help me and it’s such hard work as it is . Would this be unfair on him ? Was thinking I could pay him 🤣🤔

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Eenameenadeeka · 06/10/2024 02:22

I think it's fine if he's happy and you pay him.

SwanRivers · 06/10/2024 00:18

NewName24 · 06/10/2024 00:13

When were you 12 @mondaytosunday ?

As this hasn't been normal in any of my many decades on the planet.

Edited
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Lol at 'many decades on the planet'. How dramatic 🤣

During my 5 and a half decades on the planet, I've noticed it's perfectly normal for some 12 year olds to be babysitting younger siblings and cousins etc.

NewName24 · 06/10/2024 00:13

mondaytosunday · 05/10/2024 17:47

Heck I was babysitting toddlers at night at 12 which was totally normal then.

When were you 12 @mondaytosunday ?

As this hasn't been normal in any of my many decades on the planet.

mondaytosunday · 05/10/2024 17:47

Heck I was babysitting toddlers at night at 12 which was totally normal then.

qualifiedazure · 05/10/2024 15:46

My 14 year old is very capable of looking after my 7 year old.

sharpclawedkitten · 05/10/2024 15:44

My ex-childminder runs a babysitting course, I think it largely involves first aid and other things. She runs it for 14 and above, so I think 14 is fine.

My son was babysat by a 13 year old a few times (13 going on 23 mind you and ended up being head girl at her school, not at all surprisingly).

Clumsy12345 · 05/10/2024 15:39

Yes I leave my 12 year old to babysit my 7 year old occasionally. He babysat her all day in an emergency when I had to take my other child to hospital lone parent and had no one else that could watch them so didn’t have much options as children weren’t allowed at the appointment it was fine.

oblada · 05/10/2024 15:39

My oldest daughter is 13 and occasionally watches over her younger siblings (7 and 4) during the day, I would have no problem doing that. Occasionally she is the one taking her brother football so I stay home or i take him and she watches the youngest. We are a family, we help each other. I do not pay her but she has pocket money, like the others do but proportionate to their age, and she is well looked after. Obviously if she is busy with her friends etc i just take the younger kids wherever i am going. Honestly we need to normalise helping each other out, especially in a family!

TotallyKerplunked · 05/10/2024 15:32

DS1 (13) looks after DS2 (6) for a few hours each week. No pay but he earns a late night and unlimited Xbox on a Friday. TBH he's very responsible and mature and has been doing it for over a year now.

Peonies12 · 05/10/2024 15:25

Totally fine - I used to get paid for babysitting strangers babies and toddlers when I was 14!

StressedQueen · 05/10/2024 15:21

It's fine if he's happy with it. My 15 year old twins would happily babysit their 6 and 9 year old sisters and they do it for a few hours without even thinking about it. We have never done it before but I reckon my 12 year old son would cope fine as well for a few hours. It does depend on how well behaved the child is likely to be and obviously it can't interfere with any other plans.

SaturdayMorningRun · 05/10/2024 10:44

At 8am on Saturday and Sunday? I think that is very unfair unless he gets up early at weekends.

Unless my kids needed to be up, they like to sleep in at weekends as they're up early during the week.

If you ask him, even if you offer to pay, he may feel obliged, so unless he is up early anyway, I wouldn't even ask. Your kids, your responsibility.

comedycentral · 05/10/2024 09:47

It's difficult for 14 year old to make a bit of cash these days - a bit of babysitting sounds great. There are no legal restrictions but you need to consider things like maturity and safety. I'd run though a safety plan with them, neighbours, calling you, police or ambulance service depending on the issue. Where keys are kept for different routes out of the house.

AgainandagainandagainSS · 05/10/2024 09:45

If he is sensible and this doesn’t get in the way of things he wants to do on a Saturday morning (activities, seeing friends etc) then this is fine.

TwinklyAmberOrca · 05/10/2024 09:44

I pay my nearly 14 year old to collect his 8 year old siblings from school then walk them home and babysit for 20 mins until I get home!

If a child is responsible, feels safe and happy doing it then that's fine.

Tourmalines · 05/10/2024 09:36

Of course he’s old enough . You are a family and he’s old enough to understand that families help each other. I don’t believe he should be paid .

StolenChanel · 05/10/2024 09:31

I wouldn’t even question it.

Makingchocolatecake · 05/10/2024 09:30

Depends on the 14yo and what your 7yo is like. My mum left me at 11 with my 9yo sister but our neighbour was next door we were super close with.

NewName24 · 04/10/2024 22:54

Nogoodusername · 04/10/2024 21:12

My 14 year old is in charge of her younger brother fairly frequently if they don’t want to walk the dog with me. However, she wouldn’t be awake at 8am on a Saturday or Sunday so that wouldn’t work!

This was my thinking too.

All of mine would have been absolutely fine doing this in the afternoon or evening, but two of them would not be keen on waking up at 8am on a Saturday to do it.

Cm19841 · 04/10/2024 21:34

No idea why you would pay your child to do this. It's just a meaningful contribution to the home within their capabilities. 2 hours, they are home anyway.

Original poster
Eighteight · 04/10/2024 21:15

Nogoodusername · 04/10/2024 21:12

My 14 year old is in charge of her younger brother fairly frequently if they don’t want to walk the dog with me. However, she wouldn’t be awake at 8am on a Saturday or Sunday so that wouldn’t work!

Haha that’s my thinking ! Not sure he would want to be up so early 🤣

OP posts:
Nogoodusername · 04/10/2024 21:12

My 14 year old is in charge of her younger brother fairly frequently if they don’t want to walk the dog with me. However, she wouldn’t be awake at 8am on a Saturday or Sunday so that wouldn’t work!

NuffSaidSam · 04/10/2024 21:10

I think asking him if he wants to is fine, I wouldn't insist that he does.

It's a good way for him to earn a bit of money and learn a bit of responsibility, it could be a win-win.

arethereanyleftatall · 04/10/2024 21:04

Also, i never paid my eldest when I left the two of mine at home, though I guess as the older she was 'in charge'. Never crossed my mind, it's just a chore you do for the house, same as stacking the dishwasher.

Original poster
Eighteight · 04/10/2024 21:04

leia24 · 04/10/2024 20:55

Mine is 14 and I'd trust her to do it absolutely as she is very sensible but I think I'd feel bad putting the responsibility on her. Unless I paid her. She's a kid too so she should get to spend her morning on Snapchat or asleep if she wants.

I know exactly what you mean 😉 that’s why I’m thinking if I pay him he might be happy too . I would never force him to do anything he didn’t want to just to benifit me of course 😊

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