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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 🤣🤔

OP posts:
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.

Original poster
Eighteight · 04/10/2024 20:50

Londonrach1 · 04/10/2024 20:40

Would a neighbour near by know and how does your 14 year old feel about this....

Thanks ! Yes my neighbour doesn’t go anywhere and she would always be on call if needed so I thought of that in case . My son wouldn’t mind if I paid him I just don’t want to be seen as irresponsible. I’m just wondering if this is the norm ? I’m the youngest of three and I never had a babysitter growing up and I don’t remember what age my brothers were watching me as they were a lot older than me 🤔

OP posts:
BlueMum16 · 04/10/2024 20:44

Would the 7 year old behave/donas they're told or would they play up?

Try it one week and see how it goes.

HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 04/10/2024 20:44

I think that's fine. My 7yo can get herself a drink, some cereal and would happily colour, draw, watch screens for the rest of the time on a Saturday morning. Assuming they get on well enough that they won't spend the whole time arguing, I think that's fine.

MumChp · 04/10/2024 20:42

Of course a 14 yo can look after a 7 yo for a couple of hours.

DNAwrangler · 04/10/2024 20:41

Why wouldn’t it be ok?

Allybob88 · 04/10/2024 20:41

I know many 14 year olds who pick up younger siblings from primary school and care for them until parents finish work, not much difference in amount of time.
Guessing 14 year old has a mobile to alert you to any emergency?

Todaywasbetter · 04/10/2024 20:41

You know your son best. I suppose you could think how would he behave if there was an emergency? Would he know what to do? I used to babysit at 14 and never thought anything of it

BarbaraHoward · 04/10/2024 20:40

Sounds absolutely fine to me as long as he's happy to do it.

Disclaimer that my DC are younger so I'm not in touch with current norms but sure at 14 we were all babysitting for the neighbours.

arethereanyleftatall · 04/10/2024 20:40

Of course it's fine. My dds have both been babysitting our neighbours kids (4&6) since they were 13.

Londonrach1 · 04/10/2024 20:40

Would a neighbour near by know and how does your 14 year old feel about this....