Would you leave a 2 year old with older siblings for hours?

As long as the 16 year old is sensible and happy to do it, and you offer him/her some incentive to do it and you're not encroaching on any activities or homework they need to do, it's fine. Most 16 year old baby sit other children.

Are you ok? They are 16!!! What wet wipes are we bringing up if a 16 y.o doesn't know what to do in an emergency. In the times of constant communication via mobile phones etc, what is the problem?

No I wouldn’t. I had a child at 16 too, but they don’t become 2 overnight. Depends if you trust the 16yr old to properly watch the toddler. For an emergency yes, 3-4hrs at the gym? No.

I think it would be fine once the 16 year old is sensible.

yes of course a reasonable 15 or 16yo can take care of a 2yo for a few hours.

But also I don't see you going to that gym too often if it's a 4 hour trip. If there's nothing closer then consider investing in home equipment.

If your 16 year old is responsible and willing and ideally has someone nearby that they can call in an emergency then I think it’s fine. I babysat overnight for a newborn at that age (I had much younger siblings so was experienced and my parent was only 5 minutes away)

Some of these comments are wild. You can leave school at 15, be in full time employment at 16, move out at 16, but oh god, no. A few hours babysitting is too much. They are 16, not bloody 6. Of course it's ok.

3-4 hours to attend a gym is ridiculous regardless of the childcare situation .., how is this sustainable?

There is such a thing called a taxi

Don’t be ridiculous … they are 16 and no doubt have a phone! A 16 year old could be a parent!

I think it depends on the person rather than the age. At 16 anyway, they could have their own child by 16, but there are 35 year old that shouldn’t be left in charge of a toddler.

I do think the 16 year old needs to be happy to do it and should be paid though. Maybe not NMW or anything. But it’s not his responsibility and he’s old enough for a part-time job, but not so old that he should be expected to contribute significantly to the household / pay rent and board (18/19)

Babysitters choose to be babysitters, older siblings don’t,
A few hours when little ones are asleep in bed at night would be better than this. Also put the youngest in nursery then you can gym somewhere in the day

Yes 16yo have babies by then some are having their third

Does not mean the op has decided to have one and wants to use the 2 year as baby practice so is it relevant?

At 16 I was babysitting children than age quite often, so as long as they’re responsible and willing to I’d say yes BUT I would offer money so it was seen as a job. I felt quite taken advantage of by family as I’d miss out on things with my friends because I had to look after the younger ones. If I was being offered money I think I’d have probably been less bothered. I do think you’d need to say no friends allowed over in that time though.

I babysat most of the neighbours’ babies and toddlers and children from the age of 16. But minding siblings is completely different. It’s a no from me.

You are using buses so can’t get home quickly if the eldest called you with an emergency so for that reason I say no

Of course the big ones are capable of it (assuming they’re reasonably sensible), but do they want to? It’s actually quite a big chunk of time, every week.

Sure if one of the older two are prepared to take charge of the two year old. I was babysitting at 12 at night.

No. 16 year olds mostly cannot realise how much watching 2 year olds need.

The height of stupidity and downright selfishness to even consider it.

Amazing how people will defend two 16yo having sex on here as if it’s their right, yet can’t be trusted to look after a baby - you know the thing that’s created by them old enough to have sex 🤣

I think this is a good insight into the difference between a 16 year old looking after a younger sibling for 3-4 hours, ( presumably during the day,not when they are asleep in bed) and a parent who's watchfulness and automatic risk assessing is ingrained. They would probably be fine.... But I don't think I would be able to relax. An hour or so maybe, but a 2 year old' behaviour could get very tedious very quickly, and they need nearly constant supervision.

I would ask the the two older ones to babysit and also give them payment for it which you would if it was another teen babysitting

No, although I know 16 year olds are having their own babies now, I don’t believe they should be help responsible for their siblings. They don’t have the ability to assess safety like we do, I don’t even think a lot of non parents in their 20’s do, when it’s your child you spot hazards/risks immediately. Also if something did happen it’s not fair on them.

In an emergency yes of course, but not for the gym. As the parent you need to figure out childcare and not defer your responsibility to your child.

The 16 year old could occasionally babysit the 2 year old alone for a couple of hours but its not fair to also be responsible for another 2 children.