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

It sounds fine to me as long as the older ones are fairly sensible.

Surely there’s a closer gym? Or one with a crèche?

If you've already got a bar you can look to buy more weights second and - I recently bought some assorted weights adding to 90kg and a bar for £50! Also look at adjustable dumbbells for home workouts.

At 16 I had been babysitting for years.

For your own kids, if the 16 and 15yo are responsible enough and could get hold of someone who could come quickly in an emergency, yes. I would.

it’s not different to paying a teenager to babysit expect you are asking a sibling instead.

as you’re relying on public transport, you do need to make sure someone could get to them quickly if they called for help though.

No. I don't think your 16yo should be responsible for your three other children.

I'm always baffled by where people live on MN. There's 4 gyms I could walk to within 15 minutes of my house and I live in a pretty average town.

Would your 16 year old be willing to baby sit and are you willing to pay her? Has she looked after then younger ones before?
Are the younger ones likely to listen to the 16 year old or argue with her?
I think it's ok for a 16 year old to babysit but it can be more difficult for siblings as they have a different relationship.

Definitely not!

I don’t either in fact most of the parents I know only use adult family members not even adult registered baby sitters.

I think if your 16 year old is genuinely happy to baby sit and you’d pay them, then sure.

However gym once a week isn’t likely to help you much since you already do 30kgs at home.

I always see this on MN but I don't know anyone IRL who would hire a 14-16 year old to babysit their toddler.

On balance, I think you’re being unreasonable.

Teenagers are inherently self-interested. It isn’t just a 16-year old looking after a toddler, there are 2 other kids there that change the dynamic and could be a distraction.

You can’t get back quickly in an emergency, nor can the 16-year quickly get the toddler or other kids help if they need it.

Also, it’s just for the gym and it’s for an extended time.

IMO a gym workout isn’t worth the risk involved.

Depends on the children. I was looking after 2 year olds for longer periods than that at 14. At 16 I was working in a nursery. I know people who became parents at 16, so based on age alone, it's absolutely fine. You will know your DC best and what they will manage.

What does your 16 year old say about ur, are they responsible, what if their friend popped in or they got engrossed in TV.
Yes my DD was babysitting at 14 but when kids were asleep or ready for bed at least. We also did the same, but in both cases parents were local.
3-4 hours is a long time for someone not used to sole charge so if build up the responsibility.

No, not for that time, and not for a non essential thing such as a gym.

4 hours is too long imo. And you’d be too far away in an emergency. Join a gym with a crèche and bring 2 year old with you.
Or make a home gym if you can. My 3rd child is two, I go for little runs with him in the running buggy during his nap time when I can. Or home workouts when he’s asleep

Is there really nowhere closer than that?? Or one that has a crèche?

Can you find a closer gym?!

Why this gym?

must be closer ones than
an hours bus each way

But it's not just a 2 year old.
There are 2 other children in the mix too. The 11 year old is toddlers favourite, so the 16 year old will have to monitor their interaction which is another skill set altogether. And there's a 15 year old there too.
Teens/tweens don't always take kindly to being put under the responsibility of another sibling close in age.
Edited to say, I realise you have acknowledged the 11 year old too. Sorry

I’m afraid I do think that’s sexiest. A different personality, fine. The fact of being a girl/ boy, not fine.

It plays into the mentality that puts responsibilities- unfair responsibilities- on girls from an early age, and infantilises boys by expecting them to be incapable, and giving them free passes to be selfish (not in this case but in other cases).

I would start by giving him little bits of responsibility and working up - start with a few mins whilst you’re bust in the house, then whilst you nip to the shop or similar, then trips to the park. Could be really good for them both!

You son could have the makings of a great partner when he’s older if he is allowed to take some responsibility now (albeit in a gradual way) or it could open up ideas of career paths that he might not have thought of - “oh maybe I could be a primary school teacher” or whatever.

When I first left my eldest to look after my youngest (paid - there’s a 5 ye gap and I first went out briefly when eldest was 15) I made sure I have the means of getting back very easily and quickly.

It’s a big ask of kids though, and I would never do it regularly.

I think in essence you’re surely asking “is the 16 yo old enough to be paid to babysit a 2 yo”. Or the 15 and 16 yos together but of course that makes it more complicated, not having one person in charge.

I think it’s better to frame it that way - and pay! - because it confers a definite responsibility on the eldest one(s). They’re not just being “left at home with them” the eldest are doing a job.

And tbh they are babysitting the 11 yo too, the 11 yo isn’t one of the babysitters as they’re too young to be left alone for any real length of time. So the eldest have that responsibility too.

It'd be too far away for me to feel comfortable, if it takes over an hour to get back and you're looking at 2 buses.

I think that’s a big ask with an unclear benefit. I really, really hated babysitting so I pay my daughter if I ask her to watch my son.

I might be missing something, but wouldn't it be easier to find a closer gym?