Babysitting

[Sleepymummie]

Hi quick question.. I have an appointment at the job centre tomorrow (ive been given 8 since my baby was born this is the first one I'm probably going to manage)
I'm a single mum with an almost 14 yr old.
He's currently on skool hols and don't want to drag a baby and a teenager down to the jobcentre for an income support meeting..
My question is as my eldest is an amazing big brother and very mature Could i leave him to babysit while i attend the job centre??? I dont think I'd be gone long enough that he's even going to have to change a nappyand would be fed just before I'd need to leave. I know i can trust my older son but am anxious about leaving my baby as my son would be devastated if anything happened while i was out or something upset his little brother while i was gone...he is teething and gets a bit grumpy at some stage during the day.
Does anyone have any words of advice.. All i can think is saying to the lady at the jobcentre is that i have a teenager babysitting and i promised to be back within the hour..
Any help or reassurance would be greatly appreciated.

How old is baby? You say teething but that's a big range. How mobile, how much feeding/changing needed etc?

Could you all go in, and teenager push the pram round the shops while you're at the appointment? Likely to be more interesting for them both but also he'd have lots of adults to call upon in an emergency (shop staff, not total strangers) and would be apart for less time. Or could they wait together in the waiting room together?

You know your 14yo far better than we ever could. Some are capable of babysitting babies for hours on end; some can barely be trusted to look after themselves.

I would'nt. If the baby choked or banged his head your 14 year wouldn't be able to cope and would be traumatised. Take the baby with you, its totally normal to do that.

I think we should all go but theres a very long story as to why i dont want to be in the area of the "local" jobcentre and certainly dont want my baby anywhere near there.
My baby is 8 and a half months old and usually quite routined (except when his gums are playing up) my older son has watched him briefly while i have ran down to the shops but only for 20mins on 3 seperate occasions and when hes asleep ive managed to nip in for a much needed shower knowing big brother is on hand if he wakes up.
Leaving him for an hour though seems like a lifetime to me! His auntie once babysat for 2 hrs while i took my eldest school uniform shopping and i almost had a panic attack lol.
I like the shops idea.. Stroll round the toy section of the supermarket and it would only be half the time away..plenty of adults. That's perfect we can even get some groceries on the way back :D
I once saw a 5or6 year old pushing a pram and thought that was irresponsible of the mother but a teenager strolling round a shop to kill time and keep safe isnt sooo horrid i spose. And at least my eldest wouldnt need to worry about him wanting to be mobile or chew on anything as he loves being in his stroller just looking at everything
Thank you for your replys Hopefully i can say to the jobcentre that i still need to get away quickly and that'll be the end of that til he turns one.
Thanks again