What age for looking after sibling overnight?

[ineedtostopbeingsolazy]

Ds is 12 and quite mature. Dds are 19 and 18 both mature, both drive and have cars.
Is this acceptable to leave the older ones in charge of younger one overnight?

Absolutely. I had my 12 yo DS come stay with me when I was at Uni. And I'd have happily left mine aged 18/19 with their youngest sibling.

If all concerned are sensible, get on, and are happy with it, why not?

Yes, I'd say over 18 perfectly reasonable to be responsible for younger. As long as they are themselves responsible people, that is!

Thanks. Dh says it would be fine as they're adults and I know they should be fine but there's some doubt of how it would be seen and if it's against the law. The law is quite vague.

Well my mum had me at 19, so like her your dc are more than capable of a bit of childcare!

Also..just one night or longer? We're thinking of going away for the weekend too at some point but not sure if one night is ok but longer isn't.

I think if they are legally adults, then the law would have nothing further to add!

I wouldn’t give this a second thought, providing the older kids were sensible. They could have kids of their own at that age!

Your DDs are legal adults. As long as they are happy to help and you've gone through ground rules/what to do in case of xyz I can't see any issues.
Enjoy your weekend away!

If they are all happy then it's fine to do it for several nights. At 19 I looked after my sister age 13 for about 5 days, including taking her to school (poor public transport). It was fine.

Definitely ok, I thought you were wondering when the 12 year old would be old enough to look after younger siblings as I scanned the first sentence. Obviously an 18 and a 19 year old (two adults) are old enough to look after a 12 year old as long as he doesn't have challenging behavioural problems or similar drip feed! As long as they actually want to that is...

Of course. They are adults, why wouldn't you leave your 12 year old with 2 sensible adults!

Don't worry about it and enjoy your time away.

Coming from someone who also had a child at age 19.

They're adults, how could it be against the law?

I know they're adults and obviously I leave ds with them through the day or evening when we go out, and ds stays at home himself during the day and gets the bus to school etc. It just seems different when its overnight or for a few days.
No behavioural issues with ds. One Dd is on medication (mood stabiliser) but is stable and ok.

And age wise they're adults and they are mature and sensible for their ages but really they're not adults in the slightest

So long as they older ones are actually on board and happy to do it then it seems absolutely fine. If they older ones are reluctant and having to do it against their wishes then I’d be concerned.

Like others have touched upon, my parent had me when they were 19 and 20, and were capable of looking after a newborn, never mind a 12 year old.

It’s a bit sad that you have to ask this question. There was a time when there would have been no doubt that a healthy 18/19 yo would be responsible enough to look after their much younger sibling.

I'd say that's absolutely fine. We left an 18 & 19 year old looking after a younger one for the first time a few years ago & it was fine. We enjoyed a weekend away & the DC enjoyed themselves too. They all get on well, which helps.

Dds are very good with him they'd have no problem looking after him, he doesn't take much looking after just a bit of food occasionally!

And yes I agree I shouldn't be thinking like this given the ages of the dc but nowadays I'm just not sure if I'd be done for neglect or something!

Another here that thinks it's a bit sad you have to ask this question.
What's gone wrong with the 18/19 year olds? (Unless them have additional needs of course).

Which, I should add, is a good thing to make sure children are safe. However I might know it's a safe environment to be left in but the maw may think differently.