Babysitter? Age 15.5 to watch 13 y/o and younger siblings

[HarrietHairbrush]

Think this is okay? We are very local and one of us is not drinking cos driving.

Yes that's fine

Is the 15 year old one of the siblings?

My 15 yo has watched siblings (3)since 14 when we were very local...

How long for? What time? Why can't the 13 year old look after the younger ones? Do you really expect your 13 year old to listen to someone 2.5 years older than them?

How old are the little ones and how many of them are there?

This seems totally fine.

And re Cherie's point, most 13-year-olds should be capable of managing their behaviour for a few hours to the point where the 15-year-old shouldn't have to be listened to. This sort of situation is really about having someone with a little more maturity to keep an eye out and ensure the younger ones are okay.

Depends on the 13 year old. I wouldn’t expect them to do what a 15 year old tells them to

There are three younger ones. 10 and 7
I have never left the 13 year old in charge of them all.
I am thinking that the 15 year old is there for the younger three. Not for the 13 year old

Are the four of them all siblings and do they get on?

If they’re siblings, please don’t do it.

I’m the oldest, big age gap, few siblings. I absolutely resented having to babysit them, unpaid and they played up all the time as I had no authority.

When I was 13 I used to babysit my 2 baby cousins over night about 3 times a week I realise times have changed massively but this seems fine to me.

I was always expected to babysit unpaid for siblings, it was a way of contributing to the household! It’s absolutely fine. My 13yr old sits for us (latest would be 8.30/9pm) and has 3 younger siblings.

No the 15 year old would be external and paid

No, the oldest sibling does not have to "contribute to the household". If as parents you choose to have more than one child, you pay for a babysitter rather than imposing on the oldest (which I bet only happens when the oldest is a girl, anyway).

Glad you are paying someone OP.

@HarrietHairbrush

No the 15 year old would be external and paid

So go for someone older than 15 I'd imagine it would be humiliating for a 13 year old to be "looked after" by a kid two years older.

So go for someone older than 15. I'd imagine it would be humiliating for a 13 year old to be "looked after" by a kid two years older.

It is. I speak as the 13 year old. My parents got a girl of this age to "babysit" me and younger siblings and I was mortified.

She was an utter bitch to me all through my later teens and repeatedly told people OMG I used to babysit her when she was about 14! It was humiliating all the way up to my early 20s to have her laughing and making catty remarks every time we went down the pub. We live in a small place where everyone knows everyone else.

Id give the 13 yr old a tenner to go to the cinema with her mates. And use the babysitter for the younger two.