Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Leaving a 9 year old for 2 hours

22 replies

PotPlantKiller · 12/11/2021 11:04

Would you leave a sensible 9 year old alone for approximately 2 hours?

I have an event booked tomorrow, it starts at 9am and lasts approximately 75 mins plus 30 mins travel time.

My teenager was going to look after DS however she has now been invited something which she would be leaving for between 9.30 and 10am

My other potential babysitters will be with me at the event so I literally have no other options other than miss the event which is non refundable or leave him home alone.

I know he would just sit and watch youtube and I would leave him with snacks but I have never really left him before. He will sit in the car whilst I go round the supermarket or alone while I go to the shop but the shop is visible from our house with no roads in-between.

He would have a mobile available but it is a 30 min drive.

OP posts:
Mumdiva99 · 12/11/2021 11:06

I wouldn't. I haven't left any of mine alone at 9. (Although my 9 nearly 10 year old does walk to and from school alone....so I may be being hypocritical....but that's really close and there are other parents walking the route.)

Theforest · 12/11/2021 11:07

Too young in my opinion. I think I would have to say teenager needs to stay at home considering that was the plan.

Triffid1 · 12/11/2021 11:10

You will be told on here it's too young. But by my calculations it isn't two hours - your teenager will be there until at least 9:30, if not a bit later. And you can be home before 11:00.

If your 9 year old is sensible and happy with it, then yes, I would. Having said that, you do need to check in with him because while DS can easily do that sort of time alone, and has since he was about t9, we started small - 5 minutes while I popped to our corner shop, 20 minutes while I dropped DD at a friend etc. Now he routinely is home alone while I take DD to her activity on a Saturday for about 90 minutes.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
chickensandbees · 12/11/2021 11:10

If you trust him and he is happy to be alone then I would be okay with it. I've left my DDs at similar ages. They just watch TV/tablets and eat food, often haven't moved from the sofa by the time I return.

Triffid1 · 12/11/2021 11:10

Oh, and do you have good relationships with neighbours because DS also knows that in an emergency he can run out the house and bang on the door of pretty much anyone on the street. Which is helpful for him.

TurnUpTurnip · 12/11/2021 11:11

I think it’s too young to leave for 2 hours, plus what if you was delayed for some reason? Surely the teenager can understand they were suppose to be babysitting so have to give whatever they are doing a miss?

Sprig1 · 12/11/2021 11:11

No. He is not old enough to be able to make safe choices in an emergency. It's not likely to happen but you can't risk it.

Viviennemary · 12/11/2021 11:14

Absolutely not.

MrsFoxyplease · 12/11/2021 11:15

I'd say 9 is too young.
For example- I know it's unlikely but what if he choked on those snacks?- it does happen.

GoodnightGrandma · 12/11/2021 11:17

No, I wouldn’t.

bebanjo · 12/11/2021 11:25

At 9 years old they will be fine.
They will watch tv, YouTube or play video games and won’t even notice your gone.
If you are worried that your child does not know what to do in emergencies, tell them.
If the house was to catch fire, get out.
If the house floods, get out.
Give them snakes and make sure there phone is changed up.

Lovelydovey · 12/11/2021 11:26

Nope. I occasionally leave my 9 year old for short periods of time when I pop to the letterbox or cash point (

Alicetheowl · 12/11/2021 11:27

But choking is normally quite silent, isn't it? It's not as if a 9 yo would have somebody necessarily in the same room watching him eat.

Crunchymum · 12/11/2021 11:29

I have the world's most sensible and risk averse 9yo (albeit literally just turned 9 so Y4) and I wouldn't. Especially as you've never left him. 2 hours and knowing you are half an hour away is just too much.

Lockdownbear · 12/11/2021 11:30

It starts at 9am, finishes 10.15. + 30 travel home for 10.45
Teen going out between 9.30 and 10.00

So really it's one hour the kid's home alone. I think they'll be fine, esp in the morning

Yourstupidityexhaustsme · 12/11/2021 11:31

It’s not two full hours though!

Your daughter will be there until ten and you can be back for eleven, so really that’s only an hour?

DialsMavis · 12/11/2021 11:32

Don't give them snakes Grin
If teenager agreed to look after DS then they need to stick to that promise

Yourstupidityexhaustsme · 12/11/2021 11:33

Make sure you make him breakfast before you go and leave him lunch in the fridge/snacks on the side and you’ll be golden.

Switch off the kettle and toaster and triple bolt the back door and I’d say go!

cheeseismydownfall · 12/11/2021 11:43

I left our youngest DS (9) alone for around 1.5 for the first time this week, when both his older siblings have extra curriculars (DH goes with one, I go with the other, and I really do not want to drag DS along because he is busy himself on other nights and desperately wants to chill at home).

My ground rules were no eating or food preparation of any kind, don't answer the door (very unlikely to happen) and if anything unexpected happened that he couldn't handle to go to pub next door (quiet country village where we know the landlord well). He also has a device with WhatsApp on it and knows how to contact us. I explained he was free to relax and watch TV/play on the xbox.

As it turned out, he absolutely loved the feeling of having the house to himself and is already counting down the days to the same evening next week!

AndTime · 12/11/2021 11:48

I know deep down that he would be fine but my sisters friend is going to watch him (she will be watching my sisters kids so he will just tag along)

I think if I have to ask, I would just be worried the whole time so I am glad my sister came up with this solution.

I do honestly think he would cope fine but if I crashed on the motorway or broke down (unlikely but it happens) it could potentially be longer. If we weren't travelling so far I would feel more comfortable.

Original poster
PotPlantKiller · 12/11/2021 11:50

@AndTime

I know deep down that he would be fine but my sisters friend is going to watch him (she will be watching my sisters kids so he will just tag along)

I think if I have to ask, I would just be worried the whole time so I am glad my sister came up with this solution.

I do honestly think he would cope fine but if I crashed on the motorway or broke down (unlikely but it happens) it could potentially be longer. If we weren't travelling so far I would feel more comfortable.

Name change fail there! I didn't want it linked to my usual account in case everyone jumped on me for even thinking of it!

We do have a snake actually, maybe giving snakes is a good idea.

OP posts:
makelovenotpetrol · 12/11/2021 13:10

No chance. I can't believe you're even considering it!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread