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Original poster

Would you leave a 13 year old in charge of a three year old (who'll be asleep)?

18 replies

PuppyMonkey · 12/02/2010 09:41

DP and I have been invited to a 40th birthday party at a pub just up the road from our house next Saturday. It'll be an 8pm to 11pm kind of thing, some older kids there etc. Nothing raucous (apart from some karaoke apparently).

We've got a sensible-ish 13 year old DD and a three year old DD, who goes to bed at 7pm. The question quite simpy is would you go to this party for a couple of hours and leave the 13-year-old in charge of the sleeping little one? Me and DP would be about ten minutes walk away and contactable by mobile. Is it illegal anyway? Is it quite normal to do this??? I can't decide!!! Aaagh

Don't flame me, I'm not definitely going to do this - I just wondered is it a very terrible thing to do or not too bad?

OP posts:
sarah293 · 12/02/2010 09:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BitOfFun · 12/02/2010 09:46

Yes. If you take a phone.

ilove · 12/02/2010 09:47

Yes, would and have

BitOfFun · 12/02/2010 09:49

I do this, btw. I never go more than walking distance away and always have my mobile, but I think it's quite acceptable. It's not like it's a random 13 year old- it's their brother/sister that they are comfortable with if they wake up and cry, and can be comforted until you are called back. I wouldn't expect a 13 year old to hold the fort for hours while I went to the next town or anything, but local is fine, IMO.

castille · 12/02/2010 09:50

I have left 3yo DS asleep in 12yo DD's care, and would again. Provided they can be trusted to call if LO wakes and know what to do in an emergency, it's fine IMO.

Original poster
PuppyMonkey · 12/02/2010 09:50

OOh, ooh really?

OP posts:
bb99 · 12/02/2010 09:57

I have done this and I used to baby sit my cousins at that age (and get paid, LOL).

We just don't go very far away, but walking distance, mobile phne (on vibrate, so you can pick up), no probs.

Have a good night out

FoofFighter · 12/02/2010 10:00

Yes enjoy your night out

abride · 12/02/2010 10:01

You know your children. If you think it's all right, it is.

Fimblehobbs · 12/02/2010 10:03

Sounds fine to me. I'd just make sure 13 year old knows fire escape plan. (Although to be fair I did loads of teenage babysitting and no one ever mentioned fire escape plans to me. So maybe I am a little OTT.)

MmeLindt · 12/02/2010 10:05

Fimble
Fire escape plan? Even I don't know the fire escape plan. Should I have one?

PuppyMonkey
Yes, I would say that sounds fine.

Original poster
PuppyMonkey · 12/02/2010 10:19

Right, will have to devise a fire escape plan now!!! Good point. The next door neighbours either side are really good too, so DD1 would know to get one of them if there is some dire emergency. Fortunately, she's not the sort to go cooking chips or putting the oven on. She will just sit reading or on The Sims on her computer all night. Or we'll probably get her a DVD in.

OP posts:
BlauerEngel · 12/02/2010 10:37

I don't see any problem at all. Parents these days are so much more responsible and cautious than 30 years ago (if occasionally overcautious). I remember babysitting two toddlers from next door when I was 14, I had no telephone number for the parents at all. One of the kids banged her head (asleep in bed somehow!) and wouldn't stop crying. Luckily my mum was next door and I went and got her, but we had no way of contacting the parents. It was lucky the kid wasn't concussed. My point being, it wasn't dangerous for me to be with the kids alone (the accident would have happened whoever had been there), but it was a bad idea that the parents were out of touch, IMO that is the most important factor. I think it's great you're prepared to show that you trust your DDs this much.

FWIW, my 11 yo 'babysits' the 7yo with no problems. They love the occasional independence it gives them.

Coldhands · 14/03/2010 22:25

When I was 13 I was babysitting my 8 yo sister and 2 brothers who were 3 and 4. No mobiles and step mum was not in walking distance. Don't remember a number to get in touch either so I think you will be fine.

harecare · 16/03/2010 13:42

Surprisingly there is no law about the age a child can babysit/be left alone. We used to think it was 13 and I know I babysat for siblings at this age and then got paid as a regular sitter for a family 3 miles from my home at 14.
Just make sure they know normal safety rules.

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 17/03/2010 08:00

I would have no problem withthis at all, and used to leave my used to leave my DD1 to babysit for the other 3 when they were all little and she was 13

BTW any one can contact the local fire service and ask for a free home fire safety check.They have visited here, installed free long life smoke detectors and talked about an escape plan.

You should be able to find the number in the phone book , obviously not 999

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 17/03/2010 08:01

I would have no problem withthis at all, and used to leave my used to leave my DD1 to babysit for the other 3 when they were all little and she was 13

BTW any one can contact the local fire service and ask for a free home fire safety check.They have visited here, installed free long life smoke detectors and talked about an escape plan.

You should be able to find the number in the phone book , obviously not 999

nickschick · 17/03/2010 08:07

I am 35 and whilst chatting to one of my mums friends a while ago I realised something shocking ......she was saying something about her son and I realised I was 7 years older than him......whats shocking?

The fact I used to babysit him from being just a few months old!!!!

Apparently I was a very good babysitter .

She didnt seem phased by it at all.

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