to not want my little sister bsitting

[ElleAndBump]

To not want my 13 yr old sister to babysit my 3.5mth old baby, its my dads girl and acts too grown up for her age, and she has text me saying if i want to go out sat night she will bsit,,,,my dad and stepmum's got a laid back approach,so i dont want them to think im been uptight, how do i say no politely? ...or am i been unreasonable to not want her too, but i just think 13 is too young to look after a baby and i would be worrying constantly about my baby, it would be different if my dad was there as well but its just her on her own wanting to ...help me find a way of saying no with out looking ungrateful...

hmm well i started babysitting at 13!

but you know her and what she is like and if you aren't comfortable just say no thank you!

How about "I really appreciate your lovely offer but I am afraid it would be against the law to leave a baby with anyone under 16".

Just say you're knackered and having a nice cosy night in?

I babysat at 13 too, but not blooming 3 month old babies!

I can't say I would leave a 3.5 month old baby with a 13 year old girl. Well, I might, but only if I was 100% confident in the girl. And you're not.

It's your baby, your call. Just say no thanks!

Just say it's very kind but that you think 13 is too young to be looking after such a tiny baby. Tell her if he was older you'd let her, but he is still very little.

to be quite honest i wouldn't have left my 3.5 month old baby with anyone! so unless they know you have been out/are going out, just say you don't want to leave the baby

Babysitting small children at 13 - fine, particularly during the day.
Babysitting a 3.5 month baby at 13 - not fine at all. 3.5 month i still v young and it is not fair on a 13 yr old to leave her with that kind of responsibility.
YANBU

Just thought, you could ask her for a hand one sat aft - so she could play with baby in sitting room say, whilst you get on with housework or something? So baby's safe because you're in house, but she would still be helping you out? And she'll learn how to look after your baby, so in a few years, when both are bit older, you'll be confident.

FWIW, I started babysitting young (12) and I did look after a small baby regularly but in the day. His mum was in and out and my parents lived next door. I don't think even back then anyone would have been happy for me to sit for him alone for a few hours on a saturday night.

dont want them think im uptight, but ive only left her couple of times with my mum or my partners mum, i havent even left her with my dad yet let alone my sister

Why don't you want them to think you are "uptight"? It's your baby - who cares what they think? You're allowed to be uptight when it is your child you're thinking about!

It isn't against the law though TheProvincialLady.

I wouldn't my young baby with anyone I wasn't 100% happy and confident with, whether they were 13 or 30.

YANBU. Could you turn it round and say (lie) "it isn't you, it's baby. She/he is a bit of a grotbag at the moment. Maybe another time." I have used teething, hard to settle, reflux and god knows what else to put people off.

thanks pootles thats a good idea! as its my 1st baby like evryones saying i think shes still tiny and i dont like leaving her as it is

i started babysitting my 6 month old cousin at 13 although tbh, i probably shouldn't have been. he cried alot and i didn't know what to do, i got very stressed and spent most tiems just walking back and forward with him. with hindsight he was probably teething and i should have jsut phoned his mum and asked if i should give him calpol but at 13 i wasn't baby aware enough to know that.

YANBU i wouldn't let a 13 year old babysit now.

thanks saffy

No, it's not illegal but if anyone goes out, leaves their child(ren) with someone under the age of 16 and something goes wrong the parents can get into trouble for it.

OP YANBU

Yadnbu

thats what i was thinking of saying to my dad booyhoo,i dont think a 13yr old is baby aware to know wot to do if anything happened, i think if she was 14 aand my baby was a couple of years old and went to bed so she wasnt really doing much other than checking on her i would be more comfortable, glad im not the only one to think its a bit young to

A couple left me to babysit their 3 YO and baby of 6 weeks old when I was 14, I didn't have a clue

The baby cried and cried and I had to ring my mum in the end who said she was just too hot.

Looking back on it, I can't believe they asked me to, I said yes because I didn't know what I was letting myself in for or what looking after a baby entailed.

If you don't feel comfortable, don't let anyone pressure you.

Yes, by illegal I meant as in, if something happened whilst a 3 month old baby was in the care of a 13 year old, the parents would probably be prosecuted. Which amounts to the same thing.

Personally I wouldn't worry about anyone thinking I was precious. I would just say no thanks and not try and put on a show of being a cool mum. Hardly anyone wants to leave their small babies with anyone except maybe their mum or MIL for a short time and that is normal and fine. I don't know anyone who would leave their 3m with a 13 year old and if anyone tried to make out that you are silly or unreasonable for that then they are an arse.