15 year old babysitting 16 month old?

[BogeysOnMyShoulders]

So we have been invited to an Xmas party this evening at a soft play centre about 15 mins max. drive away from 6.30-8.30pm. DH will not be back from work.

I was intending to take all 3 DS's including my 16 month old DS3. DD (the 15 yr old) understandably does not want to come. DS3 is a bit snotty and miserable today (no temp) and is usually in bed at around 6pm so will be miserable being kept up anyway.

I am now thinking of putting him to bed and then going with the other DS's who are desperate to go (otherwise I would not bother going at all).

DD will have instructions not to take DS3 out of his cot if he wakes up (which he sometimes does and usually goes back down with a pat and dummy reinserted). If he does not go back down, she can call me and I will come straight back.

I know this was OK years ago because my older sisters and myself would babysit our younger siblings all the time (I can remember taking my 6 week old nephew out in his pram into town when I was no more than 13) and I used to babysit strangers DCs from the age of 14. Still need reassurance though!

WWYD and AIBU?

YANBU- there are plenty of 15 year-olds with babies of their own to look after!

I leave my 13 year old looking after my 15 month old for a little while when she is asleep - if we need to pop out in the evening for a bit to get shopping or something like that, my parents live nearby, he knows what to do if anything happens, we tell him to keep his phone next to him so he can call if he needs us.
Its good for them to you know you trust them.
Your daughter will love doing it.

I used to babysit for children from 6 weeks to 6 years at this age. I think it's fine if you trust your dd to be sensible (there are some 25 year olds I would not let babysit, and some 13 year olds I would, iyswim). yanbu

Yes of course it's fine. Go and have fun :)

I pay a local 15 year old to babysit my 17 month old. I've never questioned it till now.

With a sibling if she's responsible and he isn't too ill, she can apply common sense, follow instructions, will call if needed and has backup, then yes

I wouldn't use a 15yo babysitter babysitter (as in a unrelated possibly not very motivated teen).