To leave 13yo to babysit 2yo?

[Memoo]

I need to go to the ooh GP but am unable to drive. 2yo dd2 is asleep and 13yo dd1 who is very very sensible and really good at handling dd2 is willing to babysit whilst dh drives me there

There is usually quite a wait so dh will come back home and then come back to pick me up when I'm done so leave dd1 to babysit for another 15 minutes.

This is dh's plan. I, on the other hand, am a bit nervous about doing it.

The alternative is we wake dd2 and take her with us where she will no doubt have a melt down because she's knackered.

If she is sensible and will follow the instruction not to try to bath her, just sit playing with toys etc, then it will be fine.

You know your own DD. Make sure she has a contact phone number for you for an emergency and i would also let a friendly neighbour know too.

Is DD2 a good, solid sleeper, is she likely to wake up or will she sleep through?

If you think she'll sleep through then it sounds fine. Is there a neighbour (a trusty adult) who DD1 could turn to should she need any help?

I've got a 2 YO and an 11 YO and I think a 13 YO would be fine with such a small amount of time (two 15 min slots, is that right?)

I wouldn't leave my 11 YO with her, but two years is loads.

Hope you're OK

Two 15 mins slots while dd2 is asleep, is that right?

That sounds like a breeze. Don't worry, it'll be fine.

Should be fine :-)

So you are leaving a sleeping 2 year old with a sensible 13 year old for 2 separate 15 minute stretches? I think that would be fine. I'd perhaps provide a backup plan of "if DH is not back within 15 minute and doesn't ring to tell her why that she must ring "

It depends on the 13-year-old. Some will be fine, some will be years off the maturity to cope with babysitting a very young child.

Only you can know.

If you're not sure, could you get a taxi?

I agree that you could enlist a neighbour to be on hand, and your DH could always dash back if needed. Hope your appointment goes well

That's right 2x 15 minute time slots.

Dd has a mobile so could contact us plus there are a number of neighbours she could call on.

I'm fine :) just got a raging ear infection and my balance is all over the place. plus it really hurts and I'm mard arse.

I would

I'd do it.

Sounds ok to me. My dd is a sensible 13 yr old and would manage that fine.

Make sure she has phone numbers and knows who to go to if there's a problem (ie nice neighbour).

Sounds ok to me if 13 year old is sensible, confident about doing it and she can call on someone if there's a problem and she needs help.

I left my now 3 year old with her older siblings, now 12 and 13 without qualm, many times. It depends on your individual teenager. I can think of plenty that I wouldn't leave her with but also many that I would.

Providing she has a neighbour to call on and its only 2 x 15mins then I would say thats fine.

Its not something I would normally do but in this circumstance and for such short amounts of time I would do it making sure she had contacts etc

Yup - if the 13 yo is a sensible one - and they obviously are or your DH wouldn't consider it - then go. Get well soon!

Thank you all. We're off now

I had a ear infection a few years ago and remember the pain like it was yesterday. It was terrible.

You need to get it sorted out to be able to look after the children properly, it could get very nasty if you don't get to the doctors.

YANBU to leave your DD for a little while.

My 13 year old (who has been driving me insane this evening ) would be perfectly capable of looking after a 1 year old in an emergency for a short while, especially as others have said with instructions about calling on neighbours etc if needed.

I would write all instructions down as you would know already they don't really listen well.
I hope you feel better soon.

I wounldn't leave me 2.5 year old with my 13 year olds. She runs rings around them with her excellent evil ways.

Was shocked that here in Canada, 13 YO babysitters are considered the norm. In fact, the other day I dropped off my 2 DCs at my friends house as they had a babysitter for all 5 of the kids for us, only to find the babysitter was 13! . I made sure the girl was on speed dial and couldn't relax at all.

Over here, babysitters have to take a first aid course and babysitting course. Perhaps in future your 13 yo could do something like that so that your mind is at rest?

For an ear infection put some drops of lavender oil onto a hot flannel, and lower your ear to the flannel so the steam rises up. Surprisingly effective, it stopped me from sobbing and rolling around in agony one night, just when I thought nothing would fix it

Maristella that sounds excellent advice, there is nothing worse than earache and I actually cried more with my last ear infection than I did in labour!!!

Hope you're on the mend :)
I wouldn't do this as standard, but for a couple of short periods, when it's an emergency (and your DD knows this too - teenagers tend to step up when they're actually needed to) and if your DH seems to think it's OK then it's fine.