to think that a 15 year old is too young to look after a 6 year old...

[LucieMay]

... at night time? My niece is leaving school soon, nearly 16. She wants to make some babysitting money and is nagging me to let her look after my six year old DS at night this Friday (I'd arranged to go out but can't find a babysitter in the family). I personally think she's too young to babysit him, particularly at night. She's never looked after him on her own before. AIBU?

YABU. Presumably you will leave contact details and tell her in an emergency to call 999 (there won't of course be one). Why do you think she is too young?

Most 15 y'olds, YABU, no problem.
YANBU if you don't want someone you don't trust babysitting though.

Me and my twin sister used to babysit for family friends when we were 15. Their daughter was 3 and was always already in bed and the parents were down the road at the pub quiz. We just used to watch tv until they got home and were told to ring the parents/pub if she woke up or anything happened.

I would lay the law down to her about having visitors to your house,and remind her that she will be there working and that is what you will be paying her for.
Other than that...I see no problem. I used to babysit my mum's boss's sons when I was 14 , and they were 6 and 9.

YABU. Our ds did lots of babysitting at 15, ranging from 3 year olds up to 10 yr olds.

YABU my 13 year old often holds the reins and if she out my 12 year old does for a bit. I mean she is nearly 16 wha would she not be able to handle?

What Seeker said.

I babysat a 2 and 4yo from 14 and have been happy to leave my DC with a 16yo.

If you are worried about it, why don't you give her a try - talk to her about your concerns re trust and put your rules firmly in place. If she abuses your trust, then game over.

I'd say your niece has already blown it by having boys over - and by nagging you she's still showing a lack of respect. You pay a babysitter so you can have a nice time - doesn't sound like you would.

Don't do it - nothing to do with age. You clearly don't trust her. The boys thing would have blown it for me too.

Yabu. It depends on the maturity of the young person and if the child had SN it would be more difficult for a very young person to look after them

she is nearly 16 like many others i was baby sitting at 15 and left school at 16 and looked after my gasp 4 yr old sister while my mum worked did the nursery run fed her etc etc , till my mum got home , dont be precious honestly she will manage , some girls have babies at 16

YABU, I looked after a 5,3, 18 mth old at 14 every Saturday night. I was pretty mature and had a job as well as being at school but I would say 13 or over is probably ok if they are indoors and the child is relatively independant (6 IMO should be fine).

I guess it depends on the 15 year old though and whether they are trustworthy (and are able to use a telephone in an emergency!)

Babysitting at night is easier than babysitting during the day, so YAB totally U to say "especially at night".

Sorry just seen your posts, not that trustworthy so YANBU and you shouldn't let her based on that as opposed to her age.

I was never allowed to have anyone babysit with me, those were the strict rules except on a special occasion such as NYE where they specifically said I could.

I have investigated it with social services. There is no legal minimum age at which someone can babysit. You have to remember that if they are under 16 and anything bad happens you, as the parent who has left them with someone under 16 are legally responsible.
MrsRhettButler. As far as looking after children while someone is working, if they are going to someone elses home, they have to be registered as child miinders. If the person is coming to your home, they can be a babysitter, again of any age.
There was a situation a few years ago where two women set up a business together. They worked opposite shifts and looked after each others children. They were not paying each other but because they were deemed to be gaining financially from the arrangement, they were told they could not have each others kids in their homes unless they were registered as child minders.

Yabu. I was a mother at 16

www.babysittingtips.net/babysitting_laws.html Some advice!

see OP loopylou6 mother at 16 she had her own baby Let the girl learn some responsibility we are hell bent these days on keeping teenagers children for longer imo .

It's a dilemma. When I was that Ge I was babysitting for children a lot younger but now I wonder why parents were so willing to let a young person( not yet an adult) take on such a responsibility..?

thanks MammaTJ

Glad to help!

Interesting link to baby sitting laws.

15 years is quite old enough IMO.

YABU - 15 is old enough to babysit a six year old.

I was looking after my siblings from about age 12 (they were 9 & 7) which I think was too young - as in it kind of stole alot of my childhood having to be so responsible (Mum recently divorced started going out and leaving me in charge lots).

However I had a great neighbourhood babysitting business going from age 15 (I think that was the 'legal' age back then).

As long as you trust her, she has a good head on her shoulders and has a list of contact/emergency numbers then I think its fine.

I never got friends or BF around when I was babysitting - but I did spend alot of time on the phone chatting to friends/boys etc