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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Leaving a baby

63 replies

couldntlovethebearmore · 28/07/2016 22:13

Sorry but keeping with the theme in general...a baby asleep in its cot- leave it alone alseep with nearly twelve year old sibling or not?

OP posts:
elodie2000 · 28/07/2016 22:16

To go out? No. Wouldn't even leave the 12 year old in evening.

Normandy144 · 28/07/2016 22:18

No sorry. 12 year old isn't old enough to be responsible, whether baby is asleep or not.

couldntlovethebearmore · 28/07/2016 22:19

No to pop to shop

OP posts:
99percentchocolate · 28/07/2016 22:20

No. That's an awful lot of responsibility to put on a 12 year old if anything were to go wrong.

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 28/07/2016 22:20

For what reason and how long? 12 is very young still

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 28/07/2016 22:21

How far away is the shop?

NewNameNotTheSame · 28/07/2016 22:22

No way. The shop can wait. Imagine how helpless your 12 year old would feel if it woke up screaming. What would happen I you were in an accident on the way to the shop?

Not worth the risk. Go when baby is awake.

PansOnFire · 28/07/2016 22:22

If popping to the shop takes under 15 minutes in total then I'd probably do it if the 12 year old was mature and could be trusted to phone immediately if anything was to happen.

YouAreMyRain · 28/07/2016 22:23

I was babysitting for families of three kids, one a baby, at 11 yrs old. It'll be fine

TheUnsullied · 28/07/2016 22:25

Why is everyone abandoning their kids today? Have I missed something? Hmm

Hariasa · 28/07/2016 22:26

I wouldn't no.

I'd send the 12 yo to the shop.

elodie2000 · 28/07/2016 22:27

if I needed baby milk/ nappies I'd have to brave it and take them with me. Sad
I'd only pop out if the shop was literally next door! Never if I had to go by car!

couldntlovethebearmore · 28/07/2016 22:29

I have never done this but someone I know suggested this would be ok. I'd be too worried

OP posts:
Ameliablue · 28/07/2016 22:29

Depend on many factors. How far away is the shop? Could the 12 year old go? How responsible is the tween? Do they routinely help with the baby? What is the baby's normal sleep pattern......

GreatFuckability · 28/07/2016 22:30

it depends on the child. my eldest i would happily leave for a few minutes, but my middle one wouldn't cope.

elodie2000 · 28/07/2016 22:30

I'd be too worried to OP! 12 is still young.
Shop can wait!

CremeEggThief · 28/07/2016 22:30

When? I think it would be fine to pop to a shop 10 minutes walk away maximum, but not at this time.

Doggity · 28/07/2016 22:31

If it was 10 minutes and urgent and 12 year old was happy, I'd do it.

Leggytadpole · 28/07/2016 22:32

Depends on the kid. I used to babysit for local families at that age most weekends.

AyeAmarok · 28/07/2016 22:33

Oh for goodness sake, 12 is not 7.

My mum did this all the time, and that was before the days of mobile phones.

If it was less than 15 minutes then I'd do it.

2nds · 28/07/2016 22:35

I'd either bring them both out to the shop with me or I'd wait till tomorrow

PacificDogwod · 28/07/2016 22:42

Depends entirely on the baby, the 12 yo, your need to go out etc etc.

I have no idea whether YABU or not.

practy · 28/07/2016 22:46

20 years ago Social Services fostering team would not pay for babysitters if you had a 12 year old or older child, as you were told they could babysit. How quickly things have changed.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 28/07/2016 22:48

I babysat all the time for my brother when I was 13 and it was quite scary - he was a screamy, vomity baby and there were no mobile phones - it was a case of phoning the pub when I couldn't cope...

But even with that experience, I'd leave a sleeping baby with a sensible 12 yo for 15 minutes.

FreedomIsInPeril · 28/07/2016 22:49

I do, if baby is asleep and its just baby and the 12 year old. Wouldn't go for more than ten minutes or so.
At 12 I was babysitting for small babies and children, other peoples, all night.

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