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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you leave 14yr old , 4yr old and 2 yr old ...

74 replies

Babyiwantabump · 15/01/2018 16:19

In the car while you nipped into Aldi (or any other supermarket) to get something for dinner?

OP posts:
DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 15/01/2018 16:20

Yes, 14 year old is old enough to watch the smaller ones.

lalalalyra · 15/01/2018 16:20

If the 14yo was DD1 yes, absolutely. She regularly babysits for whole evenings for kids of similar ages so wouldn't think twice.

DD2 probably not. The 4yo and 2yo are probably less likely to get into bother alone!

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 15/01/2018 16:22

14 yo yes definitely. 14yo and 4 yo, maybe. 2 yo, defibitely not a shop like aldi when you can't see the car and it's realistically going to be more like ten minutes. I have left my 6yo and 2yo in the car when I've run into local coop but it's glass-sided and tiny and I can park right outside, I can literally watch the car whole time.

LineysRunt · 15/01/2018 16:22

Yes.

Afreshcuppateaplease · 15/01/2018 16:22

Id take one of the little ones in. Which ever was more likely to cause an issue

TroubledTribble28 · 15/01/2018 16:22

Is the 14 year old immature/mature/about average for their age? It depends on the teenage child in question but having said that I babysat for 3 different families when I was 12 and my youngest charge was 12 months old (ish). I don't think it's a problem op.

Babyiwantabump · 15/01/2018 16:24

Am just waiting for DD to come out of school and the younger too have fallen asleep waiting - was wondering is IWU to leave them with her while nipping to get something

OP posts:
Alpacaandgo · 15/01/2018 16:24

Yes, assuming you mean leave them all at the same time and not the 2 or 4 year old on their own

demirose87 · 15/01/2018 16:25

Yes but only if the two younger weren't going to act up and if the 14 year old was sensible. Depends on individual circumstances really.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 15/01/2018 16:25

Yes - would leave 2 yo strapped in, to reduce bother.

Afreshcuppateaplease · 15/01/2018 16:25

If they are asleep i would do it

EggsonHeads · 15/01/2018 16:25

No. I would take the 2 year old with me but leave the 4 year old at home with the 14 year old. 2 year olds have to be watched at all times and I couldn't trust an average 14 year old to understand that.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 15/01/2018 16:25

Cross-post - if they're both asleep then hell yes!

Littlefrogletx · 15/01/2018 16:26

Yes I would

Trinity66 · 15/01/2018 16:26

Yes

EggsonHeads · 15/01/2018 16:26

Sorry, I just noticed that they were both asleep. Then yes. Definitely. No brainier!

steppemum · 15/01/2018 16:32

yes, as long as 14 year old wasn't an idiot

BarbarianMum · 15/01/2018 16:36

I used to look after a 4 year old,a 2 year old and a 6 month old when I was 14. Their mum was busy giving piano lessons (so available in an emergency) but I used to take them to the play park, play with them, give them their tea and bath and get them ready for bed. I'd really wonder about a 14 year old that had younger siblings and couldn't mind them in a car.

FluffyWuffy100 · 15/01/2018 16:39

Yes.

deadringer · 15/01/2018 16:41

Awake or asleep, yes.

omnishambles · 15/01/2018 16:42

I used to think yes to this before I had a teenager and now I think no. Could that 14 year old deal with the worst possible situation that could possibly occur? Maybe mine is particularly dozy but they definately couldn't.

TempusEejit · 15/01/2018 16:46

Yes, as long as your 14yo can phone you to come out of the shop straight away if needed (e.g. I'm uncontactable in my local tesco as there's no signal).

twinjocks · 15/01/2018 16:48

14? Yes, I would also reply yes if the 14 year old was 13 or 12.

Lifechallenges · 15/01/2018 16:49

Why not - no issue for me

SoupDragon · 15/01/2018 16:50

As they are asleep, definitely. If the younger ones were awake my answer would be that it depends on whether the little ones listen to the older one!