To leave 14, 7 and 2 year old home alone?

[Gingerninj]

I have a course from 5:00 pm to 9:30 next week on tuesday, stuggling to find anyone to look after DC but my oldest has suggested letting her babysit. I've left them to go to the shops before but not for this long. I think it would be different if it was the middle of the day on a saturday but with it being the evening on a school night she'll have to do bedtime. I'm thinking about just cancelling

Can you ask someone to pop in at say 7 to check them? Then text you?

Otherwise I reckon if you trust your eldest your gut is right x

@OnlyFoolsnMothers it isn't all day; it's 5pm until 9:30

Recently moved to a new area but neighbours seem nice, I'll ask them if they can pop in and check on them or be someone DD can call in an emergency

I would yes. Give eldest a couple of numbers they can ring in emergancy, tell the 7 year old to behave and leave a few treats for dc 14 to Give to 7 year old if they're good.

I would give it a go. The worst that can happen is you have to leave early and your 14 yr old holds on for 30 minutes while you get home.

If your budget can stretch to it, maybe give your eldest a bit of money for babysitting; it's a very sweet offer and I'd be thrilled I'd raised such a thoughtful kid

How do we know what 'the worst that can happen' is? That's the point!

Personally I would never want to think 'of only'. I'm surprised at how confident some are without ever having met the OP. Yes rationally chances are all will be ok, but with a two year old anything can bloody happen at any time and is it really worth the risk, even if it is small?

I would remove all potentially dangerous parts of the evening, i.e. cooking and bathing. Maybe make sure 2 and 7 yo are fed and in PJs before you go. That way, what is the worst that can happen? X

I would also consider the wonders of FaceTime (MUTED AT YOUR END )

Oh that's actually not a bad idea Hettie!!!

Do some practice runs with DD in charge while you are in the house, but leave her to it and see how it goes.

If the 7-yr-old is potentially a problem, do whatever is most likely to encourage him to behave - bribery or threats.

I wouldn't. And I wouldn't be inviting neighbours I didn't really know into my house with my kids there when I was not present. Get a responsible adult babysitter or miss the course.

Please don’t tell neighbours you don’t know that your kids are going to be home alone.

By all means tell your DD which ones to speak too if there’s an emergency but don’t advertise them home alone.

Does your DD have a sensible friend that can come round and keep her company/help out?

No I wouldn’t, and it wouldn’t be fair on your eldest if anything happens.

I agree that cooking and baths should be out of the question.

I hadn't thought of it like that but yes I won't be telling the neighbours

As another PP said could your 14yo have a sensible friend over (and then you can have her parents as a emergency contact)

I'm surprised at how confident some are without ever having met the OP.

She has met her own children though. Perhaps we simply believe her assessment of them

I used to babysit a 18m and 3yr old from 14 along with other families with kids ranging from 2 to 11. This was 15yrs ago now but if your 14yr old is responsible I would let her. I would arrange a non cook dinner if she needs to feed them so no need to use oven. Do bath earlier or miss that night. so 14yr old doesn't have to do anything where it would be dangerous if one child distracted her from the other. Then bring a treat home for her being such a star! Obviously pay her too if budget allows even if not normal rates just £5-10.