What is the youngest age babysitter you would use

[firstpregnancy1]

I know this topic is heavily debated and standards now are vastly different from 10,20,30 years ago.

I have a 7month old and a 2.5 year old.

My husband and I would like to start getting fitter and pre babies we would regularly play tennis in the summer evenings.

My children both go to bed at 7pm and very very rarely wake up once in bed. If the baby did it would be a quick dummy plug in and job done.

We have never used any kind of babysitter before.

I see 'ofsted registered' childminders offering babysitting services but we don't really need a whole evening and would they even be interested in coming for just 1-1.5 hours.

It got me thinking about whether it would be ok to consider a neighbour teenager?

Both kids would be in bed.
We would be gone roughly 60-70 minutes.
We would be about a 2 minute drive from home if they did wake up and sitter called us could come home immediately.
My toddler knows this teen ('not amazingly well) but wouldn't be startled or scared if they woke up as we would tell him that 'x' is coming round tonight . The 7m old wouldn't really know.

In this situation, with these set of circumstances, how old would this teenager need to be in order for you to agree to this.

13?14?15?16?17?18? Not at all unless an ofsted registered professional?

I consider myself quite overprotective and I can't tell if my judgement is normal.

If it's relevant, the teenager is sensible, reliable, has basic common sense and a 4 year old sibling so she's 'good' with children.

15 I think, ish

Very interested in this, as I have a 14 year old, a baby (9 months) and one child in between. She’s not babysat the baby yet, except for once for literally 20 mins when I had to pop out. Interested to see what people think. I think she would be fine, but I’ve had friends tell me they wouldn’t.

For a baby and under two is say 18 over. Although mine only went to my sister who was 24. My dd is 13. I wouldn't even leave her with my 11 year old.

14/15 I think, as it’s only an hour and asleep.
It’d be quite a big ask of a 15yr old if they were awake and for a longer time though.
Also depends if the teenager wants to do it, or just wants the cash!
When ours were about 8 or 9ish, we often used to come home and the girls mother (they’re our neighbours) was sat on our sofa as she “felt ill” or “had forgotten homework” her mother is a Saint!

No way I'd leave a baby with an under 18 as a babysitter or 16 as a well trusted family member it's not fair to put the responsibility of nappies and an uncontrollable crying baby (if it wakes which babies do) on another child. I have a 15 year old a 7 year old special needs and a 4 month old and I dont put the responsibility on my eldest to babysit. If it was two children fully potty trained that don't wake up in the night than a babysitter age 16 would be fine, I personally wouldn't go younger than that

14-16 but so dependent on the young person. If they have extensive experience of young children it is very different to someone with no experience of young children

My DCs babysat babies and toddlers from age 14, and I used babysitters of that age for my DCs when they were babies/ toddlers.

I'm in the US though, where customs are a bit different from the UK.

Totally depends in the teenager tbh, I have a niece who is 20 but I wouldn't trust her to babysit as she absolutely no common sense and wouldn't know what to do in an emergency. I know younger teens who would be fine.

Really cant get over how young a baby sitter you would leave a 7 month old and toddler with!

I have a responsible 15 year old and I would feel it was an unfair responsibility. They nor their friends would change nappies either - they were taught not too in their safeguarding at school - about avoiding putting themselves in vulnerable positions.

I would have insisted on an adult for my peace of mind and to be reassured if anything happened my children had the best possible care.

I have two children, a toddler and older child. We have a lovely teenage neighbor who is very reliable and kind and she babysits the older child. I would not leave a teenager in charge of a baby or toddler no way. But then I am very cautious, at the end of the day I think I would rather be overcautious when it comes to my children’s safety.

We did it and the babysitter was the child of our neighbour. Knew my kids well and could ring for parental back up as needed.

My Dd babysat next door’s children at similar ages - again, knew the toddler and baby, they were put to bed first and I could be there to help if there was any need.

16 at least and only then if they gave experience of looking after babies (eg. Have babysat young siblings or cousins)

I remember babysitting a 5 month old when I was 16 and the baby cried non stop. It was massively stressful and I wouldn't want a young babysitter to have to deal with that. My 13yo dd is very responsible and would happily look after young.kids of school age.

I wouldn't leave a 14yo with a baby. I'd want an adult who has some experience with babies.

From the nspcc website"

"It’s important to know that if you hire a babysitter who is under the age of 16, they’re too young to be legally responsible if harm comes to your child. If you’ve left your child with someone who isn’t able to take care of them, this could be seen as neglet under the law"

I think for this reason, and the fact your children are so young, I would say age 16 would be the youngest babysitter I would use.

13, if I trusted the teenager in question. I find it quite sad that teenagers aren't given these sorts of opportunities any more.

And if a school genuinely told 15 year olds not to change nappies, that's a ridiculous overreach.

You feel sad 13 year olds are left to look after 7 month old babies?

With a seven month old?? At least 16.

My kids are 6 and 9 , babysitter would have to be 14 and sensible

Around 15 in these circumstances. Possibly 14 if very mature and their parents are also nearby as a backup. Older if children are awake and need putting to bed etc.

We used to have the 15 year old neighbour from young ages. Mum and Dad used her till she was 22, and had finished her legal degree, and was working full-time. I think it depends on the person.

Looking after a child under 3, I'd want them to be 21 minimum. They need to be able to be mature, have a good internal risk assessment and be able to cope with an emergency.

Children 3+, I'd be fine with an 18 year old.

Children don't make great decisions, many teenagers included. Don't take the risk.

I’d never leave my 4.5 year old with someone I didn’t know well and I’d want them to be at least 18.

Yes, I do feel sad that teens aren't given adequate opportunities for independence, learning skills, and raising a little money. I think parents do a disservice to their children when they don't allow them to grow up.

Thanks yes I meant specifically the situation in my post. One hour in the local tennis courts in our village, 2 minutes drive away.

I really don’t feel caring for a 7 month old alone is a “learning opportunity “ for me it’s about safety and security of both parties. Not a cash and independence learning wheel for teens.

With children that age, I wouldn’t use a teen babysitter.

If it was a teen I knew very, very well, like one of my friends children, I would be ok with them babysitting children of 6+. The teen would have to be 15/16.