What age to let oldest DC babysit her younger siblings?

51 replies

thirdistheonewiththehairychest · 17/02/2024 09:16

I'm interested to know what is a reasonable age for a teenager to baby sit for her younger sisters (ages 11 and 6) in the evening from 8-11pm. She would have the phone number of our neighbour in case of emergency. 6yo will pretty much be asleep, 11yo is maybe autistic but adores her older sister.

What age would your teen have to be to allow them to do this?

OP posts:

YeahIsaidit · 18/02/2024 16:06

honeylulu · 18/02/2024 15:44

We do pay our eldest (less than we pay an external babysitter but a sum that he agrees is fair considering its minimal inconvenience if he's going to be home anyway) and it is always by agreement. If he said no that would be tough luck for us but fair enough. No babysitting and no payment!

Edited to add: my parents used to just tell me I was babysitting younger sibling. I wasn't asked (and it was tough luck if I had my own plans) and payment was never offered. I felt this was intensely unfair, hence the rather different arrangement we have with our own eldest.

Edited

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That seems fair. I was picturing eldest somewhere being told "right we're off out you're watching the others" which I agree is unfair. If everyone is responsible enough, happy with whatever payment and doesn't have plans of their own, fair enough

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