To think this was way too young?

[FlyingSoap]

Just jogged my memory by reading an old diary. When I was 14, I got a babysitting job (friend of family friend). Their child was only 3 years old. I met them in a cafe before I looked after their daughter, but they’d literally go for a whole evening out - 6pm-11pm - and leave me in charge. They wouldn’t go far, maybe a mile or two away in a taxi for food and drink. I think they paid me £15. She was awake when they left and I would do bedtime and then watch some TV downstairs or do homework. I text the parents midway through to let them know she was ok.

We’re not talking that long ago, ten years ish. I’m now about to become a mum myself and I can’t believe anyone would leave their child with a child! I’d possibly trust a very reliable, close relative age 16 or over. I was responsible as a teenager, had experience with children and knew what to do in theory in an emergency, but I don’t know how I’d have coped in practice.

YABU - you’re overthinking, that sounds totally fine

YANBU - I agree with you, it’s irresponsible

Very surprised at the poll so far! Maybe I’m being precious!

I don't think it's too young to babysit. Tp be honest although it's sad to think of, In two years a 14 year old could be a mother/father themselves.

I babysat at that age too, it was very common. It's not now, but whether that's a sensible step forward or driven by unfounded panic, I'm not really sure. We are generally overly risk averse as a society now I think.

I did the same OP. Very common then (I’m mid forties). Certainly wouldn’t let my children do it now.

I was a similar age to you when my friends and I did a "babysitting course" at school during lunch break. No idea who ran it, but it was a real course.

Then 2 of us set up a "babysitting agency", leafletted all the local houses and ended up regularly babysitting for a little boy. We met his parents and him once before they left him with us. We used to put him to bed and then watch TV until the parents came home. Then the Dad would walk us home!

As a mum I can't imagine doing that. Which is a shame because we loved it and became very fond of the lad.

I also babysat for neighbours from about the age of 11, but I knew them and my Mum was less than a minute away in an emergency.

Times change. I babysat a four year old at 14 for a year. £5 an hour. Not as normal now but 10 years ago, despite it not seeming that long ago, was incredibly different to today.

I was a similar age to you when my friends and I did a "babysitting course" at school during lunch break. No idea who ran it, but it was a real course.

Then 2 of us set up a "babysitting agency", leafletted all the local houses and ended up regularly babysitting for a little boy. We met his parents and him once before they left him with us. We used to put him to bed and then watch TV until the parents came home. Then the Dad would walk us home!

As a mum I can't imagine doing that. Which is a shame because we loved it and became very fond of the lad.

I also babysat for neighbours from about the age of 11, but I knew them and my Mum was less than a minute away in an emergency.

Oops. Sorry for double post! My Internet crashed.

At 14 /15(in the mid 80 's) my best mate was 20 with 2 dc. Every Friday she went off with her new bf and I had those dc at her flat until the Sunday night. From dc2 being newborn. Bonkers....

It was really common to have 13/14yo babysitters when I was young. My parents employed them for me and I did it for babies from 13yo, in the 70s and 80s.

I used to babysit a 10 month old baby, and a 3yr old child when I was around 14-15. My parents were only over the road and they were never far away. Once the baby was sick so I called them and they came home. I also babysat a 3yr old all summer once 3 full days per week whilst his mum was at work. She would leave out a tin of soup or a tin of beans and we shared that for our lunch. I used to take him out to the park and even on the bus at times. It was fine, I was definitely capable of caring for all of them. Never any issues.

A three year old isn't a tiny baby though, they can be fairly sensible/know their routine and don't usually need eyes on them at every second. The chances of an emergency are very low (I'm wondering what emergencies you imagine? Fire - highly unlikely whilst you were awake. Medical emergency -vanishingly unlikely. Choking?). Everyone has their own comfort zone when it comes to risk but to me this would be a very low risk scenario.

I dunno. They wouldn’t be the first on my mind. I’d be thinking, break-in? Child having seizure? Myself, the 14 year old, injuring myself… then what?

YABU. One kid, who was old enough to talk, the parents were nearby, and the kid was asleep in bed most of the time? A fourteen-year-old can definitely handle that.

My DD was babysitting for our friends' child when she was 15, so six or seven years ago. She was very sensible and would have called either me or the parents if there had been a problem.

14 or 15 isn't too young to babysit, really.

My babysitting job from age 14 was one of the best jobs I ever had.Every weekday after school until 7pm for a 3 year old and lots of overnights at the weekend.I've never felt richer and it was fun.Plus their house was nicer /quieter than mine and I did lots of my GCSE revision there once he was in bed.

That's tame compared to my babysitting experiences. Although I'm older and it was the 80s. I babysat on a problematic estate - no judgement, I lived there too.

Babysitting at 13, I'd have parents not come back for the night or they'd sneak friends kids in upstairs and I wouldn't know until I went to check. I'd get a bottle of wine left out for me (didn't touch it). I was frequently out of my depth looking back, a couple of the kids were real handfuls. Abusive ex partners hammering on the door and once someone demanding money owed, some houses didn't have a phone.

No way would it happen now! I certainly wouldn't have wanted my kids to be doing this. I never told my parents the half if it.

Friend of mine baby sat from around 13 for a couple of kids afterschool most nights until their mum got home from work. Kids were about 5 and 8

I babysat regularly from 13, often until after midnight. At 15 I looked after one girl for full days during the school holiday. Not long after I learned to drive (a very young 17), one mum asked me to pick her kids up from school but didn't tell the school I was coming (school let me take them, even though I didn't know their surname). One couple stopped me on a run and asked if I babysat, then left me with their 6 month old baby without checking I knew how to heat a bottle or change a nappy (I did not). One mum left me with her daughter without mentioning that the little girl had SEN. One slightly older boy (9ish) had his mates call round and I ended up taking all 5 of them to the park on their bikes. No idea who their parents thought they were with. To be fair, nothing happened to any of the children I looked after, and at the time I was very pleased with my £5 an hour to eat snacks in other people's houses and read bedtime stories. But none of the parents ever asked if I had first aid training. At the time (late 90s, early 00s) this was all completely normal but I wouldn't leave my own children with someone as clueless as I was.

Yes, I used to baby sit at that age back in the 70s.

One one memorable evening I got a call from my friend to say she was ill and could I do her babysitting for her. I said yes and my dad dropped me round. The parents were basically waiting for me to arrive and they went out.

All OK for about half an hour until I went into the kitchen. Couldn't find the light switch, then trod on something furry. I screamed, the thing barked. A dog! They had a dog and didn't tell me.

Then there was a noise behind me, turned round and two sleepy children looking at me! Obviously no idea who I was, so started crying. I moved towards them and they ran away and sat on the stairs howling.

I found the light switch. Spotted the biscuit barrel, chucked half a dozen custard creams in the dog bowl, and then spent 30 minutes pushing custard creams through the banisters to try to stop the kids crying.

The joys of babysitting 😂

Would I ask a 14 year old to baby sit in this day and age? I don't know. But I would make sure the kids had met them.

I did the same at that age, and when I was 16 I looked after an unpotty trained toddler with severe autism for 3 days plus her 6 year old sister while their mum went to a funeral in another county. The toddler actually cried the entire time day and night and it was a really awful few days. My mum was just a few streets away if backup was needed and I do remember taking the kids back home to get a break during the day. I can’t believe anyone thought it was okay at the time (30odd years ago now!)

The child was 3 years old and obviously a good sleeper. You could contact the parents by phone, and they could have home quickly if necessary. If anything major had gone wrong you would have dialled 999, which is all the parents could have done. You were sensible and did not invite friends or boyfriend around, so you were trustworthy. Sounds fine.

I was regularly babysitting at 12. And I can't have been older than 14 when I babysat for the child and her weeks-old sibling. Even back then I remember thinking I can't believe I've been asked to do this!
As a parent now I don't think I'd entertain the idea at all. I'd want them to be at least 16 if not older.

I often babysat at that age. My cousin was born when I was 9 and I'd happily look after her (not alone) but I would change her nappies and do her bottles. I think people infantilise their children now - it's not uncommon in large families for the older children to mind the younger ones and often would prepare a meal, do laundry etc. 14 isn't that young - I was certainly capable of taking care of a 3 year old at that age.