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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you leave an almost 13 year old home alone… until 10pm?

103 replies

WizardofCoz · 12/05/2025 20:55

Hi folks,
I always pay a babysitter (neighbour) to babysit for my almost 13 year old child.
A friend has offered me a ticket to an event I really want to go to - babysitter can’t do that eve, child is adamant they will be fine.
I’ll happily leave them alone for a few hours but has never been later than 8pm, would be home around 10pm for this one.
No other babysitter options & it’s a school night so no sleepover options.
We know all our neighbours & child feels very safe in our flat (v secure block)
WWYD?

OP posts:
lifemakeover · 14/05/2025 14:13

Yes absolutely. I have done with my child of exactly the same age. Despite all the answers on here, I know police officers, teachers and social workers in my circle of friends who also do the same. My almost 13y/o loves to have the house to himself for a few hours!

T1Dmama · 16/05/2025 14:27

I would say it depends how far away the night out is? I’ve left my daughter at 13 before for a few hours but I was a very short drive away.
also depends - does she know what to do if there was a fire, would she be trapped (you say it’s a flat).
could she text neighbours if needed?…

If you feel she’s mature enough to be left then leave her. You know her. We don’t

Calliopespa · 16/05/2025 14:36

GravyBoatWars · 13/05/2025 00:13

Absolutely as long as the child is comfortable and you think they're ready.

We have a set of neighbors that we trade "on-call" stretches with for our pre-teens and teens at home alone. Can you check with one of the ones you know best and find out if they plan to be around that evening and would be ok with you making sure your DS has their number and knows to text/call if they need something and can't reach you? That way an adult would also know to account for him in the (extremely unlikely) scenario that there was something like a building fire alarm or power outage and he doesn't have to do any thinking about who he can/should contact if the need actually arises.

A similar idea op ( and sorry if it’s been mentioned; I haven’t had time to RTT right thru ) is for Dc to have a zoom session with a friend so she feels she has company and friend could alert her parent if something became a problem. I’m not sure if she has a friend she chats with well for extended periods ? Even the phone I guess…

Personally I probably wouldn’t do it for something non-essential but plenty would, and I do think knowing Dc was talking and in contact with the household of a known adult would make me feel better.

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