To use a 4yo babysitter?

[BooHooMonkey]

DS (4.5) was at his friends for tea today. It waasn't until I went into the kitchen to cook dinner that I realised that without his constant 'peekabo' and 'row your boat', DD (13m) is AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. So I'm guessing I ABU but I need to know how you other lovely MNers do it! Just to clarify, DS loves feeling like the grownup, and having a job to do, but still...

Heck,no. Mine is 3.5 and often in charge of his 1 yr old sister. (obviously I am vaguely in the vicinity most of the time). Is there some other way of doing things that I am unaware of?

yanbu its fun for both of them and important bonding time seriously yanbu

YADNBU

my 15mnth old entertains her clingy 31mnth old brother so i can cook, how bad is that!

Heh, I thought you meant leaving them alone alone, more than that!

It sounds fine to me; after all, you're still around.

Wow, overwhelmed at the positive responses, thought I would get flamed!

Was your ds really at a friends for tea or have you hired him out? If so YABU

Do you hire him out? Dd is loosing patience with ds constant requests for mum when she is forcing him pretend play food!

Yogi- of course I would hire him out if possible, but his (primary) school has ridiculous laws about child labour! (Grrrr!)

ds1 is 4.5 and i find that he is invaluable when ds2 is grizzly.

he will lie down beside him on the floor and even though he doesnt intend it, his constant chatter has ds2 in stitches.

handy when i need the loo.

Not at all, that's what siblings are for. I'm thrilled that DS2 (2) is old enough to play with his big brother (almost 4) now and it has halved my stress levels as they now entertain each other without me having to constantly intervene to prevent DS2 being squashed or sat on!

I use a 3-year-old babysitter, and, on occasions, a springer spaniel
YANBU in the slightest.
Was in a cafe today, and DS was entertaining DD (10 months) in her highchair by shaking her hands, then waving his head about and saying "My go bonkers now". Comedy gold, apparently.
There was an old woman who kept looking over at them with a cat's bum face (so I thought). She left before we did, and on her way out, stopped and said the nicest thing:
"Your children remind me of a very old advert - "Happy children are healthy children". They're absolutely lovely".
I just welled up on the spot. No...that's the way it's meant to be - and it's good that your DS is so caring.

they'll be stopping them going up chimneys next

And paying them for babysitting!

my dd(5.8) entertains ds(2.10) all the time. Children are much better at entertaining other children than adults are. My dd seems to enjoy doing things for her brother the other day I jokes about popping out and leaving her alone, she said well I know where everything is mummy so i'd be ok

Goodness! So it seems I am not the worlds worst mummy! Shall I start being judgey pants then?

ooh great! i dont feel so bad about putting "played with for 15 mins" on ds's (8) star chart now, just so i can make tea lol

my nr 6 yr old has 2 to look after. He recently turned to me with a big sigh and said "mama, it's a big job having two babies to mind, I'm tired"
I know son, but you're just so damn good at it......

He sounds lovely. having him playing with the little one while you are in another room is nothing for anyone to judge you for, y'nit

I am another one who uses all 3 of my older DC's to entertain DD(5months). The times when it is invaluable are: Mornings, DC's play with grizzley DD will I get dressed, would have to go out in nighty if they didn't. Evening cooking times, honestly don't know what I would do without them, they sing, clap and make crazy faces.

DD is 5 months and loves it when anyone talks to her ut especially loves it when DS interacts with her - I'm convinced his "just learnt to speak" ramblings are closer to the baby talk she understands.
I can't leave them alone together yet though apart from literally 20s while I wash my hands as he loves giving her huge slobbery kisses that cover her mouth and nose

Well my dc are older but I much prefer it when they are both indoors and occupying each other.
"Doofus"
"Cabbagehead"
"Acne-boy"
"Dog-breath"
They are at the 'arguing for England' stage. But if they are arguing with each other, they're leaving me alone in my kitchen to pretend to be Doing Something Important whilst secretly reading my book.

If I try to intervene, then they both turn on me and defend each other, accusing me of picking on 'doofus' and victimising 'cabbagehead'.

Isn't this what older siblings are for, to occupy younger ones?

My two 9 year olds are planning "who's doing what" for their little sister's birthday party this weekend. They have even written out a timetable on our whiteboard. They did a sterling job last year too, and "looked after" about 10 5-6 yr olds (I hasten to add I was there too...)

i have always beleievd in child labour

siblings need to play together sometimes/often and children need to learn to occupy theirselves sometimes

your ds sounds fab - just as my dc7 is good at peek a boo with my youngest dc