Would you hire a 16 year old babysitter?

[Teenagebabysitter99]

I'm 16 and I have experience babysitting a family friends two children. I was wondering what other parents opinion on this is? Would you hire a teenage you didn't know to look after your children if they have good recommendations?
Thank you

I might do if I liked you and you seemed sensible. And you had good references.

We have an excellent 15 year old babysitter (recommended by a friend). She had similar experience to you. We met her first - she came round and played board games with the kids (7 and 9). It was clear she was mature and responsible. Good luck.

Yes. When dd was younger she had a 15yo babysitter, she was a neighbour so we knew her.

Dd is now 14yo and did some babysitting recently.

Yes - but I'd want to meet them first and take up references.

Yes if I was happy with the individual. I am waiting for my Cm's lovely DD to get near 16 for babysitting. I was a sensible 14 year old babysitter.

I would if I knew you (and liked you!!) I babysat from 15 yo and like to think I did a reasonable job!

Actually, I remember realising whilst heating the baby's bottle in the middle of the night that it was the first time I'd ever been "alone" in a house overnight and I was in charge of 3 under 11 aged only 16 myself!

Nope.

Yes. I babysat before I was 16, my DC were babysat by sensible teens who were not yet 16, and DD has babysat since she was 15.

It depends on the babysitter. Some 16 year olds are more than capable of looking after 2 DC for an afternoon and getting them off to bed. Others, not so much.

It would depend on the age of my children. A baby or toddler definitely not, but older ks2 school age children, then probably. I'd want you to meet the children and I'd want to see you interact with them so I could see your skills and abilities. I'd probably ask a lot of questions (what would you do if this happened etc) to check how sensible you seemed. But if I thought you were capable, then yes.

Some 16 year olds are far better with children than some 40 year olds. Just because you are young doesn't mean you are inexperienced in life.

I used to babysit my brother all the time when I was 16. Some 16 year olds already babies...but I wouldn't allow a 16 year old to look after my baby. Maybe look after KS1 and 2 child but only for a few hours depending how mature the 16 year old was and I'd have to know them.

Yes for older children ie school age and I was nearby. Thinking PTA meetings that kind of thing.

I wouldn't hire anyone I didn't know (unless came highly recommended from someone I knew well) - if you are talking in terms of putting an ad in a shop window, but I'd have no problem with the age per se.

People mature at different rates. Our first sitter was 16, but she was my CM's dd and had FAR more experience of small babies than dh and I put together . Over the years I used people of 14, 15, 16 up to about 60. I would judge on capability rather than age.

My 16 yr old dd has had a regular sitting job since she was 15. 1 - 2 hours every week, when the Mum needs to go out before the Dad gets in.