How old can oldest chid be to babysit

[Hotvimto3]

My girls are 12 and 9
Ive never let them alone. When might be right to leave oldest with youngest for a few hours say no later than 9 pm

It depends how well they get on, how sensible the eldest is, and whether the younger one will do as the older one says if there's a problem.

My three were fine being left alone for a short time when the oldest was 12 and the other two were 11 and 8. On the other hand, my SIL's children at the same age couldn't be trusted to get on.

Only you know how the dynamics are and how sensible your eldest is.

I would say 10+ for very short periods alone.

12+ for longer periods alone, or shorter periods with a younger sibling (8+), provided they get on well enough to be sensible.

I’d agree with this too.

Mine were 12 and 10 and they were fine.

I have posted this many times. When they were 10 and not quite 8 I had a childcare gap of an hour once a week. They let them selves in and phoned me to say they were fine. Wasn't ideal but we all survived. Left 8 or 9 yo alone to go for a run for 20-30 mins. For a night out locally home by 9 probably oldest in yr 8.

Mine are 9&11.
11yo is fine alone for a few hours
Just started leaving 9yo for up to an hour. (Shrs 10 in a few weeks and goes to and from school by herself)

However 11yo is not responsible for her younger sister even though they are in the house together. They are each responsible for themselves.

I think it depends 12 and still in yr7 or 12 and halfway through yr 8 ?