babysitters

[Spod]

we dont have any family nearby and so will need to use a friends teenage daughters when we want a night out. i wouldnt leave dd yet (nearly 8 mths), when were you/would you be happy to leave your kids with a babysitter?

TBH I think it depends n your DD's sleep patterns. if she reliably goes to sleep and styas asleep, is easily comforted if she does wake and not freaked by strangers then she'll be fine. It may be worth getting your potential babysitters round for a few "familiarization" visits whne they just sit and play with your DD for a bit though.

I babysat (evenings and all day during hols) a teacher's child from when he was 3 months old. Complete child from hell when it came to sleeping and everything was fine, but I am the eldsest of 5 and was a lot more adept with babies than the average 16 year old.

We now se our childminder's daughter to babysit DD (DD is 3) and she reads Dd her story etc, no hassle. i know this 15 year old babysits twins who are under 12 months overnight on a regular basis.

Ultimately it will come down to how comfortable you are with the sitter and how "easygoing" your DD is. Remember when you have a teenage babysitter you are also getting their parent at the end of the telephone (which may be reassuring).

I haven't left my DD yet (7mths) but thats because I don't know anyone that well. If i lived near a close friend I would feel happy leaving her. But I would prefer someone older, and preferably a mother.