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Parenting

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Original poster

If you wouldn't leave your kids alone in the car does that mean you wouldn't ever leave them alone at home either?

62 replies

moono · 28/04/2006 21:41

Following on from the leaving kids in cars thread.

I leave my kids alone for several hours at a time on occasions with my 14 year old dd in charge, but only when they are fast asleep in bed.

Would you?

OP posts:

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galaxy · 28/04/2006 21:43

How old are they?

flashingnose · 28/04/2006 21:44

A lot of people on here won't put their bins out without taking their kids with them...

Polgara2 · 28/04/2006 21:45

No because I wouldn't class a 14 yr old as being able to cope in an emergency tbh.

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hulababy · 28/04/2006 21:46

I used to babysit for babies and toddlers at that age. Would I leave 4yo DD with a 14 year old now? Have to say, probably not.

galaxy · 28/04/2006 21:47

I accidently locked dd in the house when I put the bin out (or actually locked myself out) when she was 6 months old and had to wait for dh to come and let me in
She's 3 now and I leave in the car , locked, when I go into pay for fuel. Wouldn't leave her anywhere that I couldn't see her and certainly wouldn't leave in the charge of ds(13) apart from when I go out to get something from the car on the drive

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 28/04/2006 21:49

I've left my 14 year old in charge of an 11 year-old, but for an hour or so maybe, not several. Although actually I'd be less happy to do it when they were asleep in bed. During the day it's easier to go to a neighbour if there's a problem.

Statistically more people die from fire during the night than in daylight hours too.

Original poster

moono · 28/04/2006 21:50

My 2 littlest ones are 16mths and 3.5. Both sleep like logs and dd is more than capable of soothing them if needed - I know that because she has done it when I've been here. If there is ever any hint that they are unwell, I wouldn't dream of going out as it is very likely they would wake up.

Some 14 year olds are very mature, others aren't. My dd is one of the more sensible ones.

OP posts:

Bozza · 28/04/2006 21:51

DS is 5 and I often leave him in the house for 1/2 hour or more while I am in the garden. I have no idea what he is doing but the key thing is that he knows where I am if he needs me. I do not leave the room for a milisecond without DD tagging along...

Original poster

moono · 28/04/2006 22:03

Must add that this is not a regular occurrence, like every weekend or anything like that, before I get slagged off for being a bad mother!

OP posts:

kama · 28/04/2006 22:22

This reply has been deleted

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expatinscotland · 28/04/2006 22:24

Not at all. I would definitely leave them home alone, when I feel they're old enough - or one of them is.

NotQuiteCockney · 28/04/2006 22:25

Hmm, we used a babysitter the other week, who was under 16 for sure. Probably 12? Not sure. Didn't actually ask.

But her parents were staying a few doors down (holiday resort) and knew where she was. If she ran into trouble, she would have called them.

And my two boys were asleep in their beds, and don't tend to wake.

I've done trips to the bin while my two were awake. They're 4.5 and 1.5.

brimfull · 28/04/2006 22:30

I've left my ds with my dd who is 14.She is sensible enough to care for a toddler but might not be as confident with a baby .She babysits for others,I thought 14 was the legal age limit for babysitting,but could be talking out my arse.

DD is trained to use ds's epipen aswell.

nooka · 28/04/2006 22:32

I would leave my kids alone in the car for up to 5mins or so (if I had one) and babysat a lot from the age of 14. Not for tiny babies, mostly four and up, I think (lots of bed time stories!). Our babysitter started with us when she was about 16, I think, but I am sure we would have used her when she was younger. I wouldn't have a younger babysitter look after children still at the screaming a lot stage.

soapbox · 28/04/2006 22:38

These threads always make me laugh because they always seem to come back to putting out the bins

Where the hell are your bins???

Mine are, and always have been, right by the back door - do people have bins miles away from their houses?

Flats I can understand I confess, but in houses???????

Please enlighten me:):):)

lanismum · 28/04/2006 23:44

i used to babysit young kids and babies from the age of 11, but no way would i leave my dd (1) with my 14 year old cousin, i cant imagine he would know what to do in an emergency, or if dd was really upset, he is a young 14 though.

Tortington · 29/04/2006 00:26

my ds now 16 babysat when he was 14 - the twijs were 11 and in bed - pub was at the bottom of the street - we phoned home

threebob · 29/04/2006 01:09

14 is the legal age to babysit in NZ.

Sugarmag · 29/04/2006 08:13

I used to babysit for young kids at the age of 14. I think it really depends on the 14 year old.

Freckle · 29/04/2006 08:35

I used to babysit from the age of 13/14 onwards. I leave DS1 (12) alone at home, but wouldn't dream of leaving DS2 (10) with him - not because DS1 wouldn't cope in an emergency, but because they are likely to kill each other.

jampots · 29/04/2006 08:40

same as freckle. DD would be absolutely fine. Coupled with ds there is a chance of serious injury.

I never left them in cars when they were little and dont like it at all - I just dont see the need. Much safer alone in the house

edam · 29/04/2006 09:04

Yes with a 14yo but only if they were awake. Night time I'd worry about fires.

Bad mummy alert: ds is only 2 3/4 but I confess I did once accidentally leave him home asleep on his own. Dh had taken him upstairs for his nap and said he might have a lie down too (as he often does at weekends). I was downstairs and decided to nip to the shops. Was gone about 10 minutes. On the way home, turned the corner of our street ... and bumped into dh also coming home.

Had no idea he'd got up and gone out! We live in a three storey house and if you are on the top floor you can't hear what's on the ground floor. So it must have been dh who went out after I'd already gone. I think. But eek anyway.

Xavielli · 29/04/2006 09:13

Soapbox, I too keep my bin by the back door.

I think the putting out of the bins refered to is taking the bin round the front for the lovely fellows to empty, which I do after bed time

Pinotmum · 29/04/2006 09:17

My neighbour (across the road) seems to leave her 7 yo in charge of a 4 yo and 2 yo quite regularly. DH called one night to drop somehting in and no adults in sight - don't know what to do really. It's perhaps cultural as they are from Ghana or Guyana (sp) can't rightly remember. I wouldn't leave mine to go out but I don't class hanging out the washing or putting bin bags out as leaving the premises.

beetroot · 29/04/2006 09:19

i leave my kids alone while I popinto town. (not dd who is 7)

I popped to th echinese last night and left 12 year old and 9 year old playing on the play station.

I would not leave them on their own while i went out in the evening.

i wouldleave them while i popped to Sopmerfield for a pint of milk.

I leave ds11 and dd7 while I walk the others to school in the morning. The get on with music practice.

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