Babysitting - what age would you let your teenager babysit for a younger sibling?

[AiringOfGrievances]

In the following scenarios:

Scenario 1 - in the daytime for an hour or two

Scenario 2 - in the evening for a couple of hours, parents 15 minutes away

Scenario 3 - in the evening for a several hours, parents 30 minutes- 1 hour away

There are no official rules on this, but I understand the parents are responsible for all children until age 16, so if something terrible happens it's the parents who are held responsible. After age 16 they can be held responsible (not sure if this is any better tbh!).

14 for the first
15 for the other 2

Really depends on the dc though, I would let my eldest (15 in 2 weeks) babysit the 4 year old, I wouldn't leave her with the autistic 8 year old or the stroppy 10 year old. Not because I don't trust her, but I don't trust them to listen to her.

14/15

Depends how much younger the sibling is, how sensible both of them are and whether they're happy to be left.

I'd say 12, 13, 14-15 respectively.

14 for first two, older for last. My thought is that if, on the rare chance something did go wrong, is the teenager going to be able to cope with what’s happened/not blame themselves (if not their fault). If that makes any sense!

Mine are 9 and 14 and I've left them like in the first 2 scenarios and for longer periods but we are only ever max 10 min drive away/ 20 min walk away.

They are both pretty sensible, independent and get on well!

Have never had to consider leaving them when we're an hour away, don't think I would incase either of them needed us or there was an emergency.

Hmm not sure. I leave my two 13 & 9 for short periods in the day/early evening, but almost only ever because I'm going to the supermarket 5/10 mins drive away to grab a few bits (not a full shop). They usually ignore each other. They get on ok but my main concern is them having a fight rather than something happening.

I would say a mature & sensible 14 y/o would be ok as long as the siblings were not typically at each others throats and they knew how to handle an emergency. I don't think I'd be happy being much more than 10-15 mins away though unless I had a neighbour that I knew they could call on in an emergency.

13 (Y9) for the first one - DD1 often refuses to come out, and then DD3 (who is 6) will want to stay with her.

10YO still likes me and comes out with me

I don’t go out in the evenings because I’m always exhausted (single parent) but I’d probably allow it from next summer onwards, as we are only a 10 min cab ride from the City Centre so I’d happily for a meal with friends.