17yr old niece babysitting- is it too much?

[LaylaSimmonds]

Hi all, myself and my husband are away for the night next week for a work event of his and my niece is babysitting my 2yr and 3yr old sons. She has looked after them before in the day for a couple of hours but never overnight. She is going to come round this week and help me put them to bed so that she knows their routine and where things are (nappies, bottles etc). She will be looking after them from 2pm till about midday the next day. DH is a bit worried that it might be too much for her but she’s great with them and I told DH she could have kids of her own at this age, I am paying her for doing it as well. Do you think this is too much for her?

I did right front and back on the nappies for her as last time she was putting them on backwards not that it mattered

[Dontjudgeme101]

I have a 17 year old and l think that’s too much responsibility. She should be paid more £85 too.

[kitsuneghost]

Only you know your niece. My cousin at 17 could look after them for weeks. Me at 17 wouldn't know where to start and would run a mile.

[LittleBearPad]

£85 is a bit tight. Assuming they’ll be asleep 10 of the 22 hours (unlikely) it’s £7 an hour

[TerryOrange]

I must be be overprotective, I'd never do this

[GlassBunion]

I'd look at your babysitter's role as to ensure that they're still alive when you come home.

They probably won't settle for her and she'll end up doing a fair few visits to them to ensure they're safe.

I wouldn't worry too much.

[DinkyDaisy]

Times have changed sooo much. I am in my 50s. I babysat from 13/14 round the village. By 16 did over night occasionally for one family. Don't think I was paid for sleeping. On a 'normal' baby sit I got 50p an hour and a pound after midnight.
The world has turned though!