13 year old babysitting younger siblings?

[Eyeofthelamp]

I have a DS from a previous marriage who is about to turn 13yrs. My now DH and I also have a 4 year old and an 18m old. We have no other family so nobody to ask to babysit. DS is incredibly bright, mature and sensible for his age. Would it be wrong to consider booking a meal at 7:30pm (when the two little ones are in bed) at the pub 2 mins from our house and leaving DS 13 to babysit for two hours max? DH and I haven't had a night out in over 4 years and I'd love to have a meal out for our upcoming wedding anniversary. Both younger children have cameras in their bedrooms that I can access from my phone and we also have a ring doorbell. In an emergency we could be home in 2 mins. I think DS would be absolutely fine and know what to do in an emergency, but I'm still unsure if this would be ok? What's the general consensus on this please?

Sorry, I wouldn't at 13, maybe when he's 15.

Yes I absolutely would. 13 Is more than old enough to sit in a quiet house a few minutes away from you while his siblings sleeps. I'm sure if anyone wakes or needs anything he can call and you can get it sorted. I was looking after my siblings much younger and we had no tech avaliable to aid us or my parents. enjoy your anniversary xx

Not siblings.

Not babies.

5 year old with a 13 year old none related. Potentially depending on the kids involved.

no, 18m is too young to be left with a young teenager.
just pay for a babysitter!

Think it's fine

I think it’s absolutely fine.

I probably wouldn't. Don't you know any 15yo who want to earn a bit of cash?

Oh my goodness absolutely not. It’s not up to your 13 year old to look after two little ones.

No, I wouldn’t put the responsibility of looking after two much younger siblings on a 13 year old(I have a 13 year old).
I would either get a paid babysitter or just accept that at the moment date nights will be at home with a takeaway which is the reality for many of us. If you are going to be checking your phone for the cameras etc then you may aswell just be at home anyway!

I wouldn't
My very sensible 12 (almost 13) year old would zone out on hos xbox and not hear younger ones stirring or crying

I have friends who were used as babysitters at similar ages and resented it

I was going to say yes to a four year old but no to a toddler but then saw you would be two minutes away. I'd be fine with that.

I cared for my sister at similar ages and would jump at the opportunity, we are very close.

No way. It's not fair on a 13 yo to be responsible for the lives of two very young children.
Because that is what you are asking.

If something happened, he would have to live with it for the rest of his life.

no way- sorry just no especially not with an 18 month old, they are way too volatile and unpredictable.

hire a babysitter!

It's not fair to parentify your eldest child because you chose to have two other children.

Hire a babysitter to watch them, don't leave a 13yr old to do your job, that's not fair.

If the dc are reliable sleepers, your oldest dc is sensible and you're only a few minutes away and make sure you're 100% contactable then no issue.

I was babysitting my siblings and other family members at that age.

Christ, of course its fine as long as DS is OK with it and you're literally 2 minutes away and 100% contactable.

Offer to pay him some extra pocket money and he'll probably beg you to go out more often! 🤷‍♀️😂

Some parents could easily be more than two minutes away on their own property but would leave a teen to watch younger children.

hes 13 and you are two minutes down the road. 100% I would.

every 13 year old is different. I have met some I wouldn’t trust my cat with. But my eldest is 13 and I would trust her with a 4 and 18month old

Thank you for all the views. I must say, I’m a bit shocked about some of the comments. I’m not trying to ‘parentify’ my child. DS absolutely adores his young siblings and I would 100% trust him with them. Of course I would give him some pocket money too. If the option of someone else was available I wouldn’t even be considering this.
Also, both children are reliably asleep from 7pm so it really is just about someone being in the house. DS isn’t actually doing anything other than being at home, as he would be anyway.
I haven’t made my mind up either way on this yet but I am disappointed by some of the comments. Maybe it’s a generational thing. I’m an older parent this time around and it was a common thing to do when I was growing up.

I was a paid babysitter for kids that age when I was 13. It was fine.

I think as they're siblings and you're nearby it's fine!

I was a paid babysitter for kids of similar ages at 13. Tbh if they are well behaved I’d trust them more than a random. I think you have to discuss it with them and agree an hourly rate though.

Sorry OP, 18 months is far to young to leave with a 13 year old.
Another year maybe, but not now.

I really don't understand people saying it is okay to leave a 13 year old responsible for younger children.

Yes fine if everything goes well, but the reason you get a babysitter is to not place unfair responsibility on the shoulders of a 13 year old.