Wheb did you stop bothering with a babysitter?

[Tiredalwaystired]

I’ve got two sensible girls aged 15 and 12. Youngest is in first year of high school.

We’ve left them home alone in the afternoons at weekends for a while and on one of those trips we were a good hour away - they were absolute fine and MIL is only round the corner.

Im wondering at what age you stoppex bothering with evening babysitters? Did you just do local nights out first? We’re in the London suburbs so could go into town potentially.

What was your experience? Thanks!

Please excuse fat typing fingers

Well my 14 year old was babysitting for three small children sometimes up to 8 hours in a stretch so I think you would be fine to leave your 15 year old in charge.
I did have a rule of no under 2's - though many parents didn't seem to be worried about it. Once she was 16 she took on every age.

I started local nights out when DD was 11. She's 13 now and is happy to be home alone.

Mine are 11 and 14 both at secondary school. (Nearly 12 and 15). We've stopped a babysitter a year ago. Started with close by events so could get back if needed. Now go further afield. Last night an hour away by car.

We're London too and have gone into the centre via public transport so similar to you. My two would be very embarrassed if X we got a babysitter.

When youngest was 14 almost 15, but he did have ADHD so we dare not risk it until we were sure he would be sensible. Plus older brother milling around a lot of time. If your girls are sensible it sounds ok.

Not sure what age we left them for the evening but certainly would not get a sitter for an NT 15yo. Nor a 12yo tbh, esp if with the 15yo.

Great! Thanks all. There’s no rule book on these things and due to covid we spent a long time not going out at all of course. To be honest I think we’ve only had two evenings out together in the last seven or eight months so I hadn’t really thought about it.

Time to increase the time away!

When dd1 was 15 she used to babysit in the evening for 3 under 5s. A 12 year old and 15 year old will be fine together for an evening.

I think when they get to a certain age it's whether they are happy to be left - if my 15 yr old really didn't want to be home alone I would arrange for her to go for a sleepover/grandparents to keep her company.

If they are a certain age (prob secondary) and happy to be left and know
what to do if something went wrong (eg our house lights tripped the other week and they were clueless, prob our fault for
not introducing them to the fuse box!) & who to go to in an emergency then you can feel comfortable leaving them!