How old to stay home alone overnight?

[GeordieRacer]

We have three teens, ages 17, 15 and 13. Contemplating leaving them overnight but I'm nervous about it - not sure if I'm being precious or if this is not on. 17 years old is obviously fine to be left but I wouldn't leave the 13 year old if she wasn't with her big brothers ... though probably she's the most sensible of the three. Thoughts?

Why do people always say this? There isn’t any law on this. It’s parent judgement. The law only comes into it if you have left your child in danger, or could reasonably assume there was some kind of danger. There is no law on leaving kids home alone.

My mother used to go abroad for long weekends with her boyfriends and leave me home alone when I was 12!

She was negligent then. I'm sorry that was your experience.

www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone

I’d have been comfortable to leave my youngest child with my oldest at that age.

Are they all sensible? Do they get on well? If yes, it’s fine.

I think if it’s three of them it’s fine- my 14yo is more likely to panic if there were a knock at the door, but 16yo wouldn’t my 16yo might leave somewhere open for the dog to get out but 14yo is always on top of it and reminding him or will keep the dog in with him. So they both compliment each other and you’ll probably find that too (haven’t left either alone overnight yet)

Coldinscotland
How do they manage in a crisis? We went away and left dd 18 and dd 16 with adult siblings popping in. Night we came back our June fitted shower burst into flames... Know dd's would have panicked ridiculously.. Has made me worry even more now about leaving them in future!
our toaster once burst into flames. Dh was there right beside it at the time. Crazy how these things happen- bil’s roommates charger once burst into flames too. (I’d have panicked at both but dh and kids wouldn’t bat an eyelid!)

I had to go overnight for work a few months ago. As it was a Saturday DH decided to drive me so I didn't have to do traina back on a Sunday evening.
We left the almost 17 and 15 year old at home with the dog
Our neighbours were aware, and they had numbers for Grampy, uncle and aunt.
Ordered them a takeaway, made sure there was plenty of food and some emergency cash
Got back, house spotless and both fine

If you are happy that they are sensible and won't argue or have people over etc then it is fine. I think it is better if the first time you leave them you are somewhere you could get back from if you needed to or there is a relative or friend who could get there quickly. Have you left them in the evening before to go out for a meal or anything ?

In our house the 16 year old leaves saucepans on the induction hob and the dog and cat like to go for a walk on the island to see what’s in it.
ny dp has done this before and the dog ended up turning the hob on, and it burnt the bottom out of the pan.
the fire risk is what terrifies me.
I mean they cook for themselves alone in the house all the time, but I’m usually only up the road at work!

We went away for 3 days last year leaving 17 & 15yo. My only concern was parties as a couple of people I know had left their very sensible teens alone and come home to a trashed house and someone in hospital with alcohol poisoning.

We are good friends with our neighbours so they kept an ear out. We also have one of those ring doorbells with a camera linked to our phones so kids know they couldn’t sneak a load of mates in without us getting an alert.

I’d be very clear to the older ones that they could not be having friends over with a 13yo in the house. It’s not safe. If you trust them to be sensible about that then I’m sure it would be fine. Do run through some basic safety stuff with them - we once had an internal pipe suddenly explode spraying hot water everywhere which was a wake-up call to teach everyone how to turn the water off!