Parents Please!?

Question

What are your opinions on letting other people babysitt your children? Would you ever consider a responsible teen watching your children?What is the youngest age tenn you would allow to watch your kids?

Sorry I meant teen not tenn.

Answer 1

Many teens are excellent babysitters and like to earn themselves spending money. Serve snacks they'll enjoy, leave an emergency number, and go out. Leave detailed instructions and better still, get a sitter who has been recommended to you. The age of the sitter depends on the age of the child you need a sitter for. If I needed a sitter for a newborn, it would only be an adult I really trusted. For toddlers, a sitter who can handle emergencys like a grown up. Maybe a 12-14 yr old if only for a short period of time. For older kids, sometimes someone closer to their age is good so they can relate to your kids. Also a friend of mine has pre-teen girls so she will only have female babysitters. Know your child and your sitter and you should be ok.

Answer 2

I never let a teenager watch my children when they were small. Now one of mine is at the age where many people ask if I let her baby sit and I say no. I really think college age is the best at least 18 years of age or older. Which is funny because in my day and age I watched other people's children when I was only 10 and I mean all day during summer vacation. They paid me alot and I did a great job. My mother lived three doors down but still she never came over to the house. I was responsible. Now a day a 10 year old watching small children is considered illegal. Most people don't even realize this. Some states say what age is the legal age to be left alone, or allowed to watch children of a younger age. I would check. The last thing you need is to hire a teenager something happen and you are taken to court by CPS. So check what the legal age is in your area. They do have such laws but no one talks about it.

Answer 3

I let Norah and Evie, who are 12 and 13, babysit for my 1 and 3-year-olds. They do a great job, and I'm completely comfortable leaving my children with them.

But they came with the best of references (they "aged out" of the home daycare that my daughters go to) and they're both Red Cross babysitter certified.

If I didn't already know them so well, I'd probably have asked them to come "babysit" one day when I was planning to be at home but involved in some kind of project. That way, I could see how they interacted with my kids and make up my mind.

Show me you're responsible and that my kids like and respect you, and the job is yours.

Answer 4

Well its all about how mature and responsible the teen is. I think its great for you to get away time. You need to do this for your own sanity and relaxation. Its hard to do this especially when your a stay at home mom but you as well as your kids will benefit from the experience. That being said i would say that teens aging from 13 and up are probably the most responsible to be able to handle tough situations. Good luck and enjoy the alone time!!!!

Answer 5

I have a very responsible 12 year old who watches my 2 year old at her house. Her mom or other adult is always around in case of emergency. She is a friend of the family, so we have known her for a while. In terms of a teenager staying alone with your child, they should be at least 14 years old. Make sure you know the teen well. Have the teen come over and watch your child for short periods of time while you run a quick errand to the store or go for a little walk. See how the teen interacts with your child before going on a date night.

Answer 6

Well I guess it would depend on how old your child is My kids are 14,11,and 9 and I do leave my 14 year old in charge for an hour or so at a time. But I know he is very responsible and caring and has never been in trouble. I would not leave them over night. I guess if my parents and other family members didn't live down the road I would not feel as easy about leaving them here as I do. But I think if you know the kid and your kid and the are about the age of 13 it is OK.

Answer 7

Okay I am not a parent, but I am a brother who loves his sister. I am only 14 abut many people have asked me to babysit their child/children. I how ever keep turning them down and will keep turning them down until I take and pass a first aid class. I don't want to put people's children in danger because I don't know what I'm doing. Now with the age requirement I really don't think you should have one. I think it should be based on how mature the teen is. Plus if someone should have passed a first aid class. Well good luck and ultimately its your own choice. Whichever you make will be the best.

Answer 8

Watch the news? I am a parent of 3 ages 14,13 and 07. There is no way I would let any teenage kids watch my kids. My son has went to daycare for a short time but my daughters have never been watched by anyone but there grandmother. You should never let anyone watch your child until there old enough to tell you everything that happens in there day.
Good Luck!

Answer 9

I am a father of two.....I think I would trust a responsible teenager at age 13 or higher, as teens can have a difficult time getting a part-time job.......I would tend to trust a teen more with babysitting then I would an adult......I've used teen babysitters for my little ones with very good results.......It's adults and other people I would be somewhat wary of, not knowing their back round and what emotional/psychological baggage they may be carrying.......... :-)

Answer 10

I don't let ANYONE waych my kids other than their grandparents. I won't put my kids in daycare, let someone I don't know very well watch them. I won't even let my best friend watch my kids. The reason my best friend can't watch them: When my daughter was 6 months old, I asked her to keep an eye on her so I could go to the bathroom. My daughter was laying on the couch right NEXT to her. My friend was so "involved" in a magazine that she didn't pay attention to my daughter at all. I came running out of the bathroom when I heard a loud "thump." My daughter had rolled off the couch and onto my coffee table. Needless to say, she never even kept an eye on her when I went to the bathroom.