My sister has a 10 yr old son and a 21 mnth old girl. The girl goes to bed at 7pm and wakes up at 7am. She wants to have time out with husband and was wondering if it would be wrong to put the baby to bed and have the 10yr old listen for the baby. If something went wrong the son could call her. She says she trusts her son to do nothing else but watch TV/ gameboy. And the baby can't get hurt in the crib. What do you think I should advise her to do. Without being condisending.
2006-11-01 02:35:14 · 21 answers · asked by tsostler 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
You have to check with your state for the legal age. Also it really depends on the maturity level of the child. I would never leave a 10 year old in charge of a 21 month old. What if the baby chokes or gets sick, or there is some type of emergency? 10 is just too young. I understand where you are coming from not wanting to offend, but there really isn't an easy way to bring it up.
2006-11-01 02:43:26 · answer #1 · answered by voidtillnow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way too young. Evenings are better to have someone older to watch them. A 10 year old can get totally absorbed in the game boy or TV and not hear the baby. What is he to do when she cries anyway? Too much responsibility for a child of that age. If she thinks her son is ready she should have him take a babysitting class. But most do not offer them until the child is 12 years old. That is a lot of stress for a 10 year old to have.
2006-11-01 02:39:04 · answer #2 · answered by mktk401 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
I think that a 10 yr old is way too young to be a babysitter.
To many things can go wrong and the 10 yr old, could become very panicky as to what to do in this kind of situation.
Besides, the parents could be charged for leaving children at these ages home alone without a responsible adult around.
Maybe, you could volunteer to watch them while the parents go out sometimes...im sure the 10 year old would love to have you there with him since kids love it when family members watch them while their parents go out.
2006-11-01 02:55:56 · answer #3 · answered by angelbeliever114 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is not a good idea.
If there were a problem, the 10 yo would be scarred for life. My grandmother was shunned by her family when she was left in charge of 6 siblings and one died. In my heart I blamed her parents for that lapse in judgment. It was in the 1920s but it still holds true today.
Offer to take them for an evening. They should hire a sitter.
My 10 yo is super responsible and there is no way that I would leave her in charge. Okay for 10 minutes to run to the corner store but otherwise no dice.
When he is 11 or 12 he should take a red cross babysitting course but in the mean time, she could contact the red cross and get the guidelines for babysitting.
In fact they could be risking having the kids taken away from them should someone find out. Or, heaven-forbid, they were in an accident while they were out.
You are a good sister for being concerned and not wanting to make her feel bad.
2006-11-01 02:46:15 · answer #4 · answered by anirbas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
10 years old is too young, he needs a babysitter himself. I don't know your situation but maybe your sister can ask either her parents or her hubby's parents to watch the kids one night. Most grandparents love having their grandchildren over. You're wrong, the baby can get hurt in the crib. She could try climbing out and fall to the floor. Basically a 10 year old is not responsible enough to take care of a baby.
2006-11-01 02:43:51 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Red Cross has a great babysitter training course. It is free. Suggest that your sister take her son and attend the course. I believe 12 years old is the minimum age for babysitting, so she would learn that in the class from "experts" leaving you out of the bad-guy role. Also, both would learn some very good information for later on, when her son is old enough to be left alone with his sister.
2006-11-01 05:17:33 · answer #6 · answered by Kalliope 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think 10 is way to young to be by themselves for an evening or watching an infant! I consider 13 the youngest age for babysitting others.
Just be up front with her - what if there was a fire or the baby was choking? They need to hire a REAL babysitter - you could volunteer to babysit if you are interested.
Plus, if something did happen while they left their children, they could be found guilty of neglect (or worse) and you could possibly be charged too since you know the situation.
2006-11-01 02:42:33 · answer #7 · answered by kmcdonald 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something can ALWAYS go wrong when it comes to infants. In my oppinion, the worst thing that you could do would be to leave your son alone with his sister. He might be much more responsable than other boys his age; but he is a kid and when hes scared he probably will break down. This meaning that if something scares him and he looses the train of thought that tells him to call his mother he wont remember until hes calmed down. And at that age when they are scared they usually only think about themeselves.
2006-11-01 05:17:48 · answer #8 · answered by Rose 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Children should be 9 before they are even outdoors unsupervised (that's the general age where they can think BEFORE running into the street or dangerous situation)... so there is no way, come hell or high water, I would ever let a 10 year old babysit. Tell her to break the bank and pay for a babysitter.
2006-11-01 02:43:22 · answer #9 · answered by mama_bears_den 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HELL NO!!! hes only 10....no way i would never allow that, what if the baby does wake up...or anything else, theres too much that can happen that 10 yr old wouldnt be able to do anything about...for my 2 yr old daughter the baby sitter must me at least 15-16 and very responsble!!!
2006-11-01 02:40:34 · answer #10 · answered by ╣Sexy ♥ Momma╠ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋