When is the appropiate age to start babysitting?

Question

My parents think that 14 is too young to babysit?!?! I want to do it because I love little kids and I want to make money so I can stop asking my parents for money for the movies and stuff? Any help what age and how to convince my parents to let me babysit? Thank You!!!

Answer 1

I started to babysit when I was 12, but that was only for family. It can be a little bit hard at first. Prove your maturity to your parents. Don't whine for your way. Help out around the house without being told to. Do your homework and make good grades. Show them that you are good with children and can handle them.

Answer 2

I started younger than that but I was babysitting at a house across the street from us and my parents were home. It was usually at night when the kids were in bed already.

One of the kids that babysits for me is 14 but then my oldest is 13, and I have her there to help mine out because the other kids are 7, 8, and 11. I don't think I would let a 14 y/o babysit an infant. JMO though.

Answer 3

First of all, I am a model and the best advice I can give you is when you are scouted by an agency if they say you have to pay say good-bye because you are the one that is suppose to make the money. Also, do not get caught up in the negative side thinking that you have to loose weight. In addition, as for the age of babysitting I would say 12 with the course from the YMCA.

Answer 4

I was babysitting neighborhood children when I was 14. It really does depend on the person. There are a few 14-year-olds in my homeschool co-op and I would be perfectly comfortable with them sitting for my children. They are bright, mature and responsible.

My suggestion is that you ask your parents to not consider your age, but instead consider what they think makes a good babysitter. Once you know what it is they are "grading" you by, you may be able to demonstrate to them that you have the skills/responsibility they feel necessary. If it is truly just an arbitrary "age" thing with them, perhaps by engaging them in a conversation about what babysitting means and requires, you can show that you are capable of doing a good job.

I'd also take some initiative. There are books about babysitting - try this link for titles and then you could request one or more at your local library - http://parentingteens.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/babysitting.htm

Read up on babysitting so you can answer any questions your parents might toss at you. (As in, "How would you handle....?")

And you might want to make yourself a personal "Babysitting Notebook". In it put forms for parents to fill out with all their important contact information, emergency numbers, and anything you need to know about their children, like food allergies, bed-time rituals, where the First Aid kit and Fire Extinquisher(s) are kept, etc. This will show you are serious about being a babysitter and want to conduct yourself in a responsible manner with your families.

This link - from the Red Cross - has lots of babysitting information and forms you can download and use -
http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/courses/babyindex.html

Finally, you might even consider making up a flyer to advertise your services - something you can show your parents that you'd like to give to other parents at your church, community center, etc. Again, this will show that you are treating this as something serious, that you know it requires a mature attitude. (And it has the added bonus of being something you can use to let local families know you're available.)

Just remember, approach your parents with a plan, with answers at the ready and with a calm, mature attitude. If you find yourself whinning or arguing, you're probably NOT going to win them over.

Good luck, dear!

Answer 5

Age 12 is pretty typical around here! However, it depends entirely on the kid. There are some 12yo's I wouldn't trust my kids with at all. Others, no problem. Same goes for 14yo's.

Have they expressed their specific concerns? What about you babysitting at your house one day--with them there? I did that a few times in my youth. That way you are still responsible for everything, but they have their fears allayed because they know that everything's okay.

Answer 6

I started when I was 12 so I think 14 is old enough if the people who are hiring you think you are old enough and trust you then you should be able to babysit.

Answer 7

Its a perfict age unlese u have other siblings and u treat the mean or tease them and that might be why your parents wont let u babbysit

Answer 8

Perhaps you had better check what the legal age is for babysitters first. Then, it would help if you had some jobs lined up first.

Answer 9

well i think 14 is good unless you are immature im more mature so i can do it have been able to since i was 11

Answer 10

That seems old enough.