Is this unreasonable for a seven year old to do?

Question

Is this to much for a seven year old to do?
i am pregnant now. My duaghter is 7. I am thinking of offerering her $3 to babysit while I swim laps for 45 min to an hour. The pool is one of those ones that are right on the swimming deck with a glass divider about 3 1/2 feet tall. I feel it is safe as I am right there.. but is that too much to ask my daughter to do. She wants to be babysitter when she grows up and loves to earn money. I know she would totally go for it... The viewing area is so close, it is like her watching the baby while I'm making supper in the next room or taking a shower a couple rooms away.. only at the pool, I can see them at all times and hear them. This of course is only once I trust that my daughter has the hang of handling him... but most likely the baby will sleep. I really want to exercise and their dad left.. I have no family in town.

Answer 1

newborn babies sleep for hours at a time, so if you get a baby monitor you can put one where the baby is and one outside in the pool area turn it up loud and away you go and your daughter can be inside keeping an eye on the baby and also an extra to tell you if he wakes if you don't hear him (sorry for using male pronouns lol). as before if you feel safe and are both happy with it go for it!

Answer 2

Bless your heart. I understand how lonely and put upon you must feel. You have a couple more months of pregnancy to go. May I suggest that you try to find a friend in the meanwhile that is a responsible adult to watch your infant?
Leaving a newborn in the care of a seven year old is irresponsible and borders on abusive. There are just too many variables that can happen. I believe in your heart of hearts that you know that, otherwise you would not have asked.
Find someone who will allow your 7 year old to "help" while they watch the baby. The distance between being in the water swimming and out of it in time to avert a possible tragic turn of events is just too great.

Answer 3

I wouldn't start out at 45 minutes to an hour--that's a long time in the mind of a child. I also wouldn't start until the baby is older and more "sturdy."

I would do so after the baby is fed, changed and down for a nap. I would have many discussions with my 7-year-old about responsibility, and about never leaving the infant alone for one second.

One question: When does your daughter get to swim with you?

Answer 4

Probably not right after the baby is born. Once the baby is a few months old, I think its not unreasonable, especially if you can see them at all time. I'd just make sure that after every couple laps, I'd check to make sure the kids are ok.

Answer 5

I would suggest that you gradually let her handle that responsibility with you there to watch and train her until you are confident that she is capable and still check on her as often as you can.