me and my partner run a cafe and he wants me to let a girl in the village babysit while i help out on bank holiday monday. I would express milk for my baby, my partner thinks im being stuped. am I being paranoid or do you think its worth giving her a chance? apparently she has looked after a 3yr old before.
2007-08-21 11:21:47 · 58 answers · asked by shabbychic 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
thanks to everyone, i feel lots better now i no its illegal for under 16s to look after a child!
2007-08-21 11:35:53 · update #1
a child minding a child , the law says no-one under 16 should be left with a child
2007-08-21 11:27:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
The law on this is not cut-and-dried, according to the NSPCC website and another organisation called Home Alone. It's not actually illegal for an under-16 to look after a child, but since they are not legally considered capable of carrying the responsibility, the parent still remains responsible and could be prosecuted if the young person's care is inadequate or anything goes wrong. The NSPCC do not consider that 12-year olds are old enough to be left alone for long. They consider that 13 year olds can reasonably be left alone, but not with responsibility for another child. So YOU ARE RIGHT.
One solution, as mentioned, would be invite the girl to spend some time with you and the baby, and if she shows aptitude, take her and the baby to the cafe, and let her entertain the baby near you, if there are suitable conditions. Then she might also swap over with you for a while when there is a job that she is capable of doing - clearing tables, loading and emptying the dishwasher, etc. She might shape up to either baby-minding or cafe work, over the next 2 years or so, to the advantage of both sides.
The idea of employing her in the cafe is attractive, but there are strict rules about what jobs 13 year olds can do. The local authority maintains a list of these, and the employer has to obtain permission. They can only legally work a maximum of 5 hours a day, even in the school holidays. Go to the website below for more on that: http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/foragegroup/11to14years/childemployment/
The simplest solution would surely be to find a fully capable adult or older young person to employ in the cafe on special occasions, who could also cover for sickness and holidays.
2007-08-21 16:20:15 · answer #2 · answered by jimporary 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I used to babysit when i was 14 but I think the legal age to baby sit is now 16. It sounds stupid when some girls are having their own babies at 13 but personally i would not let her do it. She might be really responsible but any thing could happen. I have a 3 month old and i would not let anyone that young look after her. My brother is 24 and i am not sure he would cope!
Would it not be better to offer her a job in the cafe cleaning tables or washing pots or something. Then you can stay and look after the baby.
2007-08-21 11:35:03 · answer #3 · answered by Tracey G 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
no, not a baby that young. That is pushing it a bit. a 3 yr old, yes, a 13 yr old can care for a child of that age. But there are so many things that could go wrong with a 4 month old baby. Just an idea, she could help out by watching the baby AT the cafe, so that you are there too in case anything goes horribly wrong. Or have her watch the baby under the supervision of a responsible adult that can be there in case of trouble
2007-08-21 11:29:44 · answer #4 · answered by paganmom26 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
hi, i have a son of 13 and i left him home alone once, as i thought he was ready and responsible but when i was out he let 3 friends into the house and they were all messing around using the phone and 1 friend phoned 999 for a laugh, the friends had gone before we got home and he never said any thing about what had happened while we were out so we thought it all went really well--- until the police turned up at the door saying there was a 999 call made from this house, i said you must be mistaken my son was here on his own, it was only at that point he blurted out what he and his friends were up to, the police then told me it is against the law for a child to be left home alone under the age of 16. so there for she can not look after your baby. her own parents should not allow her to for a start, i have 3 daughters ages 8/5/2 and there's no way i would let my 13 year old child look after any of them never mind a 13 year old who isn't my child.
hope this helps you in your decision
2007-08-21 12:03:25 · answer #5 · answered by tracey m 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, a four month old baby is very fragile. What if something happened when she was left alone with the baby like the baby quit breathing or became very sick? 9 times out of 10, that 13 year old will panic and not know what to do to get her breathing while waiting for an ambulance. A three year old is a lot different than a four month old. A 13 year old is not mature enough to handle the responsibility of taking care of a four month old unsupervised. Remember, she is still a kid herself.
2007-08-21 11:32:25 · answer #6 · answered by youngpoet_33 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
NO definitely not! She's 13 and she may have baby sat a 3year old, but you've got a 4month old baby which is a totally different thing! Your baby can't tell even begin to her what's wrong or what your baby needs.
That's your baby that you're letting another child look after. It would make a big difference if there was an adult to help the girl to look after the baby like the girls parents?
2007-08-21 11:36:21 · answer #7 · answered by ~Kitana~ 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It depends on the 13 yr old. Does she come from a family where she's done loads of baby sitting? Is she the oldest and knows how to take care of a baby? Is she a smart girl that will listen to your instructions and implement them?
I know some really mature and intelligent 13 yr olds that I
would let stay with my 4 month old. They have taken baby sitting courses, know what to do in an emergency, they've even put together a baby sitting kit to carry with them to appointments.
I would give her a trial run. Let her come to your house for an hour and you watch her interact with the baby. A couple days later, leave her alone for a couple hours while you run errands.
For that matter, there are 25 yr olds I wouldn't trust with my child. It just depends on the girl.
2007-08-21 11:34:13 · answer #8 · answered by maegs33 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
If you live in the UK it is illegal to leave your baby with anyone under the age of 14 and you may face charges of abandonment if you do...
and to be perfectly frank did your man fall out of a tree and bang his head...he wants a mere child to look after his baby and he is happy that at 13 she would know what to do in an emergency....
and as the babies mother the only sensible thing you can do is say NO to the stupid proposal....nothing is or should be more important than the welfare of your baby
2007-08-21 11:36:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Trust your intuition. It sounds like you don't feel comfortable with it, so don't do it. 13 is really young to be watching an infant, a 3 year old is fine for someone of that age to watch, but not such a young baby. Is there an older, trusted family member or friend who could help you out by watching the baby on that day?
2007-08-21 11:29:43 · answer #10 · answered by nimo22 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Sorry but she is far too young to deal with a baby of that age-and its illegal for a reason. Can't you take the baby with you if its your own business and maybe the girl as well ? it isn't worth giving this child a chance-she will have to live a long time with the guilt if anything goes wrong. i know its difficult but your baby is much more important than your business.
2007-08-21 11:32:27 · answer #11 · answered by smac1 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋