too soon for a teenage babysitter?

dolphins2006

At what age did you or would you start using a teenage babysitter? 

DD is 13 months and DH and I have yet to go out at night.  We just decline the invitation or go out during the afternoon when a co-worker who has young kids or a grandparent (who lives 45 minutes away) can watch her.  However she is getting older and getting her night routine down, so I feel we need to start looking for a night babysitter...we can't keep using her as an excuse.  A different co-worker of mine has a 15 (almost 16) year old daughter who is really responsible and has babysitting experience, although I think DD will be the youngest...I am hesitant because of her age, DD's age, and never leaving DD alone at night.  I think if the girl were 18...I still would have questions.  I just don't know when to start "testing" teenage babysitters.

Erin&Rod

Don't feel bad, we just had our first night out last week for our anniversary.  We left DS with my mom.  I personally wouldn't feel comfortable leaving DS with a teenager or really with anyone else I didn't know very well, but that's just me. 

lite-bright

We've used our teenage next-door neighbor twice and it's gone just fine. And she's a brand-new sitter, about 15, without experience -- but she took a Red Cross babysitting class recently (I remember taking the same one when I was her age.).

?

We know her parents really well and they've always made sure they're home in case she runs into any trouble, and we've never been more than 20 minutes away, max.?Plus, we've kept the time periods pretty short -- 2-3 hours, and not over meals so far. DD is fairly easy in the evenings, goes to bed early and then it's just a matter of having someone there so she's not alone in case of an emergency. So I've been okay with it -- but I think I'd be a little more hesitant if her parents weren't right there.

?

We don't have any family in-state, and it's been really nice to be able to go out every once in awhile. If you think you can trust her, and particularly if she has experience, I'd give it a go.?

Toni1019

I am not a good person to ask. Though I started babysitting for kids when I was 11, I still havent left my kids with anyone who was not family or a very close friend. And my oldest is almost 6. We always take our kids out with us when we go out to dinner. Sucks, but I just dont trust people.

brightning

Why don't you hire the girl as a "mother's helper" to entertain the baby while you're there for a few hours (cleaning or cooking, whatever). That way you can get a sense of how well the sitter does with your DC. If you feel comfortable, you can decide to use her more.

franciscaz

After a year, I consider it okay for a teenager but I use ones that I REALLY KNOW WELL and trust.  I wouldn't just leave em w/a random chick.

juietbride

I have yet to leave DS with anyone other than my mom.  I have a SIL that was a nanny for three girls and my sister who has oodles of babysitting experience and both are in their twenties...I have yet to leave DS with either of them.  I think I am just a paronoid one, but DH is right there with me.  I really think you should be comfortable with the situation before leaving DC with anyone else.  HTH

andrea922

If you use her after you have put your baby to bed I don't see what the big deal is. We have 2 different babysitters that are both about 19/20, and they come over after we have put ds to bed (at 7:30) and they get paid to sit and watch tv or study (they are nursing students). I started babysitting when I was 11 or 12, which is crazy these days, but I don't see a problem with having a 16 year old do it. Make sure you know her mom will be home and that she could call her if there was a problem and she couldn't get a hold of you.

wellfleet04

I seem to be outside the Nest norm because I'm willing to leave my kid with someone who isn't family/close friend.  No one on here seems to use babysitters.  Oh well.  To answer your question, we've left Kate with our 13 year old neighbor several times.  She comes over after Kate has gone to bed (Kate NEVER wakes up).  The sitter's mom lives across the street, so if she ran into trouble she could always call her mom.  We only use her when we're going to a party or dinner in town and could be home in 10 minutes or so, but we do use her.  We have other sitters that are college students that put Kate to bed, feed her dinner, etc.  I don't really see a problem with it.  People left their kids with me when I started babysitting at age 13 and I did fine. 

andrea922

wellfleet04:

I seem to be outside the Nest norm because I'm willing to leave my kid with someone who isn't family/close friend.  No one on here seems to use babysitters.  Oh well.  To answer your question, we've left Kate with our 13 year old neighbor several times.  She comes over after Kate has gone to bed (Kate NEVER wakes up).  The sitter's mom lives across the street, so if she ran into trouble she could always call her mom.  We only use her when we're going to a party or dinner in town and could be home in 10 minutes or so, but we do use her.  We have other sitters that are college students that put Kate to bed, feed her dinner, etc.  I don't really see a problem with it.  People left their kids with me when I started babysitting at age 13 and I did fine. 

You are not alone, I am the same. I think this falls under one of those 'only on the nest things' and I think in reality more people use babysitters than not.

mishy611

I have used our next-door-neighbor teenage babysitter since DD was 9 months old.  I really don't worry one bit.  These days, everyone has cell phones so it's not like she couldn't get in touch with me in an instant if she had any question at all. And for the most part, she's just sitting in the house watching tv since DD goes to bed around 7:30. 

 

Out of curiousity, are all the moms who are so hesitant to trust a teenage babysitter SAHMs?  Maybe since I leave DD every day at daycare I have less of a problem leaving her with a sitter......Or maybe I just REALLY enjoy my (rare) nights out and so have less trust issues, lol.  

Tess12

Do what you're comfortable with.  My New Year's Resolution was to find a regular babysitter.  I'm working on it, but haven't gotten there yet.  I've gotten some recommendations for neighborhood girls who do a lot of babysitting.

Strawberrywine

I use about 3 highschool and middle school babysitters for my 19 mos old. I started using them as mother helpers when he was 12 mos. I would get things done around the house, take a nap, exercise, so I could keep an eye on how it was going. Then we did short nights out, late afternoons.

 Honestly I truly feel like I'm paying for the mom's not the babysitters. All three of my babysitters have mom's that I 100% trust that are right down the street if the kids run into a problem. 

lite-bright

mishy611:

I have used our next-door-neighbor teenage babysitter since DD was 9 months old.? I really don't worry one bit.? These days, everyone has cell phones so it's not like she couldn't get in touch with me in an instant if she had any question at all. And for the most part, she's just sitting in the house watching tv since DD goes to bed around 7:30.?

?

Out of curiousity, are all the moms who are so hesitant to trust a teenage babysitter SAHMs?? Maybe since I leave DD every day at daycare I have less of a problem leaving her with a sitter......Or maybe I just REALLY enjoy my (rare) nights out and so have less trust issues, lol. ?

I'm a SAHM and I've used my 15-year-old next-door neighbor. My DD goes to bed at 7, so yeah, I feel like she's mostly just sitting around waiting for us to get home. ?

livinitup

We had our next door neighbor teenager babysit while his mom was home (and on call if our 12 month old cried) ... and we left after DD fell asleep.  It was heaven.

If you are looking for a babysitter and someone older, why not check with area colleges? Lots of college students register with their colleges for extra cash. 

lhuttlinger

I have one already! A girl in my church babysits, and she is 5. It's usually at her house while I teach dance. The bonus is that mom and dad are home and they are both respiratory therapists!

mauceddie

I left my 2 dd's with a 14 year old (starting when my youngest was 10 months old). I wasn't worried at all- she came highly recommended.