would you let your 13 y.o. babysit your 8 or 9 mo baby - all day?

KathrynMD

I just found out my co-worker's 13 y.o. has been watching her baby all week b/c her daycare lady is on vacation and her back up person ended up going into the hospital. 

I'd just be worried all day long.

LSR

no!

oceanlover

never.

There are too many horrifying stories of daycare providers losing their cool, i can't imagine a 13 yr old being able to handle tantrums, etc.

betsnup

When I was 13, I was baby-sitting a 6 month old baby 3 days a week all summer long.  It's kinda crazy to think now, but I started baby-sitting the minute I turned 11 and could take the smarter-sitter course.  I guess it depends on the 13 year-old.

cajuncutie0169

definitely not.

pixiedustie

Nope

naturelle25

No way...there are many reasons I wouldnt but one of the top reasons is b/c a 13 y.o. cant drive anywhere if there was an emergency! MIL doesnt drive so we dont like her staying with Lilly alone. It sucks but Im not taking that risk.

CrazeyJaneyR

Depends on the kid. Also, is the kid just 13 or almost 14?? Kids mature at different times and it depends on the person. It is the kids sibling, and they may normally give her a lot of responsibility.

Ilumine

There are actually LAWS regarding this very issue. 

expecting-n-tx

betsnup:

When I was 13, I was baby-sitting a 6 month old baby 3 days a week all summer long.  It's kinda crazy to think now, but I started baby-sitting the minute I turned 11 and could take the smarter-sitter course.  I guess it depends on the 13 year-old.

 

exactly! And I think I would be more comfortable if it was an older sibling as well.

mlf625

No way. ?My aunt has a 13 year old boy and an 11 month old and while the 13 year old does great with his sister for short periods of time (if mom runs to the store or goes to dinner after the baby is in bed) there's no way he'd be okay all day long for a week. ?My aunt had meetings a few weeks ago and the kids all came to my house because the 13 year old knew it would be too much to handle all day long.

It sounds like your co-worker was in a bind, but that would definitely make me nervous.?

his4evr04

No.

AngieandTony

betsnup:

When I was 13, I was baby-sitting a 6 month old baby 3 days a week all summer long.  It's kinda crazy to think now, but I started baby-sitting the minute I turned 11 and could take the smarter-sitter course.  I guess it depends on the 13 year-old.

i did the same thing as a kid, but i wouldn't do it as a mom

CrazeyJaneyR

naturelle25:

No way...there are many reasons I wouldnt but one of the top reasons is b/c a 13 y.o. cant drive anywhere if there was an emergency! MIL doesnt drive so we dont like her staying with Lilly alone. It sucks but Im not taking that risk.

?

This is a good point, but some SAHP's don't have a car. ?There are plenty of people that live in ?a 1 car household and the parent that works outside the home has the car all day.

djandkellen

Um, no. 

holly423

Probably not

DG1

betsnup:

When I was 13, I was baby-sitting a 6 month old baby 3 days a week all summer long.  It's kinda crazy to think now, but I started baby-sitting the minute I turned 11 and could take the smarter-sitter course.  I guess it depends on the 13 year-old.

This.  For one day, I could definitely see it.  It's the "every day this week" part of your post that has me a little concerned.  But yeah, it'd still depend on the kid.

ETA: That said, I am nervous about *MIL* staying with DS all day saturday and Sunday this weekend. And that's with DH home (but working outside in the yard all day).  I think I might be less nervous with (certain) 13yos, because I could tell them to do X and Y and would trust them to do it. 

That's sad. I'd trust a hypothetical (responsible) 13yo more than MIL.

Mrs.Hizzo

It's not ideal, but it's probably not as bad as it sounds. If the 13 year old is mature and responsible and her little brother/sister is an easy baby, I imagine they're OK. If this were a neighbor kid I wouldn't say that, but a sibling is a lot different. I would still want to make other arrangements as soon as possible.

iteachk

betsnup:

When I was 13, I was baby-sitting a 6 month old baby 3 days a week all summer long.  It's kinda crazy to think now, but I started baby-sitting the minute I turned 11 and could take the smarter-sitter course.  I guess it depends on the 13 year-old.

Me too.  I was watching four kids under 6 at 11 years old.  I loved it.

xmasbabymama

It totally depends on the sitter, the family situation, the neighborhood situation. At 13, i babysat infants all day.

Clearly this is not the mom's first choice, but it sounds like her childcare plans fell through. I'm sure she talks to her children a lot and is ready to go home if she needs to.

The car doesn't bother me. If it's a true emergency, call 911.

marisa52606

Absolutley not.  My sister is 13 and I let her watch Kira when I'm in the shower, or making dinner, but that is the extent of that. 

jade_sweatpea

hell no

punkfiction

prob not. but fwiw, i was babysitting 8 and 9 month olds at 11-12. i did a fine job if i say so myself.

ToledoDeux

No way.  Not only would I be worried, but it's not fair to the 13 yo.  It's hard to be with an infant all day, and it's not a job for a kid.  I loathe when parents depend on their older kids this way.

happilyhis

No slight to the mom, I guess it was her only option, but no. Not at 8 or 9 months. That's still a baby baby.