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Do you let the teen babysitter drive your LO's?

SmootchySmootchy member
in Parenting
I'm thinking NO but I'm wondering if I'm totally crazy or just a little crazy. 

Our 16 year old (extremely responsible) next door neighbor will be watching the kids part time in the summer. DH and I were talking about her taking the kids to the park or McD's on a rare occasion. I would like them to enjoy their summer by doing fun things and going fun places, but I'm not sure I trust the situation. Again, our neighbor is a wonderful and VERY responsible girl but accidents happen and she's still a young driver. What say parenting? Would you let your 16 year old neighbor take your kids up to 7-11 or something for a summer time treat? 
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Re: Do you let the teen babysitter drive your LO's?

  • Rach7170Rach7170 member
    No
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  • mschoeppmschoepp member
    No.

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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
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  • SmootchySmootchy member
    HAHAHAHA 
    Oh my God, I'm so revealed reading this. I'm not crazy and it's not really even a question. 
    #:-S


    ok. carry on. 
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  • RondackHikerRondackHiker member
    No.


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  • secretsoutsecretsout member
    I would not.  I'm probably overly paranoid about who drives my kid around, but I definitely wouldn't be comfortable with a 16 year old driving them. 

    I would probably just try and make sure that there were fun things to do at home--kiddie pool, sandbox, those sorts of things.

    Like others have said, I'm pretty sure there are passenger restrictions for young/new drivers in my state.


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  • Pips09Pips09 member
    No way.
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  • ASmallWonderASmallWonder member
    Hell no to a newly licensed driver.
    Formerly known as elmoali :)

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  • jorkz821jorkz821 member
    Nope
    SQUIRREL!!!

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  • kellyrn9956kellyrn9956 member
    No.
    Started TTC 2/2009
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  • wiggyslilsiswiggyslilsis member
    Probably not but I have let my little brother (18 but 17 at the time) drive my daughter in a pinch. He was super nervous, asked a bunchof questions and drove very carefully but he still only did it tthat one time.

    So no.
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  • Ardmhs83Ardmhs83 member
    Heck no!
    PPD/PPA Mom...it has been super hard, but I'm making it! Slow steps...
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  • MrsT0514MrsT0514 member
    Nope nope nope. And I'm on the bench sitting right next to @CtGirl30. The only people that have driven DS thus far are myself and him.
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  • wino2006wino2006 member
    I guess I am in the minority and I would say yes if it's only around town where the speed limit doesn't go above 25mph. I am considering a summer nanny that could transport our kids to swim lessons and summer school in the future. I was a good driver at 16 and to this day have never had an accident or ticket (knock on wood).
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  • klondikebarklondikebar member
    Nope. DD wasn't even allowed to drive when her brothers were in the car with us at first. She's a good driver and conscientious, but that doesn't replace experience. There's no way a new driver that I personally haven't ridden with is carting my kids around. I'm sure that DD could drive safely with one of her brothers in the car. I mean, if we didn't trust her driving ability, she wouldn't have a car to use period, but it's an unnecessary potential distraction at this point.
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  • ilovemygirlsilovemygirls member
    Generally I'd say no, but our favorite sitter (now 20) is so responsible I totally would have let her take the kids to the park or something. We live in a small town & the park is 5 min away, but you can't walk there safely due to no sidewalks.

    When I was barely 16-17 my sisters let me drive their 3-4 yr olds all the time. I'd take them to the mall, to movies, freeways, etc.  Now, I was really responsible but still - it sounds kind of crazy now that I have my own kids!
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  • Drea926Drea926 member

    I don't know - I think it depends on the situation. I started babysitting for a family when I was 14 and worked for them summers until I was 19. When I was around 17 they let me take the kids to movie, bowling, etc. All places that were really close by though.  Also, the kids were older at that point so maybe that was a factor.

     

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  • RondackHikerRondackHiker member
    I guess I don't see what being responsible has to do with this.

    I was a really responsible teen and I still made the mistakes an inexperienced driver makes.

    Add in potential distraction from kids screaming... I don't know. I wouldn't do it.

    A teen could be responsible and not speed or text and buckle the children correctly and try to focus and still make a mistake. I realize that could happen with any driver, but it's more likely to happen with an inexperienced driver. And of course we all know that terrible experienced driver who is likely worse than most teens... But in general, an inexperienced driver is more likely to wreck, responsible or no.


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  • JennicillinJennicillin member
    Nope.  Not at 16... too young to handle the distraction of kids in the car and drive safely.  She can be the most wonderful responsible kid on the planet, but she's still lacking experience
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  • JillJiggsJillJiggs member
    I wouldn't, personally. 

    Do you have decent transit service in your area? Perhaps it might be an option to leave the sitter some bus money for a trip to the park/McDonald's/pool if it's too far to walk. The kids would probably find the novelty of the bus trip enjoyable as well (I know my niece/nephew flipped out over busses when they were little). 
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