Babysitting question...

SarahS11 · September 2014

Would you let a junior in high school babysit your little June Bug for a few hours for an evening out? You know her well, and know she is responsible...

katekat8721 · September 2014

No. I had a bad babysitting experience with a 21 year old. There's just some things you need experience for and taking care of itty bitties is one of them. Older kids would probably be different for me.

MrsAy · September 2014

No way, I'll never let a teenager babysit my daughter. Specially now that she's so fragile and needs a lot of attention.

irenewslee · September 2014

I may have her come in for a couple days with me there... Just to see how she does with the baby and if the baby seems calm around her. Then I will start to do a couple hours away but call to check in on her. I used to babysit my cousins as a teenager and had no problem. My aunt was with me the first couple times so she made sure I was comfortable around her baby and toddler at the time.

temursgirl · September 2014

I couldn't resist the last choice! But I think there are so many variables in the situation. Is the baby healthy and "easy"? Is the sitter used to babies (maybe has some in the family)? Is the sitting going to take place at a time of day when the baby has more or fewer needs? Does the sitter have good resources (like BrightEyes called her mom) in case something does come up?

nunzchucks · September 2014

I'm with @temursgirl‌. We have a sophomore in HS next door that I would leave DD and DS with for a dinner out. She's extremely responsible and her mother is a nurse and right next door if anything happened.

mattanda2011 · September 2014

I did the same thing as @nutmegs8‌ and read it as a junior high student.

A junior I would be comfortable with if it was just LO, or if I knew baby would be sleeping. I had a junior come watch both kids a few nights ago, but I put LO to sleep before she got there, and he is reliably sleeping long enough at that point I knew she wouldn't have to do anything unless there was an emergency.

If it involved putting both kids to bed, or dinner for both kids I would have someone older, or 2 high schoolers because I have a hard enough time myself putting both kids to bed on my own when DH works late

ELC252011 · September 2014

Not sure... I would say yes once they are a little older maybe like almost 1.

tbmadeamistake · September 2014

Almost exactly what @CAMag‌ said. By the time I was 15 I had babysat all ages, from newborn through age 10 ( why they let a 15 yr old babysit a ten year old, I don't know). I took a red cross babysitting class that included CPR. By the time I was a junior, I was good to go. I'd want references, or to know her through friends or family, but I'd do it.

Taymiller · September 2014

I would let our neighbor who is in high school watch Murphy because her mom and dad would be just across the street if anything were to happen. Also Murphy is incredibly easy.

jenn72178 · September 2014

I have a 9th grade step daughter that is getting lots of practice while we are around. Given a few years more I would have no issue with it. (p.s. I, too, could not resist the last option)

elsa1688 · September 2014

Trust your gut. If you trust her, then go with it. Inwouldnt have a problem leaving my baby, as long as I really trusted the person.

SarahS11 · September 2014

@nutmegs8‌ I teach 7th grade and could in no way leave my baby with any of my students! Who knows what I would come home to!

Thanks everyone for your input!

stephpaez · September 2014

My husband's cousin is our babysitter. She is a junior in high school. We got to test her out before we left the kids alone with her. Plus, out older son is 9 and would tell us if something went wrong. So I voted yes.

ETA because I can't type anymore after 9:30pm :-<