melmichigan Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Would you allow a 14yo high schooler to babysit overnight a few blocks away from your home? A single mom my DH works with is looking for someone to babysit for her child, about 7yo while on 12 hour shifts. My husband brought up DD and the mom will be calling me to discuss later tonight. We live in a small town so they are less than five minutes away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No. I wouldn't be comfortable with that. There aren't specific laws on leaving children home without an adult overnight in my state, but the DFACS website's suggestion is over 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavandula Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Depends on how mature the 14 year old is. I know 14 year olds I would leave a young child with and 18-30 year olds I wouldn't. eta: didn't think of it being multiple times - I probably wouldn't be comfortable with that. not worrying about the person being babysat, but the 14yo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 It sounds like this would be a regular job, and I would not be comfortable with my 14yo regularly spending nights away from home as the "adult" of the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No. I would consider having the 14 yo babysit at my home if I had room for a regular overnight visitor. I'm not that sure a 14 yo is cut out for this kind of job. I would not have anyone under 18 do an overnight babysit away from home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Nope, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No, but I'd consider letting her watch her until bedtime at the child's house, then bringing her home to sleep over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No. I regularly babysat until midnight or 1 am at that age but all night? no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruby Rose Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No. Only in your home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No, but I'd consider offering to have the child stay at your house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I did regularly at that age but today I would suggest having the 7 year old spend the night at your house if that would work out. I would hesitate to have a 14 year old doing an overnight even if it is just a few miles away. When dh and I were looking at a house sitter we wanted someone 18 or older just for liability reasons on our end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No. My BFF and I were asked to do this for two small children when we were 14. After much discussion, our parents both allowed it. Everything went fine, but looking back, that was more luck than skill. And as a parent now... just, no. That's nothing against your daughter, just that it's a big responsibility, especially if it's a regular thing. As others mentioned, if you're okay with having DD be responsible for the child at your house, that would be a different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink and Green Mom Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 No. I babysat a lot at that age but honestly would have been afraid to spend the night alone (without a grownup I mean). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I did it a couple of times but I wouldn't recommend it at that age. One time only, maybe.... but on a regular basis? No. For many reasons. FWIW, one of those times I was babysitting overnight I slipped and fell and hit my head in the kitchen. Thankfully I was only slightly bruised so I was really o.k. but it scared me since no one would have known there was anything wrong for several hours and the child I was watching was only 3 so she would not have been able to call for help. Also, DH and I had someone try to break into our home WHILE WE WERE THERE once. Thankfully, DH and our dog made so much noise they ran away but it scared me terribly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MysteryJen Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I think teens babysitting overnight need a driver's license, just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 No. I would consider having the 14 yo babysit at my home if I had room for a regular overnight visitor. I'm not that sure a 14 yo is cut out for this kind of job. I would not have anyone under 18 do an overnight babysit away from home. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luanne Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 No. I think 16 or 17 depending on the person, but no younger than that... not overnight. I wouldn't even leave a 14 year old alone overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest submarines Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 If she's mature and responsible and wants to do it, I wouldn't have a problem. She can call you in an emergency and you could be there within minutes. Seems like an easy way to earn some money and gain experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 No. I wouldn't have a child babysit overnight that I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving home alone for the night. The vast majority of 14 year olds would not qualify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 No, I wouldn't. And when I was 14 the only job my mom could get was working overnight and I was left in charge of my three younger siblings. No way would allow my own kid to be in that position voluntarily. Nope. No way. My mom was truly desperate and I am sure this mom is as well. I might be ok with it if my kid was maybe 16 or 17, but not 14. 14 is too young for that kind of being away from home at all hours. I think 14 is too young to be babysitting for 12 hours straight no matter the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 No. I did a lot of overnight babysitting but at that age I did it in my home. I didn't start overnight sitting away from home until I was sixteen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 Thank you to everyone who responded. I didn't want to air my thoughts at first because I was worried that I was being overprotective. DH doesn't seem to have a problem with this, but I worry to much. I like the idea of offering to have the child stay here with DD being responsible for her. I have no problem with DD babysitting at their house during the day while I'm home, but nighttime is just different in my mind and twelve hours is just a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 When I was in my teens, I regularly babysat for a young couple until 3 or 4 a.m. during the summer. The father's family owned a famous nightclub in the area…and they were often out that late. They lived across the street. My parents never said anything about it. I would regularly walk home in the middle of the night or early morning. By today's standards, it sounds crazy….back then, not so much. (Early 80s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wintermom Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I agree with you, and I don't think it's necessarily an over-protective, worry-too-much issue at all. That is just too much to put onto any 14 year old. The woman needs to find another arrangement, and it's not your responsibility to find the solution for her. I think that her child needs to be in her own home and not in someone else's, especially if this a regular occurrence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 No, but I'd consider offering to have the child stay at your house. This is what I would do too. She can babysit the child at your home, with your help. During the summers, I did a lot of fulltime babysitting, including late nights and some overnights from the time I was 12. I don't think it was a good idea. It was too much responsibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Hmm, I did it when I was 13 for a 2yo and a 6yo. I would allow it as long as it wasn't illegal. This assumes my 14yo was mature enough in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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