I don't know what I'm going to do if/when we have 5 kids!
Babysitting Survey
- Thread starter lizzyfizzy
- Start date
I don't know what I'm going to do if/when we have 5 kids!
carriesmom
New member
I voted I don't have tweens/teens babysit but that is because we have my SIL and BIL watch our DD if we go out and vice versa. I'm honestly really paranoid but just because I work as a criminal defense attorney in a small population county and I don't trust anyone I don't personally know. Just me.
mummytothree
New member
Do wanna hear my answer lizzy!?!?! 
newfiemountiewife
New member
I said 13 and older, but it would depend on the kid. I babysat at age 11, and was responsible enough to do so. Obviously some kids are not, but hell, some adults have no business taking care of children. LOL
wildblueeyez
New member
My 11 year old will be a wonderful sitter someday - she loves actually playing with the kids and has "stayed" with the younger kids next door while they are napping and the Mom has run 2 blocks to pick up one of the older kids. Of course, I am here next door or my 18 year old is. just in case and it's only for about 10 minutes.
She looks forward to the day she turns 13 so she can babysit.
She looks forward to the day she turns 13 so she can babysit.
clearskies
New member
I have a 14-month-old and my normal sitter is 21ish. I pay her $8/hr. When DS was 3 months I had a 14-year-old girl from church watch him. Think I paid her $7/hr. Anyway, age doesn't really concern me. Nor am I freaked out about how well I know the person. Right now, my concern is, can you get yourself to my house and can you get onto the (military) base. I don't want to drive 20-25 min one way to get a sitter... Tomorrow night my neighbor is watching him, as my regular girl has to work. As for Maddie, I'd say yes to watching him if I'm home/in the yard, no to my being gone.
Our babysitter, who lives 4 houses down from us, is 13, but she was 12 when she started. She came to our house selling girl scout cookies with her Mom and I asked her if she ever babysits (she looked older than 12 at the time). She told me she had never babysat before, but that she would be interested. I kind of wrote her off since she was so young and didn't have any experience or younger siblings. (and with my mother and grandmother in the same town I don't need a babysitter all that often).
A month later when she dropped of my cookies, she told me she had taken a babysitting course through the Red Cross and also a CPR / first aid course. I was impressed that she had done that. I called her a few weeks later to see if she could babysit for 2 hours while DH and I went to see a movie. She said yes, but that she would like to come over a few days before so I could show her around and she could maybe get to know my son a little first. I was fine with that. When she came over for me to show her around, her Dad brought her (I got the feeling he wanted to check US out...which I also take as a good sign that hers is a good family). She also brought this little notebook with her and after I showed her where everything was, went over all of the emergency info, etc, she wanted to know if she could ask me a few questions. So we sat down at the table and she opens her notebook and has about 15 questions written down to ask me. She wrote down my answers in her notebook. They were good questions too. Some were basic things like the address of the house, did he have any allergies, etc. But she also asked things like "How would you like me to handle misbehavior?" and "Does he have any comfort items or soothing techniques for when he's upset?". So then I was REALLY impressed!!! (I'm sure she learned this in her babysitting course, but it was still very impressive and responsible - and she brings that notebook with her EVERY TIME she babysits!!).
She has been awesome! She is such a good kid and Dean LOVES her. He never cries when we leave, but he ALWAYS cries when we get home and it's time for Sarah to leave!!!
I asked around and most people here pay teen babysitters $7-10/hr per child. I offered Sarah $7/hr to start since she didn't have experience and told her that way we'd have some room to increase her pay as she gained experience. I'm hoping we'll have her for MANY years to come!!!
A month later when she dropped of my cookies, she told me she had taken a babysitting course through the Red Cross and also a CPR / first aid course. I was impressed that she had done that. I called her a few weeks later to see if she could babysit for 2 hours while DH and I went to see a movie. She said yes, but that she would like to come over a few days before so I could show her around and she could maybe get to know my son a little first. I was fine with that. When she came over for me to show her around, her Dad brought her (I got the feeling he wanted to check US out...which I also take as a good sign that hers is a good family). She also brought this little notebook with her and after I showed her where everything was, went over all of the emergency info, etc, she wanted to know if she could ask me a few questions. So we sat down at the table and she opens her notebook and has about 15 questions written down to ask me. She wrote down my answers in her notebook. They were good questions too. Some were basic things like the address of the house, did he have any allergies, etc. But she also asked things like "How would you like me to handle misbehavior?" and "Does he have any comfort items or soothing techniques for when he's upset?". So then I was REALLY impressed!!! (I'm sure she learned this in her babysitting course, but it was still very impressive and responsible - and she brings that notebook with her EVERY TIME she babysits!!).
She has been awesome! She is such a good kid and Dean LOVES her. He never cries when we leave, but he ALWAYS cries when we get home and it's time for Sarah to leave!!!
I asked around and most people here pay teen babysitters $7-10/hr per child. I offered Sarah $7/hr to start since she didn't have experience and told her that way we'd have some room to increase her pay as she gained experience. I'm hoping we'll have her for MANY years to come!!!
mrichar383
New member
I started babysitting when I was 11 at my house. My mother would be there also so I think that made things better. I would not want to leave my children alone with an 11 year old though. I really feel more comfortable with someone who is 16 or older though 99% of the time I have adult friends watch them.
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When I was 13, I babysat a 4 month old baby 3 days a week during the summer. I cannot believe that mother trusted a 13 year old when I think about it! 
We've never had a teenager watch our kids (5.5 and 2), but mostly that's cause I don't know any available. As far as a boy or girl, my friend's son is almost 15, has a baby sister and absolutely loves my kids. I think that once Rory is a tad older, I would be perfectly comfortable with him watching them. I would judge a boy or girl teenager the same way - I'd have to know them really well and I'd need to be sure I could trust them.
We've never had a teenager watch our kids (5.5 and 2), but mostly that's cause I don't know any available. As far as a boy or girl, my friend's son is almost 15, has a baby sister and absolutely loves my kids. I think that once Rory is a tad older, I would be perfectly comfortable with him watching them. I would judge a boy or girl teenager the same way - I'd have to know them really well and I'd need to be sure I could trust them.