Babysitters

Hi everyone. So far I've only been comfortable leaving my boys (aged 15 months) with adults...usually my parents or our nanny.

This afternoon I had a 13 year old watch them for a few hours while DH and I got a few things done around the house...best $20 I ever spent! She was really good with them and kept them entertained while we finally got to do some things we've been trying to do for ages.

So...my question...is anyone comfortable leaving their young twins alone with a teenager? We'd love to use her so we could go out for a few hours in the evening (the boys would be in bed) but I'm worried that she's too young and wouldn't be able to handle an emergency should it occur.

Looking forward to hearing your responses!
Cary

 

If I knew a teenager well enough to know s/he was very responsible and reliable then I would be okay leaving for a few hours after they are in bed. But I don't know any teenagers personally and I wouldn't trust someone that I didn't already know. Does that make sense?

 

I think I only would if it was a teenager from the neighborhood or someone whose own mother or parents could come over quickly to help if there were an emergency.

 

That's so odd. I would feel much more comfortable leaving my sleeping babies alone with a 13 year old than my wide awake, climbing, eat-everything-in-sight babies.

 

I personally think 13 is too young. Also, I make sure that anyone who watches my children has had pediatric/infant CPR (I made all of the Grandmothers and Aunts take it before I would let them watch my twins. I am hyper vigilant, but I did perform CPR on my infant daughter and it saved her life). I do think that my teenager (he's 15.5) is able to take care of my twins for short periods, but he is the only one out of his peer group that I would trust because he is around them day in and day out and involved in their care.

 

I have left the babies alone with a 14 year old family friend when they are sleeping before. We put the babies to bed, make sure they are asleep and then pay her to watch our tv and call us if anyone wakes up. I don't know that I would leave her alone with them while awake and running all over (I would if we were working around the house or very close to home maybe) but at night I don't think its a huge deal at all. I should mention we have very good sleepers that don't regularly wake up and if they did we are only a phone call away.

 

QUOTE(caryanne07 @ Jan 10 2009, 06:18 PM) [snapback]1141160[/snapback]
So...my question...is anyone comfortable leaving their young twins alone with a teenager? We'd love to use her so we could go out for a few hours in the evening (the boys would be in bed) but I'm worried that she's too young and wouldn't be able to handle an emergency should it occur.

I think it depends on how your twins are overnight. Do they usually stay asleep once they've gone down? If they are usually good and you are not far away (so that you could return home quickly if she had any problems with them not sleeping/getting sick or something) then it would probably be ok. It's really about how you feel, there's no point getting her to watch them if you're going to be anxious the whole time.
Also you could always pay for her to take an infant CPR course so that you would have more peace of mind she could deal with an emergency (slightly OT but I actually think this is something all parents should do themselves).

Otherwise maybe your nanny could babysit sometimes, I do for my families.

[SIZE=8pt]Edited to fix quote.[/SIZE]

 

I did my best babysitting when I was 13. I didn't have friends to call and boys to dream about then so I could just pay attention to the kids.

 

I haven't yet, but the girls are 4.5 now and we have a really nice 13 year old acros the street. I'd do it for a short period of time.

 

I am fine leaving my sleeping babies with the high-school kid next door, but I know her parents are right there if there's an emergency.

A 13-year-old, I dunno.

 

All of my kids have a favorite sitter. She is 14. She plays & plays & plays with them. We get her maybe 1x every 2 months. When the twins were little & went to bed at 7 then we did wait till they were asleep to leave them.

 

Thanks everyone for your responses. I really do appreciate it.

I am feeling like 13 is a bit too young...but maybe by summer, I'll feel more comfortable with her and be able to leave her here on her own in the evenings.

 

Even though I started babysitting at 12, I can't imagine leaving the girls with someone so young, even if they were asleep. I would only do it if she was a neighborhood kid and her parents were close and available if she needed them to help. But as a mother's helper while you are home, great find!!!

 

I guess I am the oddball. I have always left my kids with teen sitters, and the 12-14 year olds are actually the most reliable ones I have ever had. They don't have that much of a social life, and are more available than older teens.

Our current babysitter started when she was 12, came with a book, craft and her babysitting card. The boys actually ask for us to go out so Olivia can come over!