6 year old and 16month old?

Question

is it ok for my 6 year old niece to watch and play with my 16month old son while i take a shower or cook dinner and things like that in a different room. i have never left them home alone. and they are in the gated living room whee they cant get into anything. what are your opinions on this? She is a mature 6 year old and she knows how to prepare bottles and changes diapers. this is no lie.

Answer 1

No..it's not OK for a 6 year old to babysit a 16 month old while you are unavailable.

Answer 2

They really need supervision together I think. But I haven't had these two specific age levels together. Is it at all possible to take the 16 month old in a playpen where you are and set up the six year old with an activity of some sort while you are needing to cook or other? I know this is a hard, it might be easy to feel you don't have a moment to yourself. Good wishes!

Answer 3

I would not put that responsibility on a 6 year old. She's practically a baby herself. And if you're only going for a shower or something like that, why should she have to make bottles?

Put the baby in a playpen until your shower is done.  

Answer 4

Yes, it's ok.  Why would you ask such a question, when the kid knows how to do bottles and change diapers?  You have never left them home alone you say.  This is not leaving them home alone, you are still in the house!!!!

Answer 5

Thats completely up to you. I have a one year old and I babysit my 5 year old niece during the week. I leave them alone sometimes if I'm in another room provided he is in a safe spot (crib, playpen etc) since I trust my niece.  

Answer 6

As long as you're available to step in if something happens, and you're keeping an eye and ear out as much as possible, then you have to do what you have to do.  We mom's have to adapt as best we can when we have to balance getting stuff done and taking care of the kids.  another option for cooking dinner:  put the little on in a high chair and let him pretend to cook with spoons, bowls, etc. Put your 6 year old to "work" helping you with what she can.  I'm a big believer in including kids in what we're doing and giving them age-appropriate tasks to do.  My 2 year old helps with laundry by pouring in the detergent, rinsing the cup, putting in small pieces of laundry, shutting the lid.  She helps put things in the dryer and loves to push the button to start it or will hand me clothes pins if we're hanging laundry outside. This is just one example.  They like to be given tasks like that (when they're young anyway) and it gives you an opportunity for earned praise.  

I think you're doing what you need to do and adapting fine!  As long as they're in a safe place while you're not immediately right beside them and they can communicate back and forth, and it works well, go for it.  

Answer 7

eh ....  My kids are 7 and 23 months.  I do not take a shower until my toddler is taking a nap.  I will take the garbage out and such when they're both awake and have my 7 year old play with my toddler, but I won't get in the shower until he's sleeping.

Answer 8

people are stupid.. how the h**l else are you supposed to shower?! i have 3 kids... 13 months, and the girls will be 3 and 5 in november and december. i do not have a nanny, or anyone else available to watch them while i shower. my house is pretty much babyproofed since ive had them for almost 5 years now........ i cant go a week without a shower waiting for someone to come watch them . . you can try to do it when your 16 month old is sleeping, but come on.. that isnt always a possibility. my 4 year old isnt exactly a competant babysitter, and i wouldnt LEAVE the house, but she knows if something is definately wrong to come running and tell me.