For parents with young children...?

Question

Would you ever let a VERY responsible 12 year old babysit your child? Why/why not?

Answer 1

if the 12 yr old is always helping you with the other kids and is really good as to behavior and responsibility towards them i would let her/him do it for about an hour each time until your comfortable on her having the kids..in her care.as well as she is.

Answer 2

Possibly yes, however my 5 year old tends to over run most sitters who are 16-18. he is very smart and persuasive. I do not feel that a "typical" 12 year old would be best to handle my son even though he is older. however each situation is unique as each person is.

Answer 3

I would only let someone of such a young age babysit if it was a family member, for example, an older sister of the child who has had hands on experience and who you feel is capable of looking after your child.

Although personally I wouldn't want them to babysit them for anymore then an hour or so, in case something went wrong, I would really only use this as a last resort.

Answer 4

Well if i have known the 12 year old for a while and i knew how responsible she was then yes i would let them babysit my kids. However i wouldnt leave them for long periods of time. Also i was 12 years old when i started babysitting.

Answer 5

It definately depends on the child. I have a 4yr old and a 2 yr old. I would let my neice watch my kids, she's extremely responsible, very intelligent, and loves kids. I wouldn't leave her with them for more than 4 hours though.

Answer 6

Personally as a mum of two I wouldn't.  A 12 year old might act responsibly but at the end of the day they are still a child also.  Ask yourself would you enjoy yourself if you went out or would you be worrying every few minutes wandering if everything was OK at home.

Answer 7

yes when i was 12 i babysat 5 kids. its perfectly ok as long as you know that the kid is responcible and can handle haveing kids to take care of. maybe give the kid a test to see what they know and what they dont..

Answer 8

a stranger no. but a older sibling or cousin or other family member yes but only for a short time like if I had to go to the store and it was raining or something but for hours no.

Answer 9

Nope.  I babysat when I was 12 and in retrospect I can't imagine what the parents were thinking.  I have kids with life-threatening medical conditions.  I can't see a 12-year-old dealing with anaphylactic shock or a major asthma attack.  I also can't see a 12-year-old handling things like a cut that needs stitches, a broken wrist or sprained ankle, a choking incident, or a kitchen fire.  I think a 12-year-old would make a fine babysitter if nothing goes wrong ... but really, if you were so sure nothing would go wrong you wouldn't need a babysitter in the first place.

I would hire (and have hired) a 12-year-old as a mother's helper while I was still around, though.

Answer 10

Yes if I know this child and they prove to be very patient and in control when thing go crazy. Also if Ive seen them interact with my child and she respects them as if they were an adult, I would let the 12 year old watch my child but I would check up often and only stay away for a short time.

Answer 11

Um yes depends on how well u know them? Family that sort of thing just makeing sure they know what there doing. ANd not a really young kid their watching, might be to stressfull (3or under)

Answer 12

I wouldnt because it is illegal..I know some very mature and responsible 12 year olds but it would still make me uneasy..I allow my 15 year old babysit because she knows cpr and first aid..also we are in constant contact so that makes me feel at ease. I believe the legal age to babysit is 14.

Answer 13

Nope..but then again I dont trust people with my daughter..h**l I dont trust her father with her but then again he does not see her..honestly the 12 year old would have to be someone who I know very well

Answer 14

Maybe if it was just run somewhere fast I would let them watch my 6 and 4 year old but not my 10 month old, simply bc she puts everything in her mouth and I would be to scared.

  nothing personel against you though, I don't even trust my kids at daycares, My mom and my sister (18) is the only two people who watch our children.

Answer 15

Yes, if I knew the 12 year old and her family, if an adult is easily available (like she was a neighbor and her mom/dad was home), and if my child was comfortable with her.  

Older doesn't mean better.  I had a 17 yr old babysit one night and my daughter told me she didn't feed them and all she did was talk on the phone and use the computer.

Answer 16

My baby wont be here for 9 more days but I wouldnt. And I know my sis wouldnt either and my neice is 11 months. 12 is just too young. I have a 12 year old cousin and there is no way I would even imagine him taking care of my baby or my neice. And hes very responsible. The youngest I would let babysit would be 16 maybe 15 not 12/

Answer 17

Probably not but only b/c I have trust issues w/ babysitters (you can see a recent question I asked if you want to know why).  However, if that person was responsible, I knew the person, my child wasn't a baby, and it was only for a short time, I might consider it.  It's nothing personal about the age, just a bad situation I was in before.

Answer 18

More than likely not. Unless her parents were there to help her in case of an emergency. No matter how "mature" a 12 yrs. old may act or seem, I still feel its too young to care for children younger than her/him. I wouldnt even let my 12 yr. old son babysit my younger kids.

Answer 19

i dont think so that way to young a kid  watching kids

Answer 20

I let my next door neighbors 12 year old watch my kids for short periods of time (like doctors appointments or buying groceries); but her mom is always right next door.

I think 12 is a good age to start babysitting under supervision, kids that age are usually pretty good at handling children BUT they may get more easily frustrated at a screaming baby/toddler, and they may not know what to do in an emergency.

Answer 21

Yes, first for a short period of time to see how she did... and then go from there.

Answer 22

Well, honestly I am undecided. My daughter is 11 months old and I could use help watching her (we just bought a house and we are remodeling if I had help watching her it would be easier to get the house done) So anyway I was thinking about having my 12 year old cousin come stay with us for a while to watch the baby while I go work on the house but I am very nervous. I know my cousin has watched other babies before but the truth is I rarely trust my daughter with other people except MAYBE my parents or in laws and I am afraid that my 12 year old cousin may not be able to handle it if something happened or if some kind of situation came up. Even though I would only be a 10 minute ride away A LOT can happen and the truth is because she is only 12 I can't be positive that my daughter would be safe with her. I think it's just a mom worrying kind of thing. Although you (or a 12 year old) may be very capable of handling it if something came up I am just not sure that I would be willing to take that chance.

Answer 23

Well I babysat when I was 13, for family, as long as they are trustworthy and responsible there shouldnt be a problem. I just wouldnt let a 12 yr old baby sit for like the whole day or overnight.

Answer 24

Yes, because I was one of those kiddos that was watching kids at that age and I was good at it!  Here is how I did it:

Take a red cross babysitting course and make sure you are trained in CPR.

Have a parent or adult close to where you are sitting. If you have an adult or parent close by (like living in the area) then the mom can find comfort that you would have help close by if you get in over your head.  

Get to know the family first, maybe start as a mothers helper and see how mom does it all.  What are the family's routines, how do they discipline, what are the house rules? This will help the mom know you are serious and give her confidence you will be able to handle the children.

PS - Check your states laws on the legal age you can babysit, my state it is 12.  I added a link for you.

Good luck!

Answer 25

Maybe for 10 min.