My Daughter wants to start babysitting. Should I let her?

Question

She is eleven years old and just loves babies she wants to start baby sitting NOW but I dont know if i should let her! We have a good neighborhood!

Answer 1

I would let her start with people who know her and older children.  Babies are more of a responsibility and can't tell her if something is wrong.  Personally, I have a hard time letting my mother have my son, who is 6 months, for any length of time and she's been around babies for a long time.  So an eleven year old would be out of the question.

Let her babysit, but start by maybe having you around the first few times to see how she does.  Don't intervene unless you have to, just watch and make sure she's doing it right.  Afterward you can make suggestions about other things she can do.

Answer 2

I think that a sitter now a days needs to be 16, yes laws allow younger-but come on are they really ready before then?  11 is definitely way too young though.  Most people won't hire anyone under 14, and there are actually a lot of people looking for 16 or older, with some people wanting college kids.  Teens today are a lot more immature than 15 yrs ago, and there is a lot more to deal with b/c many parents aren't parenting good enough.  If you do let her-I would definitely not start with babies, maybe a single child around 7 or 8-but like i said 11 is too young.  I am 19 and started sitting at 13, and when I have kids I will not hire anyone younger than like 17, b/c I have heard so many stories from the kids i watched about there other sitter sitting talking on the phone the whole time, not letting the kids interrupt when they needed something/or to play with them, houses left a mess, foul language being used around the kids, rules being disregarded, etc.  at 11 a kid can also not know what to do in many emergency situations (and can't drive to the hospital)  and will have a harder time being taken seriously when it comes to discipline.  I would suggest letting her start at 13 at home while you are home, and then alone outside the house at 15.  Even the best neighborhoods have pedophiles and murders, disrespectful kids, emergencies, and the many other bad things that happen, is your daughter ready to deal with this if it should come up and protect the kids she is put on charge of?  I would strongly suggest waiting, but if not, the responsible parents of the children will hopefully make sure to find a old enough and responsible sitter who is more mature and knowledgeable.

Answer 3

I started babysitting at 11! If she's great with kids and you trust her, then why not? Plus, when I babysat in my neighborhood, my Momma was always a short walk or phone call away! When the news said it was going to storm really bad, I just brought the kids across the street to my house and she helped :o)

Answer 4

y3a if sh3 lov3s kids n sh3s r3sponsibl3

Answer 5

It really depends on how responsible she is...  Do you feel that she is responsible enough to put the lives of other children in her hands.  I think it is totally up to how old the children are...  I can remember "babysitting" when I was 12 but the kids were 6 and 8 (for very short periods of time)... I basically occupied them.  Do you leave her alone by herself?  Also, it depends on whether other parents would let her keep their kids...

Answer 6

you may want to be with her the first few times but i would say yes. let  her see how hard it can be do it all on her own.

Answer 7

When my kids were growing up, they are now 16 and 19 , I would never have left my babies and children with an 11 year old.  Both of my children babysit now, and my son and daughter were about 14.  It also depends on the maturity of your child.  I think an 11 year old, no matter how mature she may be, would still not have the judgment needed.  If she would babysit in your home with you there, maybe that would be ok- but I would still be careful,

Answer 8

Personally I don't think many people would want an 11 year old to watch their kids.

For me I would think anyone under the age of 14 should really not be babysitting.

Even though me personally I would probably never have a teenager watch my kids unless it was family or I knew them very well.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Some states the minimum age requirement is 12 or 13, But a good idea, and I did this, would be to enroll her in a summer babysitting workshop, hospitals and Red Cross run them. They usually last either one full day or two half days, and they teach you how to administer cpr, they teach nutrition, proper feeding of infants, proper ways to handle infants, even what to do about behavioral issues.

Answer 11

i wouldn't employ an 11 year old.......personally.

i started babysitting when i was 14.   I now have 2 kids of my own and wouldn't get anyone under the age of 16 or 17 to look after them - so i guess it depends on whether or not anyone wants her to look after their kids.