Would you rather have your kid be babysat by?:?

Question

An experienced young teen (about 12) that finished babysittig courses?

Or

An adult babysitter (18 or older)

Why?

Answer 1

Which ever i trusted more but knowing my boys they wouldn't listen to someone unless they were an adult so probably atleast 16 or older with experience being around my boys.

Answer 2

I would choose the 12 yr old...IF his/her parent(s) were there to supervise.  

Why?

The 12 year old would be way more fun for the kid than an 18 yr old who is probably only doing it for the money.  Also, it would give the younger one experience and to learn some kind of responsibility.  It will also give them spending money as well!

Answer 3

Adult-- more experience with life (not just sitting), more developmentally responsible, and able to take my children to the ER if there's some kind of emergency, plus could drive the kids to do fun things, if I felt comfortable with it.

Answer 4

depends on the age of my child compared to the age of the sitter.

Answer 5

12 is just TOO young even with "training".

The would have to be AT LEAST 14/15 with or without training.

Answer 6

An experienced adult with cpr and first aid training.  Why? Because even with classes a 12 year old is still a child themself and is not going to think clearly like they need to in an emergency with the child or know what to do in every situation for a young child or infant.

It is also illegal in alot of states for kids under a certain age to babysit- and yes, that means 12 year olds being alone with young children.  Why parents would allow it OR why they teach classes then to 12 year olds is beyond me when alot of states have age laws about when it is appropriate for you to leave a child unsupervised in the home, much less to babysit.

There is also an issue of not being able to drive in an urgent situation did arise requiring the sitter to get the child to the ER and notify the parents.  yeah, you could always call your parents to take you but let's face it, in an urgent situation those few extra minutes could be life or death. With someone else's child you do not take those kind of risks.

Answer 7

defintely adult. a 12 years old just does not have enough life experience to help my kid if he/she needed help. the 12 years old can not drive my kid to the doctor/hospital in case an emergency happened. i feel safest with an adult. An adult tends to be more responsible cause they need the money for rent, food, etc..while the 12 years old is most likely doing it for extra pocket money and would drop the job is her friends call to go to the mall or to the movies

Answer 8

adult, they have more experience, could drive my kids to the hospital if needed, or just take them somewhere fun.

Answer 9

A adult becaues i would not leave a 12 old with no one there that is to young to stay home with no one there and if one of them get hirt thay can't drive them to the er.

Answer 10

Probably both. My baby is only a few weeks old, so only my best friend can babysit right now, but if the 12 year old is experience and well prepared, then why not? Adult babysitters aren't always responsible.

Answer 11

12 years of age is not a "teen"

No matter the course completion, I would always stick to the 2 minute rule. . . . . Go ahead with the 12 year old sitter as long as there was an adult within the range of arriving within 2 minutes of a call.

They may have passed the course with flying colors. . . but one never knows how they will react in an emergency. A life or death incident is not only stressful, to a twelve year old it can be scary enough to make them lock up and forget everything. . . . . They may overlook the obvious even while paying full attention.