DISQUS

l33t MD · 10 months ago

Interesting you should ask, considering that you must already know the answer: It all depends on the niece.

I was a latch-key kid from the age of 7. I went home from school, fed myself and took care of an adult german shepherd for maybe three or four hours before my parents came home from work. I did this for several years with no problems, but I'll argue that there was no way my parents could have known whether I was ready for this at the time. It was introduced gradually, and by receiving more and more responsibility I grew to the task. It's my opinion when it comes to kids that if you start giving responsibility early you get a responsible kid.

I didn't start babysitting until the age of maybe 13-14, but then again I think people are less willing to trust young boys with taking care of kids.

So to try and answer your questions:

1. Yes.
2. Maybe, but probably not.

YMMV on both answers.

Braden · 10 months ago

We leave our 3 month old home alone all the time. What trouble is she going to get into?

Yes, that was a joke. Stop looking for the CPS number.

In all seriousness, the first answer depends on how obedient and responsible the child is.

For the second answer, I wouldn't let anybody baby-sit my child who couldn't do CPR in an emergency.

frygga · 10 months ago

1) depends on how long you're away from her, whether she has a cell and you have a cell, and where you live and whether you have a trusted neighbor right next door

2) not now. 9 is way too young. 13 is minimum, and that's to babysit one older child, not an infant, and not for more than two hours. I think this is how I started out babysitting myself, btw. For a child younger than three, she needs to learn a lot more about infants, diapers, toddler's cognitive and emotional capacities, etc.

DZA · 10 months ago

11
13

/see one
//do one
///teach one

DZA · 10 months ago

2 year span akin to that from intern to senior resident. in the parlance of our times...

Anonymous · 10 months ago

1. Depends on the maturity of the kid. I wouldn't leave a 9 year old at home alone for any long periods of time, but for short periods (run out to the store, etc) I would. I would gradually increase that amount of time but 3 or so hours would be my limit.

2. 9 is too young to babysit. I just started allowing my 12 year old daughter to "babysit" her 10 year old brother. I think she would be fine to watch an early elementary school kid, but definitely not ready to keep a baby/toddler.

OHN · 10 months ago

Nine is too young for either...well, maybe for a quick jaunt to the store around the corner etc but for any length of time, nope.

They don't have the maturity at that age to realize what to do if things start to go south.

Prime babysitting age usually starts around 12 and lasts until they get a social life....then YOUR social life ends :)

Anonymous · 10 months ago

The state I live in says: 8 can stay home alone but can not watch younger children.

13 to stay alone and watch younger children.

EE · 10 months ago

Depends on the kid.

Anonymous · 10 months ago

When I was 9 and alone, I took a candle into a closet to read by candlelight. The inner door knob did not turn. I spent two hours crying in a closet, but managed not to light the closet on fire.

When my son was 9, I left him for an agreed on 15 minutes. He thought that my return was a housebreaker at the front door and fled out the back to a neighbor's (that we didn't know.) Fortunately, she called me and not the police or CPS.

When I was 10, I babysat my little brother often. Once he burned his hand because I used the front burner of the stove.

When I was almost 12, I started babysitting other children for money. Surprisingly, there were never any serious problems.

Sami · 10 months ago

I started staying home and babysitting when I was 9 and my sister was 5, after school til the parents came home. We also lived in a pretty good area with lots of older folks and stay at home moms nearby.

I wouldn't leave my kids home now, not for lack of trust in them but from over zealous nuts who'd call cps when they heard every tv in the house running different cartoons.

Perceval · 10 months ago

for short periods of time, depending on how responsible she is, yes.

Babysitting: 15 or older. Personally, I would not leave my children with a teenager unless they were exceptionally mature.

Anonymous · 10 months ago

I think we need some guidance on this question from Congress. There should be a law defining at what age a child can be left alone. The question is too important to leave to parents and other relatives. Who will protect our children??!!??

Laura · 10 months ago

Depends on her, the age of the kid(s) she's watching, how long a time period, and what time of day (being present in a house with sleeping kids vs. wrangling them through meals and activities while they're awake.) But whenever she does start, it would be a good idea for her to take the Red Cross babysitting safety course.

Anonymous · 10 months ago

18.

18.