Babysitter

Hi all! My name is Jenn, I introduced myself in the new members section. I have a 2 year old and wondering..what is a good age for a babysitter. My boyfriend has a friend with a 13 year old girl who is very good with children and babysits. He wants her to come over and play with my daughter..get to know her etc. so we can have a night of peace once in a while lol. But I am wondering if she is too young to babysit a 2 year old. What would you recommmend? I was thinking older is better because she is 2 and going through her little phase. Anyway I will see for myself but I thought I would get some other input . Thanks!!

were it ME....

if i didn't know the child personally....say the 13 year old was a REALLY close friends daughter....then the child would have to be older.

this is taking for granted that i know this potential baby-sitter and his or her parents, etc etc even on a casual basis. but younger than 16-17 somewhere around there.....well, my bestfriends 14 year old could baby sit for me....because i've known her since she was 3 lol

I think if the child is 2 The babysitter I would want much older... My son is Almost two... he's a handful that I don't think an 13 year old could handle... I mean it also may depend on the kid babysitting but for me I would say at least 16

I think 13 is to young to handle certain situations that COULD arise. But like GEG said, if I knew the 13 year old really well, I might consider it. But I am so picky my children never even had a sitter until they were much older. Then it was only trusted adults that we have known for years. We did leave them last summer for a couple of evenings with a 17 yr. old while we went out. But she was a daughter of a good friend of mine.:)
I dunno, I think I would be nervous to leave a 2 year old with a 13 year old. 2 year olds are sooooooo busy...lol

Thanks ladies, I think I agree with you. Even though I started babysitting at 12 years old, it was for older children. She is a friend of the family... but I think she is too young. I honestly have not had anyone babysit besides my parents and it's hard for them to watch her, so I feel bad asking them all the time. I just don't know how to find a good babysitter that I can really trust. It's a tough one..

Lily, I'd still think about having her visit with your child and see how it goes. I babysat at 13 for all sorts of kids, from under 1 year old and up. But again, it really really depends on the teen and how mature and capable she is. Does she have younger siblings? Has she been exposed to kids much? I think that's really important - she might be young, but she might have lots of experience too.

12 years old is rather young to be responsible for a baby of 2 years.

I'm sure at 12 there are many that are responsible and mature, but it only takes one split second of undivided attention for something to happen.

If your 2 year old is a handful for your parents, then I'm sure it'll be very hard on the 12 year old.

I would feel comfortable with a 12 year old babysitting a child who is older.

Just my thoughts,
Sora

I spent the summer I was 13 babysitting non-stop. I made enough money to buy my own bike, clothes, everything. My Mom worked full time and from about 9 on I took care of my brother everyday after school, made him dinner etc. it wasn't a problem for me.

I think your best bet would be putting her in a mother's helper role to see the interaction. Can she handle diapers, feeding, tears, climbing the furniture? Have her over for a few hours, pay her to sit for him, you do your own thing and quietly observe. This gives her a chance to learn about him and you a chance to see if you feel she could handle it.

My daughter is 11, she helps her Aunt with a 1 and 4 year old and loves it. She will stay with them for small amounts of time while her Aunt runs to the store or something, but not for long periods, I don't think she's ready for that yet.

My 11 year old watches her 3 and 5 year old niece and nephew for short periods. She's very responsible, but I wouldn't dream of leaving her with them for more than an hour or so. I know her attention span. And for them, for an hour or so, having her there with them is an honor, but I wouldn't trust it longer than that.

And the new baby in their house won't be watchable by her for quite some time.

I was the oldest of 6, and was responsible for them from the minute we were all able to go outside together. If someone did something wrong, it was alway, "why weren't you watching them". Now my response would be, because they aren't mine, but at the time, it was just the way things were.

Things are different now in times of smaller families. Kids don't have the younger ones put in their care as soon as they're born anymore, and that's as it should be.

Problem is, by the time they're 15 or 16, they wouldn't dream of babysitting, most of them, they have far too many more important things to do. And if they want to earn money, they can earn a lot more working for McDonalds than watching someone else's kids.

If she's done a lot of babysitting, and has taken the babysitter first aid class, I'd start with having her over like you said, and seeing how they interact. Then maybe have her watch him inside, while you do something outside, see how that goes. Take it from there. If she wants to sit and watch TV, that's not so great, if she engages him in play, and spends the time actually with him, then you probably have a winner.

My kids were usually better behaved for a babysitter they liked, than they were for me. In fact there were a couple of girls that they'd ask me to go out, so they could have them come play. I'd tell them that if they didn't behave, I'd just stay home. How's that for an ego boost......

I was babysitting from the time I was 12 for other people, and from the time I was 14, my mother didn't buy one item of clothing for me, I was expected to buy my own with my babysitting money. That was at 50 cents an hour people. I was thrilled when at 17 I got a real job in a cafe and made 85 cents an hour plus tips.
Talk about in the money! I still watched some of my favorites when I could, and was known to break dates if one family called, cause I'd raised those kids!

I'd give her a try. And if she works out great, keep your hands on her and keep her happy. If she's the type who picks up after herself, and straightens up the house, she's more precious than gold, and you tip her generously. If you're lucky, she'll be there till she graduates from high school. Trust me good babysitter are hard to find.