DD was asked to babysit...

[clh2]

DD is 11, was asked to babysit for 2 upcoming Saturday's.

She really, really, really wants to do this, however, has never babysat before. She has not yet taken the Red Cross babysitting class yet either. It is definitely something she has expressed an interest in, I just haven't signed her up for one yet.

I talked to the mom, who has a 4 and a 2.5 yo boys. I explained to her that while DD is 11, and has never babysat before, she definitely wants to start. I also told her that if agreeable to her - I wouldn't mind if DD did babysit for her, however, since it is her first time (and second a week later for that matter) would it be OK if I accompanied my DD to their house. I told the mom that I didn't want to interfere with the babysitting, but I would feel better if DD had help if needed or if she had any questions.

The mom was very agreeable to this, my DD was reluctantly agreeable to this. However - if DD wouldn't agree - she wouldn't be able to babysit.

The mom brought up payment - and I suggested $4/hr,afterall, DD has no experience (DD and I talked about this before I talked to the mom).The mom about laughed at me and said they've never paid less than $7 -so that is what it is going to be. Needless to say, DD is thrilled!

My baby is going to be babysitting. Geez, I am starting to feel old!

 

[Beth76]

Sounds like fun! I started babysitting when I was 11. The kids were 4 and 5 and lived right across the street from our house. That began the babysitting boom on our street. Let me tell you I made a total haul babysitting!!!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I didnt start babysitting until Iwas about 13 or 14. Wish I got $7 back then too!

 

[clh2]

I didnt start babysitting until Iwas about 13 or 14. Wish I got $7 back then too!

I am going to be dating myself here - but when I started babysitting - I made around $0.50 to $0.75/hour. DD will be making more in an hour that I did for babysitting all night!

 

[halestrm]

Congrats. I can understand the mom's willingness and pay. I still can't find a sitter for DD5. None of the kids I know are over 10 unless they are over 16 and then they do not want to.

I once paid $20/hr to an adult because I was desparate. That is one problem living without family I can trust. Thank goodness my Mom is in AZ for the winter, I can date my DH!

 

[disney4us2002]

The Red Cross class is a good idea or perhaps your hospital may also offer a babysitting class. You might want to check your laws - in Md a "child" must be at least 13 to watch a child under 7. A child over 8 can stay alone - I'm saying legally, not that it's a good plan.

 

[DVCLiz]

My first babysitting job paid a nickel!!! I remember one woman paid 25 cents an hour. She was gone an hour and a half - I was paid 37 cents!!!!!!

For most of my babysitting career, I made .50 an hour. I wanted a ten-speed bike that cost $120.00. I started saving in April, and by the 4th of July I had my bike!! That's 240 hours of babysitting!!!!!

I remember how scared I was to raise my rate to .75 an hour. Those moms probably laughed at me as soon as I was out of earshot...

 

[disykat]

I don't think it'd be legal here either. I also made .50 an hour to start. I remember getting my first job at the Dairy Queen and making 1.50. I babysat at that same time, so I made 1/3 minimum wage. Now most kids want minimum wage before they'll even do it.

 

[barkley]

maybe i'm the odd man out on this but-i don't leave my 11 year old daughter alone, and the thought of an 11 year old babysitting scares me to the core!

i don't know how the law reads in california, but i do know that if a minor is in a situation wherein police or emergency responce come to their assistance and they are found to be unsupervised it can result in a child protective services referral (the incident does not have to be due to any fault of the child, but if there is no adult present it calls into question appropriate supervision). many apartment and rentals now have written into rental agreements that minors cannot be in dwellings without adult supervision (too many kids injured/property damage).

i remember seeing that our local hospital offers a baby sitting course which included first aide, baby care, supervision...but i think they required a minimum age of 13 or 14 for enrollment.

i just think of the time and consideration i put into locating a daycare provider, making sure that the person was highly trained and skilled to meet the needs of my children. i can't imagine any 11 year old that could handle a real life and death emergency.

we rarely get to go out-we have no family that is capable of providing care (grandma was eliminated as an option when we observed that her physical abilities impared her from providing appropriate care). when we do go out, the sitter is an adult-a teacher from our children's former daycare. we trusted her to care for them during the day-we needed to have that same level of trust to feel comfortable leaving them for any period of time.

 

[USA Here I Come]

maybe i'm the odd man out on this but-i don't leave my 11 year old daughter alone, and the thought of an 11 year old babysitting scares me to the core!

Nope your not the odd one out, I agree eleven is way too young to be babysitting i'd say thirteen at least is more of an appropriate age. But in this particular situation cosidering the babysitters mom is going to be there I think it will be ok. But, i'd wait until shes at least 13 before she does it by herself.

 

[N.Bailey]

Perhaps it's just my state, or perhaps I heard something that's not true, but I thought the law stated you could not leave your own children alone till they are 13 years of age. IMO, even 13 years old is too young. My daughter has been begging me, but I don't think she's old enough and I don't want these kids in my home. That might sound ignorant, but that's the way it is! When my grandchildren come along, I'll change my stance.

So long as you'll accompany your daughter, I see nothing wrong with it, but I'd research the law before I'd allow her to go alone.

 

[aprilgail2]

maybe i'm the odd man out on this but-i don't leave my 11 year old daughter alone, and the thought of an 11 year old babysitting scares me to the core!

i don't know how the law reads in california, but i do know that if a minor is in a situation wherein police or emergency responce come to their assistance and they are found to be unsupervised it can result in a child protective services referral (the incident does not have to be due to any fault of the child, but if there is no adult present it calls into question appropriate supervision). many apartment and rentals now have written into rental agreements that minors cannot be in dwellings without adult supervision (too many kids injured/property damage).

.

nope you are not the odd one..I would never let an 11 year old child babysit for my child...now would I be letting my 11 year old stay home alone....to each their own but to me it sounds like a recipe for disaster!

 

[DVCLiz]

I think 11 is perfectly fine to be left alone for short periods of time - DD is 11, and she routinely stays at home while I go to the grocery store or run another type of errand. I wouldn't leave her home alone at night, though - she's still a little timid for that. And I don't think she's ready to babysit yet, because again, I think she'd get scared at someone else's house at night. But I don't think it's wrong for 11 or 12 year olds to begin babysitting in some supervised situations, or by themselves for short periods. 11 isn't the age I'd choose for a full Saturday night, but I don't think it's wrong to allow it at all. Our Red Cross babysitting course begins at 11.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I feel that 11 is too young for that responsibility. I would never let my DS11 babysit his DS9 and DB3. He is mature and responsible for his age. There are too many things that could go wrong.

Lori

 

[Breezy_Carol]

The Red Cross class is a good idea or perhaps your hospital may also offer a babysitting class. You might want to check your laws - in Md a "child" must be at least 13 to watch a child under 7. A child over 8 can stay alone - I'm saying legally, not that it's a good plan.

I am in Maryland too and thought the age was 12. But either way, it is older that 11.

We used to joke about me walking out to the mail box at the road when the kids were too young to be left alone.

And dating myself, I used to get $.50 / hour to babysit a family of 5 kids.

 

[tiggersmom2]

maybe i'm the odd man out on this but-i don't leave my 11 year old daughter alone, and the thought of an 11 year old babysitting scares me to the core!

I so agree!!!! I have an 11 year old and a 3 year old....there is no way in HELL I would leave the two of them alone! Just thinking of the things that could happen gives me cold chills.

 

[golfgal]

http://www.nccic.org/poptopics/homealone.html#md

Here is a link to guidelines for staying home alone. Maryland and Illinois are the only states that have LAWS about this, however, the Maryland law isn't so much about how old they can be to stay home, just that they can't be "confined" to a building without supervision of someone 13 or older, meaning you can't lock your kid up and go to the casino.

 

[stinkerbelle]

All 11 year olds are different...some are more mature then others. Regardless of age...maturity does factor in.

I know for a fact I was babysitting alone at that age. (Right down the street from my house...if I ever needed her, my mom was 3 houses down.) Started off with just a 3 year old girl...then her baby brother came when I was 12...started taking care of him solo when he was 3 or 4 months old.

I was paid well too...$6 or $7 an hour

 

[NMAmy]

DD started babysitting around that age--usually at my house so I could be around if she had a problem. She has a young half sister that she babysits on a regular basis, too, although she'd be thrilled to get even $4 an hour for that--she does it for free when she's at her dad's house.

I think it's great that you're going with her--it'll give her an idea what babysitting is like and yet you'll be around if she has any questions or problems come up.

I made $1 an hour when I was on the babysitting circuit.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think maturity is a factor, also length of time that she will be babysititng. Some 11 year olds are more mature than others, and if it's watching a child for an hour till Dad gets home from work, then it could probably be OK.

In this case, as the OP posted, she will be with her daughter, so it's a good way to "break her in" to babysitting while she has the assistance of her mom.

Seems like a good compromise as to how to handle the situation. DD gets "practice", Mom has peace of mind, baby gets sat...everybody's happy!