How old? Babysitting question

[aprilgail2]

I would have been mortified if my parents got a babysitter for me at 13!!


We left our girls alone at the Animal Kingdom Lodge when they were 12 and 14. They had rules to stay together, but they had free rein of the hotel. They pretty much hung out by the animals and talked to the CM's about the animals and South Africa.

At 12 and 14 they were also riding the Disney buses by themselves (but together) if the didn't want to stay in the same park as us.

To the OP, if your DD babysits her siblings at home, I don't see a problem with it at Disney. Just make sure she has a cell phone and ground rules.

I agree! I laugh at the thought of hiring a babysitter for my 13 year old high school student! My daughter is 11 and one of the groups she belongs to is taking them all to six flags this summer by bus- once they get there they go off on their own with their own little groups of friends and meet up to go home- yet on another thread people are still taking their 11 year old boys into the womens room ROLF! My daughter babysits for the 2 year old next door-how can you hire a babysitter for kids old enough to babysit!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I agree with others that is she is old enough to babysit the kids at home then it should be fine at the hotel as well. Just go over the basics of not letting people into the room and where you want her to go in the event of a fire alarm, etc.

Someone brought up that it is her vacation too. Yes, it is--but it is also the parents' vacation. I do not think it is out of line on a multiday trip for the kids parents to take one night for themselves. Odds are those same parents are doing some things they would rather not do on the trip for their kids' sakes, the older girl may be riding on some rides that she would not choose for the sake of her younger siblings, the younger ones may be waiting on the older one to ride a ride they can't go on yet, etc. I see nothing wrong at all with everyone giving a little bit to let others have nice experiences on the trip.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I agree with others that is she is old enough to babysit the kids at home then it should be fine at the hotel as well. Just go over the basics of not letting people into the room and where you want her to go in the event of a fire alarm, etc.

Someone brought up that it is her vacation too. Yes, it is--but it is also the parents' vacation. I do not think it is out of line on a multiday trip for the kids parents to take one night for themselves. Odds are those same parents are doing some things they would rather not do on the trip for their kids' sakes, the older girl may be riding on some rides that she would not choose for the sake of her younger siblings, the younger ones may be waiting on the older one to ride a ride they can't go on yet, etc. I see nothing wrong at all with everyone giving a little bit to let others have nice experiences on the trip.

As usual, the voice of reason.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

If nothing goes wrong, then everything is fine? If there is a problem, the OP left 3 minors in a hotel room without adult supervision. If a parent does this at home and something happens, people want childrens services to investigate. Why exactly would the children be safer at a Disney resort instead of at home? What mystery CMs are going to take charge of these unsupervised children in the event of an emergency? Sorry, leaving your children alone in a hotel room while you go out to dinner is a risk. Another scenario: the OP goes to dinner, leaves the children in the room unsupervised and the OP gets stuck on a broken down monorail. The simple plan of being gone for several hours is now way off. There is always the possibility of something going wrong. The room above yours could have a pipe burst and the hotel needs to enter the room to avoid excess damage. Wait until you get home and your children are at least in familiar surroundings.

Then the 13 year old calls you from inside the locked door. You call the front desk, verify they are who they are. Direct the 13 year old to let them in and take the siblings to the lobby or other public location and one of you hops on the monorail while the other waits for the cheque. Annoying? yes, life threatening? no.

OP, in the situation you describe, just a monorail ride away, with a responsible older child, I wouldn't hesitate. The only thing I'd add is I'd want a cell phone on each end, but you've probably already got that covered.

 

[JESW]

What time is your dinner? We started leaving our two kids back in the room some nights when they were 14 & 10. After a full day at the parks and pool, by the time dh & I went out the kids were wiped out and were sound asleep way before we got back to the room. We were never gone for long and we left a cell phone with the kids so they could contact us in case of an emergency.

It is up to you and if you feel your 13 year old is capable and if the younger two will mind her.

Enjoy your trip!

Jill

 

[golfgal]

Whoever allowed you, at 11 years old, to babysit for their 4 children who were under 6 was, well, imho they were a little nuts. Not meaning to dis you just 11 with four little ones. No way. Our local police are not even wild about 11yo kids being alone in their own homes. My girlfriend went to her door last week. There was her 11yo nephew with two police officers. He was home with his 4 siblings, one of them a 5mo infant. The police told my girlfriend that if she was unwilling to come take care of her sister's children, they were taking them to children's services. They said 4 small children was too much for an 11yo. I agree.

The American Red Cross offers babysitting classes to 11 year olds around the country . I think everyone I know started babysitting around age 10 or 11.

 

[disneystacy]

What time is your dinner? We started leaving our two kids back in the room some nights when they were 14 & 10. After a full day at the parks and pool, by the time dh & I went out the kids were wiped out and were sound asleep way before we got back to the room. We were never gone for long and we left a cell phone with the kids so they could contact us in case of an emergency.

It is up to you and if you feel your 13 year old is capable and if the younger two will mind her.

Enjoy your trip!

Jill

I was thinking of shooting for a 7:30pm dinner ressie. This way we can feed the kids and get everyone ready for bed. My kids will not be roaming the hotel or going to the food court or whatnot, most likely they will all be asleep. We get up early when we are at Disney and spend the day at a park (we don't go back to the room at all) so they are usually exhausted by the end of the day.

 

[MichelleVW]

I disagree. At 11yo, I was hired by a resort babysitting service as well. All it proves is that people are much more uptight than they were when I was younger. It's all a matter of opinion and the maturity level of the child in charge. As far as your "story" above, I wouldn't leave an 11yo boy with 4 siblings. Boys are typically less mature than girls. But then...that's a whole 'nother can of worms. Too each his own.
None of this is relevant however, because the OP's dd is 13yo and there are TWO siblings, 9 and 4.

I agree with the bolded part! People are just way too paranoid, sounds like the OP has a responsible teenager so there is no reason not to leave her in charge.

My younger sister was born when my brother was 11, he didn't babysit us, but on weekends he would let my mom sleep in, take care of the baby, and then make pancakes for me and my other sister (we were 6 and 8). If an 11 year old boy could do all those things (and he did it willingly, mom never asked) I'm sure the OP's kids will be fine for a few hours in a hotel.

 

[smb6]

To the poster that said what if the pipes burst or you get caught on the monorail, ect, ect.... My ds is 13- I would expect him to use common sense. I may make a rule not to let anyone in the room. But I know he is very smart and capable. If a pipe burst I would expect him to act similar to what an adult would do. He would call me. If I didn't answer, he would determine if it was a small leak that he could just put some towels on as a hold me over, or if it was a continuos/signifigant leak he would have the common sense to call the front desk and make an exception to letting someone in.

And as for the poster that mentioned only the girls being responsible enough to babysit at that age; I definately agree in general that girls mature faster and tend to be ready for babysitting earlier... but my ds is the exception- he has 4 younger siblings, he is great with small children, and he is extremely responsible and trustworthy It is definately one of those things that varies by the individual child.....

 

[Bren's Mom]

I have boys 10 years apart. At 13, we did allow the older to babysit the younger for short time periods once HE told us HE was comfortable with it. I would not have hesitated to leave him in a hotel room with his 3 yo brother for 2 hours while we dined.

(I also know the 3 yo would mind the 13 yo. If you think your older dd would have a problem with either younger child minding, then perhaps not.)

 

[jodifla]

The OP was asking if it was illegal or against the rules. It is not, and if the 13-year-old baby sits at home, she can certainly baby sit at WDW.

Also, is everyone forgetting about the invention of the cell phone? It's NOT like the 13-year-old will be stuck without the advice of her parents for hours. Heck, she can text them every 2 minutes if she likes.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

There are only two seating for V&A, go for the earlier one. As for you daughter if you trust her to watch other kids you can trust her to do the right thing for herself.

 

[undertheradar]

Wow, I must be overprotective! I have pulled drunks from hotel pools and spas, broken up domestic disputes, broken up bar fights, talked guests out of hurting others or killing themselves, found bodies in rooms, put out kitchen fires in rooms, searched dumpsters for missing diamond rings, done room by room searches with the fire department when an alarm was sounded in a 3 month old hotel. The fire captain would not silence the alarm until he had checked every room on the property(this was at 2 am). Before the electronic locks, we used to walk around and remove the keys left in door locks after the bars closed. I have had to wake up every guest in the hotel(this is why the number of guests is important) when a tornado was coming straight towards the property. We were lucky, it bounced and our property was spared. What does this have to do with the OP's questions? Those of you advising how safe your kids will be in a hotel room while you go out to eat are playing the odds. YMMV! For those advising just calling the front desk, I've read on the boards that the phones are answered at a central phone center, not the actual front desk. Go to dinner when you get home and you can follow the procedures you have in place should a problem arise.

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow, I must be overprotective! I have pulled drunks from hotel pools and spas, broken up domestic disputes, broken up bar fights, talked guests out of hurting others or killing themselves, found bodies in rooms, put out kitchen fires in rooms, searched dumpsters for missing diamond rings, done room by room searches with the fire department when an alarm was sounded in a 3 month old hotel. The fire captain would not silence the alarm until he had checked every room on the property(this was at 2 am). Before the electronic locks, we used to walk around and remove the keys left in door locks after the bars closed. I have had to wake up every guest in the hotel(this is why the number of guests is important) when a tornado was coming straight towards the property. We were lucky, it bounced and our property was spared. What does this have to do with the OP's questions? Those of you advising how safe your kids will be in a hotel room while you go out to eat are playing the odds. YMMV! For those advising just calling the front desk, I've read on the boards that the phones are answered at a central phone center, not the actual front desk. Go to dinner when you get home and you can follow the procedures you have in place should a problem arise.

Well, at least you admit it! Heck, if my oldest is babysitting, and a tornado is coming, I'd rather the kids get rounded up by the hotel staff, than have that happen at home, with no other help. OP, it will be fine - just tell your children NOT to go dumpster diving, or break up fights.

 

[badblackpug]

It wouldn't be a problem for me. My 13 year old sits for her younger siblings, too. We order pizza and get Disney videos and they are good to go. She loves the opportunity to earn spending money.