How old to Leave Teenager Alone Overnight

[happily single]

So I have a question..How old were your teenagers when you left them home alone overnight? Just one night, and you wouldn't be too far away.

I am not planning on doing it, but my dd will be turning 16 and I know at 16 I was watching lil one's overnight, which is essentially like being alone overnight so it got me curious.

 

[smitch425]

So I have a question..How old were your teenagers when you left them home alone overnight? Just one night, and you wouldn't be too far away.

I am not planning on doing it, but my dd will be turning 16 and I know at 16 I was watching lil one's overnight, which is essentially like being alone overnight so it got me curious.

I was left alone at 14 or 15, but I have always been very responsible. My parents could trust me not to do anything stupid. My brother and sister? Not so much.

 

[abdmom]

I left ds alone for several nights when he was 16.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

So I have a question..How old were your teenagers when you left them home alone overnight? Just one night, and you wouldn't be too far away.

I am not planning on doing it, but my dd will be turning 16 and I know at 16 I was watching lil one's overnight, which is essentially like being alone overnight so it got me curious.

It varies from kid to kid. My parents left me and my younger brother at home, in a new city when we were 15 and 13, but we got along well, were both well behaved responsible kids, and weren't worried about being left. On the other hand, my parents never left my older sister and I alone, even for an evening out, until she left for college, because she was a different personality.

I also think that babysitting overnight and staying overnight in your own home are two different things. I think that there are plenty of kids who would rise to the occasion and act responsibly when watching other people's kids, but wouldn't hesitate to throw a party or invite their boyfriend/girlfriend to spend the night at home. In addition, if you're babysitting overnight your parents might still be a quick car ride away if you get in trouble. I think for some kids babysitting would come earlier than staying alone, and for other kids it would be the reverse.

 

[wiigirl]

I am thinking 16...

 

[NHdisneylover]

A lot depends on the kid and his or her personality. Also, who do you know and trust nearby to help out in an emergency, etc.

I have left both kids "alone together" three times. First for one night, then also a 3 night trip and an 8 night trip. They were 13 and 15 the first time and are now 14 and 16.

DS14 was home alone all night one night this week. I was gone with DD on a Girl Scout trip and DH had a last minute work issue come up. I called DS about a million times (drove the poor kid crazy), but he was totally fine and enjoyed getting to play his music and eat pizza and Subway for meals and was just fine

(BTW--we only have one car and as often as not it is not here when the kids and I are as my husband needs it for work travel--so the fact that he cannot drive is a non issue. You have to e 18 to drive here anyway. We have ample public transit in the area which both kids use daily and he had money for emergencies and could call a cab, etc if needed as well).

 

[katrina1122]

I was 15, but my 11 yr old sister stayed at a neighbor where I had to pyhsically check into daily. It might have been 16, but I was young for my age group...late bday and was mature for my age. They had to get me used to it as i was going to go to college at 17 and not turn 18 until late Nov.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

One son stayed by himself at night when he was 18, and one started staying the nights by himself at 17. Before I met/married DH, there was no reason for me to leave them alone at night. Now my youngest is 19, but I still ask someone I work with to be his emergency point of contact, in case a medical emergency comes up. I also give them a key to my house, because my kids are notorious for losing house keys!

A funny story, the last time me & DH went to Food & Wine, my son was by himself (he had to work). Well, he asked if he could have one of my husband's ASPs (Police Baton) to keep at his bedside "in case of an intruder". Our house is alarmed, and my son is 6'3 1/2 inches, and about 250lbs....just seeing him is scary sometimes! Anyway, my husband has two ASPs...one of them has a Pepper Spray attachment on the bottom. Well, unknown to me, DH gives him the one with pepper spray.

So we are at EPCOT, and I get this text: "I just pepper-sprayed myself". After he showered and ran water in his eyes, I asked him how in the world he did that, and he told me he was showing his friend the ASP and was trying to close it, and pressed the button. Oh my gosh, I was so livid at DH for giving that one to DS, without saying anything!! I can laugh about it now....but definitely not funny at the time!!

So far, that's the worse thing that's happened when we've left him alone.

I worry about our cruise this Fall. He'll be going to a local college, and my biggest fear is he'll get in a car accident while we are out to sea and can't get to him. I know he'll be 20, but you NEVER stop worrying!!! I'll do the usual, ask someone at work to "be there just in case", and make my son put his name and phone number under ICE #1 (In Case of Emergency, 1st Contact), in case something happens to him.

As a note, everyone should have ICE #1, ICE #2, and ICE #3 in their phone. That way if they are found unconscious from an accident or something, the police can look at their cell phone for ICE# 1, so they know who to call.

 

[disney1990]

Set off your smoke detector in the middle of the night and see if your teen wakes up. Recent studies have shows that kids and teens sleep soundly through a smoke detector.

My girls were never left home alone overnight.

 

[Skywalker]

My parents left my brother and I home at 14 and 16 when they went to Jamaica for week. We were both extremely responsible and mature and all, though. No parties or anything like that! Plus it was small town in Ontario in like, 1982.

If they have a license and are trusted to drive, they should be responsible enough to stay alone I would think. I think many more bad things are likely to happen driving than sitting at home playing a Playstation game.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I think it depends on the teen, but an average teen, I'd say 14, for just one night.

 

[Squidgyness]

I was left alone along with my older sister all evening and sometimes into the night, from about 13 on. My parents were always back before morning though. They very occasionally went to shows, friends houses, etc.

Before then I and my sister had a sitter. Never had issues with doing something stupid on purpose, my parents just knew I was very clumsy and waited till my sister was old enough to watch me properly, about 16 in her case. Only just last year was the first trip they took without us since I was very young. We never had money for more than one vacation a year.

 

[JessicaR]

Like others have said, it really does depend on the kid. We have been leaving the kids alone to take care of the animals and the house since they were 14 and 18. We also have relatives close by. My younger son is WAY more responsible than my oldest. Conscientious and a better caretaker is a better choice of words.

I am the oldest of 3 girls and I was watching them overnight at 13.

 

[aprilgail2]

As a note, everyone should have ICE #1, ICE #2, and ICE #3 in their phone. That way if they are found unconscious from an accident or something, the police can look at their cell phone for ICE# 1, so they know who to call.

How would the police know the password to unlock the phone to even see the contacts?? You can't get to the address book, on iphone at least, unless you know the password.

 

[scrapquitler]

So I have a question..How old were your teenagers when you left them home alone overnight? Just one night, and you wouldn't be too far away.

I am not planning on doing it, but my dd will be turning 16 and I know at 16 I was watching lil one's overnight, which is essentially like being alone overnight so it got me curious.

I remember that when I was 16, I was left in charge of my brothers (who were 14 and 10) for about 4-5 days while my parents went on a trip out of state. We did have a relative living next door at the time.

By the time I was 13 or 14 I was babysitting overnight for my cousins who were preschoolers.

That said, I wouldn't leave MY 16 year old alone overnight, but she would freak out if I even suggested it.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

One son stayed by himself at night when he was 18, and one started staying the nights by himself at 17. Before I met/married DH, there was no reason for me to leave them alone at night. Now my youngest is 19, but I still ask someone I work with to be his emergency point of contact, in case a medical emergency comes up. I also give them a key to my house, because my kids are notorious for losing house keys!

A funny story, the last time me & DH went to Food & Wine, my son was by himself (he had to work). Well, he asked if he could have one of my husband's ASPs (Police Baton) to keep at his bedside "in case of an intruder". Our house is alarmed, and my son is 6'3 1/2 inches, and about 250lbs....just seeing him is scary sometimes! Anyway, my husband has two ASPs...one of them has a Pepper Spray attachment on the bottom. Well, unknown to me, DH gives him the one with pepper spray.

So we are at EPCOT, and I get this text: "I just pepper-sprayed myself". After he showered and ran water in his eyes, I asked him how in the world he did that, and he told me he was showing his friend the ASP and was trying to close it, and pressed the button. Oh my gosh, I was so livid at DH for giving that one to DS, without saying anything!! I can laugh about it now....but definitely not funny at the time!!

So far, that's the worse thing that's happened when we've left him alone.

I worry about our cruise this Fall. He'll be going to a local college, and my biggest fear is he'll get in a car accident while we are out to sea and can't get to him. I know he'll be 20, but you NEVER stop worrying!!! I'll do the usual, ask someone at work to "be there just in case", and make my son put his name and phone number under ICE #1 (In Case of Emergency, 1st Contact), in case something happens to him.

As a note, everyone should have ICE #1, ICE #2, and ICE #3 in their phone. That way if they are found unconscious from an accident or something, the police can look at their cell phone for ICE# 1, so they know who to call.

My son lost his phone in a location where it was likely a kid's phone. The person who found it scrolled through his contacts and called "Mom" and then "Nana".

I think ICE is a good idea, but I also think that most police officers faced with a unconscious accident will be able to figure out who to call.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

How would the police know the password to unlock the phone to even see the contacts?? You can't get to the address book, on iphone at least, unless you know the password.

Not everybody locks their phone....it's just something some LEOs might check for if available. I have my phone lock set for after 2 hours of non-use, I get tired of having to put in a passcode every time I get a text.

 

[mom2travel]

For us the first time was a few months ago; DS was 17. We were gone for about 24 hours. He does have our large dogs here with him and an alarm system. We make sure several neighbors know we're away in case he needs anything. If he wasn't comfortable staying alone, we wouldn't do it.

DD is 13 and I can't imagine leaving her alone overnight any time soon. If DH & I both are away once DS is away at college, we would either ask someone to stay with her or have her stay with a friend.

 

[North of Mouse]

Our oldest child, DD, was 17 when we needed to go out of state for a house hunting trip for job transfer. We left her for 3 nights. She was a very responsible child all her growing up years, so actually would have felt comfortable doing it a couple years earlier in a necessity. Would not have done it unless we needed to as I was nervous about it, but not because of her lack of ability, or trust worthiness.

 

[Sabeking]

My parents left me 16 and my one brother 18 for a weekend. Huge mistake!!! We threw the biggest St. Patrick's party ever. This was when the drinking age was 18. We probably had a good 50 kids in the house. One girl threw up all over our new "This End Up " couch. Remember those?? well about 10:30 pm when things were really just getting started one of my other brothers shows up to do his laundry. He lived in a dorm down the road. He was the "good son" and kicked everyone out. He told us we better clean up and never do that again or he was going to tell mom and dad. I will never forget my brother pounding on the This End Up furniture warehouse on a Sunday morning trying to get a replacement cushion. We were bad kids!