? Regarding leaving child alone in room

[SmallWorld71]

I agree with most of those who have posted; this is a personal decision and depends greatly on the child and the logistics involved.I would have no problem doing this with my boys (13 and 10) and no way would I leave my daughter alone (6) although I would leave her with her brothers. Out of the 2 boys, there is now way I would have left the 13 year old alone at the age of 8. The 10 year old, on the other hand, would have been just fine.
Go with what makes the most sense for you and your DS.

 

[kevschickee]

12 and 13 year olds babysit in my neck of the woods.

I totally agree with the posters who say it all depends on the child. When my oldest was 8 I would have ran to get coffee or to the laundry, etc. if it was for a short period of time, ie. 10-15 mins. and if she knew about it before hand. Not my youngest, who is 8 now...no way she is staying anywhere by herself for 2 seconds. I would find her dangling from the balcony.

We just let our oldest who is 11 now stay in our room by herself a few weeks ago, while DH and I went to dinner and DD 8 went to Simbas Cub House. We ate at Jiko and we were staying at AKL, so we were never far away. She had her cell phone and we had 2 cell phones. We were gone about 3 hours and all was fine. I spoke with her a couple of times. She is very mature and has been a mother's helper for 2 toddlers next door for 2 years and will be going to babysitting classes in the fall so she can babysit some when she turns 12 in December.

You just gotta go with what your mommy radar tells you and it will be fine. Don't worry what other's opinions are, everyone is different.

No way in heck I would let my kids be babysat by a 12 or 13 year old lol

 

[SmallWorld71]

No way in heck I would let my kids be babysat by a 12 or 13 year old lol

This is, of course, a personal decision, but I am pretty sure that 12 is the age that kids can get certified as babysitters by the American Red Cross.

 

[bouncycat]

Also, State of Florida LAW states that it is ILLEGAL to leave any child under the age of 12 alone, either in a car, or a house, or apartment, not sure if that includes hotels but it probably does. I have a co-worker who's husband works for our County Sherriff's office, and I asked her. Does it happen younger then that, sure, but if you get caught, you CAN go to jail!!! Keep that in mind...I have an 11 yr old, and am scared to death to leave him home alone, even after getting off the bus, and I work 2 miles from home!! My DH is a Chief in the Coast Guard, it wouldn't look good if his wife went to Jail for child endangerment, or neglect, or anything else!!

 

[Gretchen3ajoshmom]

I'm not so sure what's so magical about the age 13, but I hope when my 12 yo son turns 13 some of it rubs off on him!! Aside from the fact that DS 12 looks older and is physically bigger, he is no more well equipped to stay alone than my DD 9. Of the two, she is much more responsible and careful.
You sound like me!! My dd9 is the one I trust with the key IF I miss the kids at the bus stop! She calls my cell phone immediately and starts her homework- its the ds13 that will have no clue what to do in any situation....sorry to say no magical dust hit him at 13......hopefully by 27

 

[cinjam]

12 and 13 year olds babysit in my neck of the woods.


Same here. We let our neighbor's daughter babysit starting when she was 12

She was mature and responsible and we were comfortable with her tending to our children.

FWIW, Red Cross and the YMCA offer the Babysitter Training Courses - you have to be 11 to sign up.

To the OP, as everyone else has said, it depends on your child. I would leave my 8yo alone for a few minutes under the right circumstances. As it is now, we let him go to the bathroom at the movie theatre by himself just yesterday (we stayed in our seats & he went on his own). We've let him walk down the block to a friends house. I know these are not the exact same scenarios, but it's what we've been comfortable with so far.

 

[daisyduck123]

I keep thinking about that couple who was on vacation with their kids in Spain (I think). THey went to an adults only dinner with friends, and the adults took turns checking on the kids every 1/2hr (kids were sleeping). They could see their room from their table and weren't very far away, but someone still took their daughter. I'd be afraid to leave my child alone in the room for any amount of time (she's 6).

I'd advise against it, but that's my opinion.

The Mcann family was on vacation in Portugal and little Maddie was taken a week before her 4th b-day...right out of her hotel room. I wouldn't leave any child under the age of 12 or 13 alone in a hotel room.

 

[brekin67]

I was in the shower and my DH left our 8 year old daughter in the room while he went to get ice. I got out of the shower and assumed she was with DH. he came in the room without her. She had left the room and got on a Disney bus. I was running around hollering for her, and as I approached the guest services area, a lady had DD by her hand and was walking her to the guest services area. The lady said that DD got on to the bus and the lady noticed no one was with her and took her off the bus to bring to guest services. This could have turned out very bad, and I would have never expected that my daughter would leave our room.

 

[NotUrsula]

Also, State of Florida LAW states that it is ILLEGAL to leave any child under the age of 12 alone, either in a car, or a house, or apartment, not sure if that includes hotels but it probably does. I have a co-worker who's husband works for our County Sherriff's office, and I asked her. Does it happen younger then that, sure, but if you get caught, you CAN go to jail!!! Keep that in mind...I have an 11 yr old, and am scared to death to leave him home alone, even after getting off the bus, and I work 2 miles from home!! My DH is a Chief in the Coast Guard, it wouldn't look good if his wife went to Jail for child endangerment, or neglect, or anything else!!

Can you cite that FL state law? I just went looking for it, and I can't find such a statute anywhere. I *did* find this, however, on the current FAQ of the Florida 8th Judicial Circuit Family Court's website http://www.circuit8.org/family/:

At what age is it legal to leave a child home alone? There is no minimum age established by law. Whether a child can be left alone depends on a number of factors, including: the child's maturity; the safety of the environment they are in; how long they are left alone; whether or not they can get in touch with their parent or caregiver; and whether or not they know what to do in case of an emergency. Leaving a child alone can constitute neglect on the part of a parent or caregiver if the child could be in any danger of harm.

There may be a county or local ordinance that applies (I won't dispute that possibility) but according to the 8th Circuit, no such STATE law currently exists in Florida.

 

[campingfam]

I agree that it depends on the child. Only you know th maturity of your own child. I personally don't think I could leave the room while my child was sleeping. They could wake up disoriented and scared and not know where you were. With that said, I think I would be fine leaving my DS10 and DS13 along with instructions of what not to do and what to do for a short period of time. I think I would be more nervous about them fighting with each other than any other danger

 

[mjkacmom]

I couldn't do it. I wouldn't leave anyone under 13 (not even sure then) alone. Too many what ifs for me

I leave my 13 year old home babysitting the other kids. We're out of town, and I let she and ds11 walk a mile to Starbucks, with a map. I see your children are little - you might feel differently when they get older, and you see what they are capable of. I honestly can't see any danger in leaving an older child in a hotel room, provided they know the rules. I also don't know of any 13 year olds NOT allowed to be home alone.

 

[mjkacmom]

This is, of course, a personal decision, but I am pretty sure that 12 is the age that kids can get certified as babysitters by the American Red Cross.

Actually, it's 10 or 11. By the time kids are 16, they have much too busy social lives to babysit. I used to start them as mother's helpers at 12, and they'd be ready to go solo at 13 (I babysat all the time starting at 12, and we had no CPR class to take). It totally depends on the child, but my dd is the oldest of 5, and mature and capable enough to babysit.

 

[disneyobessed]

Thank you everyone for your responses... but

1. I dont want to end up in jail...for leaving him to get coffee at 5am for 5 minutes...if roaring forks is open that early!!)

2. I dont want him getting on a bus.. if he happens to wake up

3. The McCann Family (was it in spain or portugal..?) always comes to mind which made me second guess all this..

so with all this being said... i will force myself back to sleep!!

 

[Jenjulia]

I couldn't do it. I wouldn't leave anyone under 13 (not even sure then) alone. Too many what ifs for me

Me too. If I was running a couple feet away, like to get ice out of a close ice machine quickly, then I would feel ok with leaving my 9 year old. I'd be too worried that something would happen, I guess, if I went any further than that.

 

[Jenjulia]

Thank you everyone for your responses... but

1. I dont want to end up in jail...for leaving him to get coffee at 5am for 5 minutes...if roaring forks is open that early!!)

2. I dont want him getting on a bus.. if he happens to wake up

3. The McCann Family (was it in spain or portugal..?) always comes to mind which made me second guess all this..

so with all this being said... i will force myself back to sleep!!

What about sending ahead a cheap coffee maker or bringing one with? Would that work for you? That way you could get your coffee and not have to worry about leaving your son?

 

[bouncycat]

I can't find a direct link at the moment, this has come from a lady here at work who has a husband that is a Brevard County Sherriff's deputy...I asked him the answer, and HE'S the one that told me it was 12, and they will arrest you!!!

 

[jenb1023]

At WL you could sit on the balcony/porch with the door cracked. That is what I usually do if the family is still sleeping. You can read a book, plan for the day, etc.

 

[robinb]

We allowed our 9-year old to stay in the room at BWV on the first night that we checked in last December. The Sound of Music just started and she really wanted to watch it. So, we left one cell phone with her and took the other one down to the Flying Fish for dinner. We called her a couple of times and made she she could call us back. Could you bring a second cell phone so your son can contact you if he wakes up alone?

 

[robinb]

Also, State of Florida LAW states that it is ILLEGAL to leave any child under the age of 12 alone, either in a car, or a house, or apartment, not sure if that includes hotels but it probably does. I have a co-worker who's husband works for our County Sherriff's office, and I asked her. Does it happen younger then that, sure, but if you get caught, you CAN go to jail!!! Keep that in mind...I have an 11 yr old, and am scared to death to leave him home alone, even after getting off the bus, and I work 2 miles from home!! My DH is a Chief in the Coast Guard, it wouldn't look good if his wife went to Jail for child endangerment, or neglect, or anything else!!

I don't think that's true as I could find no indication that there is a state law. In fact, the Tampa Bay Tribune mentions that there is no minimum age in this article just published this month:
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/10/na-are-your-kids-safe-at-home-alone/life/

 

[bouncycat]

I don't think that's true as I could find no indication that there is a state law. In fact, the Tampa Bay Tribune mentions that there is no minimum age in this article just published this month:
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/10/na-are-your-kids-safe-at-home-alone/life/

As I said above, that came DIRECTLY from a BREVARD county Sherriff Deputy, so it could be OUR county here that has the law, he stated FLORIDA law, I stated above I couldn't find anything either...so please, don't flame me for quoting a sheriff's deputy, who knew they could be wrong??