sibling babysitting

[druidcat]

I wanted to get others opinions about letting an older sibling babysit for the evening in the hotel room. Specifically my 12yo dd (will be 13 the next week) babysitting our 2yo ds at POFQ while we go out to eat and possibly to downtown disney. She watches him here at home and that is fine but I'm not sure about when we are at a hotel...I need to decide if we need to hire an outside babysitter
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated

 

[Trena]

I have a 20 month old DS and an 11 yr old DD. I still get a babysitter, who is usually 13 or 14. DD ends of taking care of DS because he prefers her to a sitter he only sees once in a while. It makes me feel better to have some one older with her.

If your kids "get along" and things go well at home, she should be fine at the hotel. I'd make sure you could get back quick if needed. Will you have a car? I wouldn't want to rely on a Disney bus. Make sure she has a cell phone and you have a cell phone.

If you would be worried, and unable to enjoy your evening, then don't do it. The price of a sitter is worth the peace of mind.

What does your DD think about it?

 

[tinkandpan]

I could be wrong but i remember hearing something about having to be a certain age to be left alone in the hotel room- due to hotel rules. Personally I wouldn't do it, but that's just me and I wouldn't do it at home either. Check out the rules before you make any decisions.

 

[powellrj]

no way. I use to spend several night a month in hotels for my job and a hotel isn't the same as home.

I have had to leave the room because of the fire alarm, I have had people enter my room because there was a key issue (I have also been give the key to another persons room and walked in on them), I had the ceiling collapse because the room above me left the water running and just last weekend I had to call security because there were guys fighting outside my room. What was scary about that one was they were fighting because one of the guys had an underage girl in his room and these were not kids.

My kids are fine staying at home alone, but there is no way I would let them stay in a hotel. My middle DS was approached by a man wanting him to visit him in his room and he was just walking to get ice with me in the room.

 

[labst60]

When I was 15 (just turned 15 a week or so before), my family went away and I babysat my 3 silbings every night (it was a business trip for my dad) - they were 10, 8 and 6 and one night, I also watched 2 of my coworkers kids - they were in the 5 and 7 range. My parents didn't blink twice - I routinely watched them at home and it wasn't a big deal. I was a little older (2 years than your DC)- so we were allowed "out and about" the resort - BUT this was before cell phones - so we didn't have that added "comfort" for my parents.

There are some 13 y/o who couldn't handle it - but many could - you know your child best. If they can handle making sure the door latch is on and remembering the key in the case that they HAD to leave the room - they'll be fine.

Also - PP - fire alarms go off at home - strangers show up at the door - there are just as many, if not more, things that can go wrong at home.

If the 13 y/o is mature and is PREPARED for the fact it is different than home and how to handle the different situations, they'll be just fine. A 13 y/o watching one's own siblings is different than watching strangers- they are used to be alone together.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I think you've already gotton some great advice. It's not a black and white decision. You and your preteen need to discuss it. Only you can decide for sure. I'd probably go with the cautious side of the decision. It's vacation and I want everyone to enjoy themselves.

 

[druidcat]

Thanks for everyone's opinions...I think we'll wait until we're down there to make any final decision (we'll be going out one of the last days we're there). If she seems comfortable (and I'm comfortable ) we'll let her stay with him, but we'll have a babysitter back up (which will make her mad, oh well).

 

[auntie]

I'd think if she's 13..and she baby sits at home for your two year old, you could give her a cell phone, so that you'd be in constant contact should the need arise. You might try leaving them for an hour during the day, and see how that goes. I think if they are in the room and you are not far, and keep in touch you shouldn't have a problem. It's tough to get a baby sitter for a 13 year old who already babysits. I think once you are there you will have a better feel for how things are going. Only you really know your child's abilities. We have similar age differences with our kids. Our older son is 11 years older that his younger brother and 7 years older than his sister. When he was that age (13) he did babysit. Usually when there is an age difference similar to that of yours the older child is much more a caretaker than a sibling at that point. It's been my experience they are much more capable then say a 13 year old who has an 11 year old sibling. Because they were older when the little ones arrived, and have been helping out since that time. Even today..my older son is 27 and he still refers to his two younger siblings (who are now 16 and 20) as "the kids"...or "our kids"...meaning mine, his father, and his! I'm sure once you're there you'll have a better feel for what you want to do.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Every child is different, you know how mature your child is. If you think she is mature enough then I would say go for it, but call and check up every hour or so and make sure she has the number to contact you. My daughter is 14 and I have left my younger two with her for 20 minutes here and there. My daughter is not ready, she wants to talk on the phone, computer etc. Good luck!!!