Babysitters: What’s the Best Age and How to Start?
BySo far, my husband and I have been very lucky that every time we needed a babysitter, my parents would swoop in and do the job. (My son is their only grandchild, and they would move heaven and earth to be with him!) But, they live 4 hours away, so we don’t want to ask them to come down too often. Plus, we are getting the itch to go out on more spur-of-the-moment date nights, so we need to find babysitters who are local. (I know some of you are probably thinking that we are crazy to have gone 21 months without using a babysitter, but we really haven’t needed one on very many occasions. Plus, we are first-time parents, so I think we are probably a little more apprehensive about babysitters than we need to be!)
Since I started doing my community theater show, I’ve met lots of 11 and 12-year-old girls who ADORE my son and beg me to babysit him. They are such sweet girls, and I would love to have them babysit, but I’m concerned that they might be too young for the job. In particular, we need someone to babysit for an upcoming Saturday night, which would mean the babysitter would have to handle both dinnertime and bedtime—neither of which is easy, especially considering Pudge is in a very clingy-to-mommy-and-daddy phase.
What should we do? Try to find a babysitter who is older and more experienced even if we don’t know him/her personally? Let one of the 12-year-olds babysit? Wait until Pudge is a little older to use non-family babysitters? I’m wondering what is the ideal age of a babysitter (I’d say 16 or 17, but at that age, kids are too involved in their own things and often don’t want to babysit anymore). When did you start using babysitters? Did it go well the first time?
I started babysitting when I was around 13 but at first just when the parents were home or during the day and not with babies. I was definitely still into making money babysitting when I was 16 & 17 and would often sit for families with 4 kids including babies for long periods of time.
heck. I’m 27 now and still looking for sitting jobs since I’ve been out of work! lol
I would maybe even suggest looking at some of the local colleges – those gals tend to be responsible and can definitely use the money!
Or….you can always swing your little man by our house. We’ll gladly watch him so you guys can go out for an evening
If it makes you feel any better, I started babysitting around age 12. My very first job, I showed up and the youngest was still in diapers (never had changed one before) and the older one required that I sing her to sleep. I also had to bathe them, which I had never done either. But, hey, I figured it out.
You can look for a kid who has taken a babysitting course before… I think the Red Cross or something still does training certification.
I say go for it… if there is a problem, she will call. You could also have BOTH girls sit so that they can back each other up.
I started babysitting around 12-13 for one family in particular; they would even come and pick me up so I could babysit for them before I had my license. Our current babysitter is in her early twenties, but if I knew of any younger girls in our neighborhood that were mature and responsible, I’d be willing to give them a chance.
Thanks for the advice, everyone! I’m thinking I might try to have two girls babysit the first time, so that they could help each other out. I’ll let you know how it goes! I like the idea of checking with local colleges, but I’m nervous to use someone I don’t know personally. Molly – I might take you up on the babysitting offer sometime
We really lucked out in the babysitting department. When we moved into our new house (R was 15 mos and I was 6 mos pg) the neighbors directly across the street came over to introduce themselves. The mother promptly brought both of her daughters over and was like “meet your new babysitters!” haha
They were 15 and 13 at the time. We always ask the older sister first (she is 17 now) but whenever she can’t do it her sister usually can. Her sister was probably 14 the first time she babysat. I love that they live right across the street so we don’t ever have to transport them and one text message almost always secures a sitter.