How old for no sitter .
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Ds is 9 1/2 years old dh and I both work weird hrs . Ds is home a couple before dh and I get home . He's pretty self sufficient at taking care of himself . We currently have a neighbor girl watch him when he's there before we get home . He doesn't ever get in to anything and being alone doesn't bother him . Would he be okay by himself when did everyone else quit getting sitters she's offered to just swing by and check on him every once in a while . Just wondering thanks . |
Anonymous
| Depends on if he’s comfortable with it. I wouldn’t allow any sort of toaster, stove, microwave use. |
Anonymous
| Can he plunge a toilet? Turn the water off/on near every toilet and sink in the house and the main water source? Turn main power off/ on? Use a fire extinguisher? Apply a tourniquet to himself? Know how to self heimelic (sp) maneuver? |
Anonymous
That’s quite a list. My 16 year old, and I assume the vast majority of teens who stay alone even overnight are not able to do many of those things. |
Anonymous
You cannot be serious? I could do those things by the time I was 7 or 8. These are simple basic life skills your teen is missing. |
Anonymous
Omg you are ridiculous |
Anonymous
|
OP there’s no one set age for this.
We also work weird hours. I work 12s but not every day and spouse works 4-midnight. DD is 12 now and we started leaving her alone for 20 mins at 8. At 9.5 we would have left her for 2 hours now and again, but not every day 5 days a week. We have a dog and she’s fine being left, I just don’t think it’s fair every day. We still use a sitter now approx once a week because DD needs driving somewhere and she likes the company. Sitter will shoot hoops with her in the driveway, plays card games with her etc. it’s not so much a need now, but because DD is an only she likes the company of an older teen doing stuff with her. |
Anonymous
Basic first aid is ridiculous? Ok I’m ridiculous! DCUM never ceases to amuse! |
Anonymous
Apply a tourniquet at 7? Bahahahahaha |
Anonymous
| Op I let my son stay alone around 11 or 12 but only for a couple of hours at a time. I used to stay alone a lot younger than that. He needs to be able to know how to call for help if anything happens. |
Anonymous
| At 9, not when it's dark out, and not on a regular basis. Because the thing is, he doesn't get into anything NOW. And then one day he'll want to see what happens if you spray Lysol at a lighter or candle, or a friend will invite themselves over upon finding out he's home alone and your DS won't be able to control that kid. |
Anonymous
Yes, yes I could and frankly I’m thankful I had parents that cared enough to teach me. You go on and have a good laugh and think about what happens when your kid is home alone and starts choking or bleeding or burns themself or whatever and doesn’t know what to do because basic first aid skills are “ridiculous”! |
Anonymous
You are so incredibly full of shit. Go away. |
Anonymous
|
I leave my 11, 9 and 6 year old at home alone often. I work from home, but I occasionally need to run errands or have an appointment and I leave the 3 alone. My mom k dear can call me from her iPad. We have Ring and I can see if anyone comes at the door. I haven’t left them alone for date night yet, but I will probably start doing that in a year or so.
Having 3 is different though because if something happens to one, the others can always call me. |
Anonymous
NP. Shutting off water and power to the entire house has nothing to do with “basic first aid.” PP is right that your list is ridiculous. A better list would include things like “can call 911, knows to go to a neighbor’s house in an emergency, knows not to use the oven when home alone.” |