Is 12 too young for a mother's helper?

[Anonymous]

Is 12 an okay age for a mother's helper? There is a girl down the street that wants to get experience before she is babysitting age and her mom reached out to me and offered her services as a mother's helper.

I have twins and would never ever leave her in the same room alone with my babies ever but as an extra pair of hands? Good idea? Bad?

She charges $5-10/hour and can help out 2hrs a day 2x a week. If love to be able to put laundry away or make dinner. I know this child won't have actual responsibility besides playing with baby and tbh probably just one baby. I can wear one and trade off.

Am I crazy for considering?

Again I would be in the same room at all times.

[Anonymous]

How old are your twins?

I think a 12 year old is fine for what you describe, but I also think that many 12 year olds could handle playing in a child proofed room with twins while you took a shower or a nap. I don't think you need to stay in the room every minute. I wouldn't leave the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are your twins?

I think a 12 year old is fine for what you describe, but I also think that many 12 year olds could handle playing in a child proofed room with twins while you took a shower or a nap. I don't think you need to stay in the room every minute. I wouldn't leave the house.

+1

[Anonymous]

Totally fine. My 12 year old son was a parent’s helper to a family with 2 year old twins. Even took them on walks together in their double stroller and to a very small enclosed park.

[Anonymous]

Seems fine to me! I am assuming you find her mature and will assess her skills as she starts working with your babies. How old are the twins? At 12 I did a lot of babysitting and people left me in charge of lots of babies all alone. Seems hard to believe today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems fine to me! I am assuming you find her mature and will assess her skills as she starts working with your babies. How old are the twins? At 12 I did a lot of babysitting and people left me in charge of lots of babies all alone. Seems hard to believe today.

I meant to add - I’m sure you will feel comfortable leaving the room pretty soon if it’s going well with her! Hard to get anything done otherwise. Give yourself a break.

[Anonymous]

An extra set of hands for little money? As a mother of twins, I say hell yeah! I would have loved to have someone entertaining one baby while I bathed the other one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems fine to me! I am assuming you find her mature and will assess her skills as she starts working with your babies. How old are the twins? At 12 I did a lot of babysitting and people left me in charge of lots of babies all alone. Seems hard to believe today.

+1 For infants, I would hesitate, unless you're always going to be working alongside her. But once they're 8 months plus--definitely a 12 year could be a nice help to you.

[Anonymous]

That's 6th or 7th grade. Totally fine!

[Anonymous]

I had 10-year old mother’s helpers. Fabulous playmates for my kids back then.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you’re a little too neurotic to actually benefit from such an opportunity (are you literally going to have the mothers helper trail you room to room as you do laundry, make dinner, etc???…please don’t subject her to this!)

but yes for most people with more reasonable boundaries this would be a great option to get a little bit of a break at a very reasonable rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you’re a little too neurotic to actually benefit from such an opportunity (are you literally going to have the mothers helper trail you room to room as you do laundry, make dinner, etc???…please don’t subject her to this!)

but yes for most people with more reasonable boundaries this would be a great option to get a little bit of a break at a very reasonable rate.

Give her a break, I’m sure she is trying to get comfortable with having some help. These things take time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you’re a little too neurotic to actually benefit from such an opportunity (are you literally going to have the mothers helper trail you room to room as you do laundry, make dinner, etc???…please don’t subject her to this!)

but yes for most people with more reasonable boundaries this would be a great option to get a little bit of a break at a very reasonable rate.

Give her a break, I’m sure she is trying to get comfortable with having some help. These things take time.

+1. Calling a new mom of twins neurotic for asking a question is harsh

[Anonymous]

Perfect age! Start with being in the same room, but depending on her maturity level, you may quickly feel confident allowing her to be in a room alone for short periods with one baby.

If you're lucky, she will "grow" with your family, and you'll have a reliable independent babysitter in a few years.

[Anonymous]

That is the perfect age for a mother‘s helper and it looks like you’re going to use her exactly like a mother‘s helper. Go for it!

Don’t get me started on people who look for mothers helpers, but they really want a nanny who cooks and cleans!