How old was your child when you allowed them to stay alone with a mild illness?

[Anonymous]

My oldest will turn 13 this week. He is home sick today, with a low grade fever, and just general tiredness. I took the day off. He may wake up fine tomorrow. In the event he needs another day of rest, I am wondering if 13 is too young to leave along for the day. He currently stays home about an hour after school, and we trust him. DH can come home during the day. We are just in a situation with little family nearby, and with 3 kids, and flu in December, I am almost out of leave (I get 12 days sick/personal combined). DH's company is announcing layoffs this week, so he cannot miss work. We are in VA, if there is some applicable law. I do have a few neighbors who can be on call for emergency. Of course, if he was really really sick, with a high fever, or flu or vomiting, I would never leave him.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine to leave him.

[Anonymous]

Every kid is different, but we felt comfortable leaving DD home alone in this situation at 11 or so, and I believe most of our friends did similarly with their kids.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure he'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Obviously it depends but my aunt wouldn't leave the hotel pool on a family vacation this year to go to the beach- on property (about 100 yards away) because her son had an upset stomach and wanted to watch movies in his room and sleep in the afternoon to see if it would help him feel better. He's 19.

That's too late.

But I think with the scenario described your kid would be capable of calling if something went wrong while you were gone.

[Anonymous]

How does he feel about it?

I'd leave him, but my kid was OK with it.

[Anonymous]

My girl is 12, and I've been leaving her since she was 7. I started feeling comfortable with it when she was 9.

They just lay around watching tv and playing with screens. I leave out the medicine they can take and how much at which times, and put some comfort food around for them to easily grab.

[Anonymous]

Mine were 12 or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My girl is 12, and I've been leaving her since she was 7. I started feeling comfortable with it when she was 9.

They just lay around watching tv and playing with screens. I leave out the medicine they can take and how much at which times, and put some comfort food around for them to easily grab.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My girl is 12, and I've been leaving her since she was 7. I started feeling comfortable with it when she was 9.

They just lay around watching tv and playing with screens. I leave out the medicine they can take and how much at which times, and put some comfort food around for them to easily grab.

Sounds fine to me, too. Certainly by 9, though all kids are different. As long as the kid knows how to use a phone and isn't so ill that he/she is unable to eat alone or take basic meds, I think it's fine.

I came to love my sick days, being home alone. I am an introvert and I'd rather have alone time than hovering caregivers, even as a kid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My girl is 12, and I've been leaving her since she was 7. I started feeling comfortable with it when she was 9.

They just lay around watching tv and playing with screens. I leave out the medicine they can take and how much at which times, and put some comfort food around for them to easily grab.

I don't think 7 is even legal to live any child alone--healthy or sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My girl is 12, and I've been leaving her since she was 7. I started feeling comfortable with it when she was 9.

They just lay around watching tv and playing with screens. I leave out the medicine they can take and how much at which times, and put some comfort food around for them to easily grab.

I don't think 7 is even legal to live any child alone--healthy or sick.

I think its 45 min- 1 hour for a 9-year old in VA.

[Anonymous]

Till they're in college. It's an over-correction for my own mother who was never really "there" when we were young.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. DH is only 3 miles away at work too. I'm 3 miles the other way, but I'm a teacher, so not as easy to walk out . We will see what the day brings.

[Anonymous]

I would say that leaving a child of 11 is fine as by age 12 many are already sitting a couple of hours for younger siblings or neighbors' kids. Like anything else it is best to start out slowly and build up such as taking a short walk in your area an leaving a child alone, then maybe running a short errand and gradually lengthening out so that especially for those who even work part-time, some chores such as food shopping might be done in peace without having to drag kits along or worrying. Then by middle school one should be comfortable in going out in the evening assuming everyone gets along. A Red Cross or similar basic sitter class is a good idea for both boys and girls.