For those with older kids, do they babysit their siblings? If so, do you pay them? My 13 yr old son helps quite a bit with Faith.If I need to run to the store quickly he stays at home with her. I do not pay my son to watch her. Me and my husband do not go out alone very often(average 1-2 times a year). If we go out for long periods by ourselves then we have decided to pay him.
Saturday night we went to a Christmas party at at somebodys house. I sent my 8 yr old to spend the night with a friend. My son was home alone with Faith for 4 hours. We gave him $20. I trust him completely. He is CPR certified as well
I left him a list of neighbors phone numbers, as well as he knows mine and my husbands cell...When we got home at 9:30, him and Faith were in the pjs snuggling in bed watching a movie
So do you pay your kids to babysit siblings? This is all new to me.

By Tsa on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 05:49 pm:

We pay both kids. It isn't Faith's fault she was born second. We pay them to "watch each other." We go out about as often as you do--Not very much . My oldest is in charge but my second is in charge of bed time. That way they both have responsibility for something.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 05:53 pm:

My parents never paid me to watch my sister, or my older siblings to watch me. I *think* I would, but I'm not there yet!

By Jackie on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 05:57 pm:

I will say, I try not to leave all 3 kids home alone..My 8 yr old, well lets just say, she is less then nice, and can be quite evil at times LOL...she stresses her brother out. So for a longer evening, I make sure she can spend the night at her friends house. I figure that way my 13 yr old son, is a lot more calmer with my 3 yr old.

By Happynerdmom on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 06:23 pm:

My two are only three years apart, so by the time the oldest was old enough to babysit, her brother wasn't far behind. We did what Theresa does and paid them both. If one was much older than the other, yes, I would pay him. I would do just what you're doing- not pay him for short little trips, but for more extended times.

By Kaye on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 07:00 pm:

I also don't leave my three home alone much, i do at times. But I don't pay for helping out when needed. But I do pay her for prime times. For example, new years eve, I am making her babysit for me, so we can hang out with neighbors. She has been turning down offers for weeks now. Someone offered her 15 an hour to change her mind..LOL. Anyway, so I will pay her for that night. Actually she is quite good at it and we are going out for dinners a lot more. About once a month we will dine just us now. It is nice. But again, unless it is a friday or saturday night I don't pay.

By Debbie on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 08:33 pm:

My dks are close in age, so this won't be an issue for me. But, I think the way you are doing it is very fair! They are not close enough in age to "watch each other". Short, every day outings, I wouldn't pay. But, for a night out, I definitely would.

By Jewlz on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 09:38 pm:

when mom and dad went out for fun then they paid us when they went out for errands and work ... no they didnt pay me ...i was the oldest

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - 11:15 pm:

When my parents went out on a "date" they paid me but for daily babysitting, nope. It was part of my responsibility as a part of the family to help out where I was needed. I have a sister 6 years younger than me and another sister that is 11 years younger than I am.

I am just one of those mom's that always drug her kids around with her when they were babies. When the older two were little, my sister was only in JR High/High School and she would sit with them if I had to have a sitter. That was very seldom and she never would let me pay her, she felt it was her alone time with the kids. When the girls were little, we had a neighbor who is like their adopted grandparents that would watch the girls if I had to have a sitter. They also wouldn't accept money to watch them.

I by the way do not charge my sisters to watch their kids and if my kids watch their kids they do not charge them either. UNLESS it is for work purposes. If my sister needs a sitter because she has to work she pays them but if they watch the kids because of a "date" or whatever they do not charge her. Paying it forward in action.

Now, DH and I do not "date" and our children are not paid to hang out at my house. My youngest are nearly 11 and they are more mature about things than my soon to be 16 year old is at times. They all just hang out and do their own things. They all know the house rules and they all follow them or they loose their privilege to stay home..

By Dandjmom on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 08:46 am:

My youngest just turned 4, my oldest is 12. I too drag them everywhere I go. DS's brother/ my DSS is 19 home from college right now for Winter Break, I got him to watch himfor me all day Monday, he didnt' aske to be paid nor did we offer to pay him. We both had to work and my ds was out of school. We dont' go out alot, when we do it's to hang with outr friend's so we are never pout on the same night so we don't have a problem in that area yet. Now idf we where to go out and have my daughter babysit yes we would pay her.

But for now my daughter errands money for her report card which gives her abotu 200 a year , and for hosuehold chores, I mean doing them without my bringign them to her attention. takign it upon herself to wash dishes she sees inthe sink, she mops the kitchn floor onher own sometimes, cleaning up her room helping her brother pick up is toys, just doing anything aroudn the hsoeu that needs to be done, but doing it on your own not waiting for me to ask you can you do this or that,

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 02:26 pm:

My sisters are only 15 months and 3 years younger than me, so when my parents started leaving us alone, no one got paid to "watch" anyone, since we were all about the same age.

I never paid my kids to "watch" each other, either, since they are just 2-1/2 years apart.

I can see paying the 16yo to watch the 3yo, though, when you go out for the evening. He really is watching out for her welfare and keeping her safe.

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 04:54 pm:

I didn't get paid to babysit my sister, but my parents might offer to get something I wanted, like a new CD or something. Those types of things normally had to be bought with my money (I worked in our family's deli), but normally I just babysat for free.

By Jackie on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - 05:33 pm:

I was the youngest of 3. I do remember my oldest brother babysitting for me at times. I never knew if my parents paid him or not.
My son is 13, and my youngest is 3, so thats a good 10 yr difference in age between them.Like I said we dont go out often, but its nice to know he is old enough to watch his youngest sister if need be.It does come in handy if my 3 yr old is napping and I need to run to the grocery store for milk or something, then I dont have to drag a sleeping child out of bed.