At what age alone?

[PrincessFiona]

This week, I had a babysitting failure. Alex left at 2, Amanda left for work at 3:30, and Andrew left for work at 4:45. Aidan was at a friend's house. I didn't get home until 5:15.

Zoe was home alone from 4:45-5:15 😱


She is only 9. She did fine and she new I was on my way, but.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Thirteen]

I can remember being 10 (?) and my mom going for bread.
With siblings? I think 13 or 14.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ladymoreta]

I was about 7 or 8 when my mom would start leaving my sister (1 year older) and me alone while she went on short errands. I think legally it depends on the state, and a lot of them vary from about 8-10 as the starting age if they have laws specifying it.

[peggyfromwastate]

I think if you are 8 it's ok. Each county has a different level. When we were in MD we left our 8 year old occasionally for brief times (like 30 min to 1 hour). It was fine.

Don't you have a dog at home too? That helps.

I wouldn't sweat it though. Just reinforce that she never opens the door for anyone at all if she's home alone. Not a cop, not a fireman, nobody.

[ides]

I was left alone at 10 definitely and earlier for short amounts of time.

[Michele]

Home alone for short periods like that at 9. And my mom was crazy over protective.

[migirl]

We leave our 9yo for short periods of time now. He knows to stay inside, not answer the door, not answer the phone, etc. He's a trustworthy, responsible kid so I feel comfortable doing that.

[Deebs]

I would definitely leave my 9 year old alone for 30 minutes. I think it's really kid dependent. I don't see my seven year old being ready to it when he's 9. My five year old (while I wouldn't leave so young, obviously, is probably as ready as my nine year old.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[corn poffi]

I got paid to babysit other peoples' kids when I was 10, so I don't see an issue with a 9 yo being home alone for a half hour.

[peggyfromwastate]

10 year olds aren't generally "allowed" to supervise other kids anymore. Where we've lived the local law is 13 or 14 for being able to supervise, or babysit. But home alone is ok for younger kids.

What did Z say about it Kris? Was she freaked out? Was she cool with it?

[GrayMatterWife]

We leave our 9yo for short periods of time now. He knows to stay inside, not answer the door, not answer the phone, etc. He's a trustworthy, responsible kid so I feel comfortable doing that.

This. My almost-11 year old stays by himself for 40 minutes every morning during the school year, while I drive my two-year-old to daycare. I give him his homeschooling assignments, and he hits the books. Never had a problem.

[Vishenka69]

I was left alone for short periods of time at 5 and sent out for errands at 8. This was in Europe though.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Pollyanna]

If she was fine with it I think you're good.

[PrincessFiona]

She seemed okay with it. I am less worried about it now.

Kris