According to kidsit around 66% of babysitters are 11-13 years old. These young teens are entrusted with the lives of kids not much younger than themselves.
First-time sitters often believe babysitting is an easy way to make money or as a stress-free first job, sitters can be put in situations not even the most experienced can predict.
“I have a kid I babysit that has a medical condition, and I have to be careful when they hit their head… there have been multiple times where I have to make sure it’s not too serious or any bleeding that I do not see, which is scary,” said Emma Owens (11), a sitter with 2 years of experience.
With the possibility of a dangerous situation keeping babysitters on their toes, the reality is a child encountering a health hazard is more common than most people think.
“When I was really young like nine or so [my sister and I] had an infant in a small playroom…and I thought the baby had possibly eaten a lego so I dug in his mouth to try and find it,” said Drew Brasch (11).
While fearing for the child’s safety is one thing, babysitters fearing for themselves is another. Many babysitters have felt fear for their safety due to reasons regarding the actions of the child or surrounding contributors.
“I was making mac n cheese and I told the kids to not help around the stove because it was dangerous. The kid tried to take the pot full of boiling water out of my hands and I thought he was going to dump the entire pot on me. Let’s just say I was shaken up,” said Sadie Parsons (11), a sitter with 2 years of experience.
It is not surprising that one of the most common times for babysitters to watch their clients is late nights or evenings due to events most parents attend during those hours. However, this adds more paranoia to sitters with the possibility of break-ins, intruders, or any abnormal behavior.
“I remember about a year ago there had been a string of break-ins in Ladera so I have always been alert of those things. But when you are alone and are sitting downstairs by yourself at 11:30 pm you can get a bit paranoid. I remember going to every window, shutting the blinds, and checking to make sure doors and windows were all locked. I probably looked insane,” said Parsons.
Despite unexpected stress and possible frightening situations, babysitting remains a right of passage for most teens.
