We have a 17 yo who watches my 2yo Non CAH & my 9 month old SWCAH daughters on occasion. He knows that she has a condition that if she gets sick needs immediate attention. We started out very slow. He watched the girls while I was sleeping upstairs...I work nights. Then I would have him watch the girls while I was at a neighbors house for a babyshower..2 doors down....we slowly are increasing the distance & time. He knows how to give the shot, I also have a print out of all the steps just in case he (or my husband..I love him but the shot thing freaks him out!) blanks out on how to do it.
He’s mother knows how to give the shot too & she is a nurse, just in case he needs help. He has all of our #’s & basicly I have found him to be super responsible. I guess in MY opinion, in depends on the teen. I know a lot of teen girls in our neighborhood who babysit...but none of them are as responsible or mature as our neighbor boy...so we go with him that & my 2 yo thinks he is the greatest b/c he rides a motorcycle & plays all of her games with her.
I have close family, and I try to use them when we are gone for long periods of time, or if we are more than 20 minutes away. I would like to hear from others too, it’s hard but I can’t let CAH rule my house, so I make the most informed, researched decisions I can & move forward.
Jess