How old do my children have to be before I can leave them home alone?

October 18, 2011

Question by cows4me79: How old do my children have to be before I can leave them home alone?
We live in Maryland. How old do my children have to be before I can leave them home alone for a while? I have an 11 year old, 9 year old, and a 7 year old. I have a doctors appointment today and no babysitter. The appointment should only last about a half hour total. What do you think?
Thank you.

Best answer:

Answer by Deem
a good rule is 13 years old

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Tags: alone, Before, Children., home, leave, Them

6 Responses to How old do my children have to be before I can leave them home alone?

acres12 on October 19, 2011 at 12:28 am

35 or 40 years old

K I N G on October 19, 2011 at 1:18 am

To young. I wouldn’t even leave my 13-Year-Old home alone with them ages. In my opinion i would only leave my children alone as long as the oldest is 15+, and the youngest is 2+. To many accidents happening now days. Take them with you.

EDIT: I’m a father to a set of twins who are three month’s now, and my wife had something to do, while our other kids was at a summer program. I took them both with me to see my cardiologist, and the nurse help keep an eye on them as i had a echocardiogram done.

Note* I wouldn’t mind leaving my 11+ year old at home alone for atleast an hour as long as he or she don’t have to care for another sibling that is younger.

Erik Schicx on October 19, 2011 at 1:58 am

Depends on the kids.
They have the ages to behave for half an hour, but will they.

When I was 7 years old, I wouldn’t do what mom told me at all if she left me for a half hour alone at home.

But if you tell them they’ll get a treat if they behave, i t should work.
(Don’t give treats every time, don’t make a bad habit of it ;D)

Cheers

Andrea McCormick on October 19, 2011 at 2:02 am

I would imagine they would be okay. My parents started leaving me home alone when I was around 11. I did have a sister who was 2 years older than me, however she wasn’t always home. BUT it was for short periods of time at this point. Slowly it got to be longer, and then by like 12 and my sis 14 we were left home alone a lot more. It is your choice… If you feel your 11 year old can handle it, then do what you have to do. I know younger kids who stay home alone, and I know kids who weren’t left home alone until 14.

But if your 11 year old is capable of handling things for a short period of time, I don’t see the harm in it.

fun.notnuts on October 19, 2011 at 2:30 am

You have to find out the law in your area. There is an age when children are allowed to be left alone. But how much do the 9 and 7 year olds listen to the 11 year old? That’s a big weight to put on young shoulders. Take them with you. Anything could go wrong.

Mike on October 19, 2011 at 3:21 am

I really think it has to do with how mature they are.
I have seen some 11 year olds that were more mature and trustworthy then some 16 year olds.

If you actually feel safe leaving them at home by themselves, then it might be safe to do so. But if you have any doubts at all, don’t.