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A 2 years old is too young to be left alone with a pre teen. The not an adult part is the biggest factor.
Back in the days, parents were too care free and trusting. I used to roam thru the city as a 12 years and would not allow my kids to do the same. Different times and different awareness.
When my oldest, my only daughter was 12 I had to have her sit while I ran to the grocery store or did short errands. She was so scared of babysitting that we would have her 10 year old friend come help/keep her company. This 10 year old was one of 10 children and very mature about lil guys. I was gone usually an hour or so at most.
So, it really does depend on the girl. One of my best babysitters was a boy of 14. If you trust the child, and know their parents are close by in the neighborhood I wouldn't hesitate using a 12 year old for a couple of hours at a time.
My thoughts are no, just because 12 is so young, but then I realize that I was babysitting at 12 and I was pretty good at it. My friend isn't sure what to do. It's not a family member, it's a teen girl's sister. I referred her to the 16 year old girl but she's too busy with her schoolwork so her sister wanted to help. She was selling herself with babysitting and CPR, lol, kind of cute.
My kids' pediatrician told me to hire babysitters who were 11 or 12 because they really focus on the baby whereas the older teens are on the phone with their boyfriends the whole time.
I babysat two kids under two when I was 12 and I was very conscientious.
I was babysitting baby siblings by age 10. Add into the mix a few baby cousins along with a rash of neighbourhood kids (mostly babies and toddlers). I was years ahead in the maturity and responsibility department than most of my counterparts.
When my own children were little (baby and toddler stage) I had babysitters, but they were always older (in their 20's and beyond), and family did a lot of sitting for us also.
I have a 12-year old girl, and I absolutely trust her to babysit my younger kids, as well as others. She's very responsible, more conservative than I am about permitted behavior, has taken all the first aid and babysitting courses. And yet, she's also playful enough to get down on the floor and engage the little ones. Whenever we are at any family or larger friend gathering, she automatically gravitates toward the preschool gang. It's just her personality. Sometimes I think we get invited to play date type gatherings just because she'll come along and engage with all the younger kids, freeing moms up to chat for a bit.
In general, though, 12 is pretty young and I'd be wary about doing so. A 2-year old is also very active and probably still either is in diapers or needs help in the bathroom, so you'd have to make sure the 12-year old was okay and proficient in that area.
I was babysitting babies less than a year old when I was 12. But, today is different. I think I would honestly ask a social worker or some form of law enforcement for an opinion of what's acceptable in your area.
I've seen where parents have gotten in hot water over this age issue when something bad happens in my area. Some areas feel that nothing less than an adult is acceptable. It's at least important to know what the law says about it, and go forward from there.
I would think it would be a shame if a 12 year old couldn't watch a 2 year old. It's how I made money as a kid. I was busy every Friday and Saturday night. It taught me responsibility for people and their property, as well as how to set goals for what I wanted to buy with the money. Nothing bad ever happened either.
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My friend isn't sure what to do. It's not a family member, it's a teen girl's sister. I referred her to the 16 year old girl but she's too busy with her schoolwork so her sister wanted to help. She was selling herself with babysitting and CPR, lol, kind of cute.
