I know, this is a long ways off for us and all but just curious to get everyones opinions. For those of you with alittle older children, how old were they when you trusted them enough to be home alone for short periods of time?

I can tell you from my own experience growing up, if my mother had to run to the grocery store (about a 30 minute walk back/forth counting shopping time), she would let me/2 siblings at the house with our Aunt. I am 23 now, and my Aunt is 27. We have always grown up around her, so it was not really such an issue for us. As for night time baby sitting, she would get an adult (someone that was over 21, and known for a long time)

For quick trips in the summer time when the Aunt would visit, she was just fine for quick trips. I know this seems odd, but just so you are all aware, she never left us alone longer than an hour or two at the very most, and even though the age difference is not that much, my Aunt grew up being a second mom to us, so it was okay for our family - maybe just not for everyones. :)

well I guess the nice thing for us is my parents are just a few houses up from us. So if we have to run anywhere we can run the baby over to them. They are both retired so they usually are home just messing around the house with yardwork or sewing, etc...I think its going to be hard for me at first to leave the baby, I guess you get used to it though

I think my oldest daughter was 8 or so. Old enough to babysit her sister and brother.

I think it really depends on the child. I know 10 yr olds that would be fine home alone for a few hours and then i know 13yr olds that i wouldnt trust home alone for 5mins.

Some states have laws about how old they have to be to be home alone for more than x amount of time, usually 14 is the cut off age.

As for us growing up, heck, i think we were around 8 when we could stay home alone if mom went to the store. And I started babysitting in 5th grade.