Babysitting is a common first job for teens. 66% of babysitters are within 11 and 13 years old, and another 30% of babysitters are 14-17 years old. Serving as a quick way to make money students have embraced this freelancing gig. However, it’s not as easy as it may seem. Kids can be unpredictable and situations can get dangerous, especially with siblings involved.

When sophomore Audrey Peltier was seven years old she faced a difficult situation. Her older brother popped her balloon, and she swatted his balloon away. He got frustrated and pushed her into the stairs. She ended up going to the hospital and got 16 stitches in her face.

Senior Ethan Peltier was a bystander.

He remembers that: “My brother pushed her and she fell over onto a stone stair and landed face first on the edge of it and was rushed to the hospital,” Ethan Peltier said.

Many kids who babysit take a Red Cross course to be able to deal with minor wounds and be certified to babysit, but when it comes down to it, many kids who babysit are young and inexperienced.

In the Peltier’s case: “[The babysitter] was hesitant in what to do and just helped Audrey with the wound, but the bleeding didn’t stop and she called my mom while trying to get us to settle down,” Ethan Peltier said.

Sometimes, physical altercations between siblings aren’t the issue, but accidentally putting themself in danger.

When Sophomore Miles Messier was babysitting for his extended family, he found himself in a situation involving what was said to be multivitamins but ended up being something a little stronger.

“The oldest one, who was like seven at the time, comes up to me with two little gummies in his hand, and tells me that they are multivitamins and he needs to have them right now. I say, are you sure that they are multivitamins? And he says that he is sure, and so I allowed him to give them to his little brother and himself to eat,” Messier said.

“An hour later, the little three-year-old is dead asleep and the older one can barely keep his eyes open, and keep in mind, it is 11:30 in the morning.”

Messier was very concerned for the kids, thinking that they were ill or had eaten something funny.

“Turns out, they were not multivitamins,” he said. “They were melatonin gummies.”

Babysitting is a huge responsibility and can be a fun way to learn how to take care of kids… but every adventure comes with a little danger, too.