Home Alone: How Young Is Too Young?

After two incidents that send a chill up most parents’ spines, questions were swirling on the High Desert Thursday about how young is too young for kids to be left alone.

The question takes center stage in the shadow of a 6-year old girl who went missing for three hours in Bend Wednesday. Her 14-year old brother was supposed be watching her.

In a separate incident on Wednesday night, police said Sarah Stelter, pulled over for driving under the influence, told officer her 4-month old was being cared for by a 9-year old — but only the baby was there when they went to check. She was okay, thankfully.

So how young is too young to be left home alone? Opinions vary.

“For a kid to be home alone, they should be 10 or 11,” said Samantha Carmona of Crooked River Ranch.

“I’d say like 12 or 13,” said Laurie Halter of Bend.

“I was left home alone at 12 or 13, and I think it depends on the child,” said Floy Sitts of Bend.

Many states don’t have a law that gives a definitive age, but Oregon does.

“In Oregon, 10 years of age is the legal age that a child can be left home alone,”said Hillary Saraceno, director of the Deschutes Commission on Children and Families.

Little Jainee Steele slipped away when her brother went inside for a drink of water, and was more found three hours after she went missing. By all accounts, her 14-year old brother did everything right once he realized she was not in sight.

“I started babysitting when I was 9,” said Carmona.

“We’ve had babysitters that are like 14 or 15, and I feel like if their in the neighborhood and their parents are home, that’s an acceptable age,” said Halter.

Herem Oregon law is a little fuzzier. According to Saraceno, there is no state law designating how old a kid has to be to babysit.

“Common sense drives it, but the general recommendation is that youth 12 and under should really not be left to care for younger children,” Saraceno said.

Stelter claimed her 4-month old was with a 9-year old friend. Now, along with a DUII charge, she’s facing a second-degree child neglect charge that could mean up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

But while there is no excuse for child neglect, Saraceno says a drop in subsidies for day care to help families working near minimum wage has left many in a tough spot.

Some families are forced to get creative to provide day care for their kids while they are at work. She warns not all those creative decisions prove to be good ones.