what is the legal age for a child to be a baby sitter?

Answer 1

I don't think that there is any "Legal" age for baby sitting, unless you're running a full blown daycare for multiple children.

As long as a young lady is mature, responsible and trustworthy, I think it's fine to babysit if you're 12 or 13.

Answer 2

It really depends on where you live....Where I live the legal age is 12, with a baby sitting course.
Personally, I would also take in consideration of the age of the child that needs to be looked after. If the child was just a baby...I would need someone at least 16 to baby sit. But with children that are school age, a twelve year old baby sitter for a couple hours seems ok.

***I have a 5 year old daughter, and I don't let teens baby sit her...But that is just me...Not you....You have to decide what YOU think is right and what YOU are comfortable with.

Answer 3

There is no legal age for a child to be a baby sitter. A child is just a child that needs a baby sitter him or herself. A child needs an adult who is their to take care of him and love him. A child does not know how to take on another responsibility of taking care of another human being who is in the same world as himself. Please keep your responsibility and do not put any burden on the child.

Answer 4

Unfortunately there isn't a legal age although most think 13/14 is old enough. However I wouldn't give anyone under the age of 20 the responsibility of looking after my children I would need to be sure that they were capable of dealing with any emergency in a mature responsible way without paniking. After all its us that would have to deal with the consequences in the courts if a child was in charge.

Answer 5

I depends on where you live but when I called the police department's non-emergency number and asked them. They told me that here there is no law on what age they can babysit but it's up to us. If we feel that they are capable and mature enough to babysit then they can but she thought the age would be around 12 or 13.

What I would do is try it out for a little bit. Leave the house to go down the street for a little bit and then come back, if everything is okay lengthen the time more until you feel comfortable leaving them for longer. You should make sure that there is food there that they can microwave instead of cook just in case so that they don't mess with the stove. Call your local police non-emergency number and they'll tell you what age is allowed for your state.

Answer 6

16

Answer 7

15

Answer 8

In Canada it's 13.

However, I'd shoot for 14-15. We hired a 13-year-old sitter twice, and on BOTH occassions, we got a phone call mid-evening to say A) she had burned herself on the oven, and B) she couldn't handle the girls (after bringing over bags of sugar-candy for them)...

But, it's a maturity/experience thing. A 13-year old with a younger sibling may be a perfect combination.

Answer 9

12 or 13 but even then I wouldnt ever hire a 12 or 13 year old again. And this was family. I came home and the hose in the back yard had been left running( I guess she had taken them out to play) and that is not the worst part. The medicince cabinet was open and things were taken out of it, etc..She hadnt payed attention because she decided to watch a DVD of mine and the kids got into all sorts of things. Now I use a 17 year old girl that is very mature and great with kids.

Answer 10

There isn't an actual 'legal' age. As long as no harm comes to the child it can be left with anyone. I know that because my friend went mad when she found out her husband had been going to the pub at night and leaving her 7 year old with his 10 year old brother on the weekends he had them. Her solicitor said there was nothing legally wrong with it yet it is usually frowned upon if the babysitter is less than 13 years old.

Answer 11

Of all the responses that you've so far received, katieplatie, is the only one that has been correct.

As this is the Yahoo! UK & Ireland forum, there is no law that states how old a babysitter must be. It is down to the parents of the child to ascertain whether or not the person doing the babysitting is able to ascertain whether or not a crisis point has been reached, and whether s/he is able to deal with it.

The problem comes when anything untoward happens. You then have to deal with the courts, stating how you ascertained the capabilities of the person that you employed as a babysitter.