What is the legal minimum age for a babysitter?
Posted by adminNov 13
My kids have been asked to babysit for other families when they were as young as 12 years old. Because they have siblings and have been involved with those siblings, we’ve been OK with them sitting at age 12. Is there a legal minimum age below which a child is not allowed to act as a babysitter?
By: Mark W
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By: Mark W
About the Author:
7 comments
Comment by missypink80 on November 15, 2009 at 9:46 am
I don’t know about a legal age but I wouldn’t alow my child to babysit alone until they’re about 15 or 16 when they’re more mature can handle themselves better.
Comment by melie on November 18, 2009 at 3:29 am
51 too 16!
Comment by egfearless on November 20, 2009 at 6:30 am
i think that in my state it is 12, but that is very likely to be different depending on where you live. unfortunatley, i wouldnt have a clue where to find that information. you may just try searching on yahoo for ‘minimum age babysit’+ your state
good luck!
Comment by k bingy on November 22, 2009 at 6:02 am
i know of girls who babysit at 9. ( not my child mind ya does she babysit) but in my town this is the going age. I feel it is way too young. I believe it depends on the state you live in or country you reside in. Look it up on the internet or call your local sheriffs office. They can tell you.
Comment by bigdog42x on November 25, 2009 at 7:51 am
Its up to the parents of the children. Not the government.
Comment by piro_man_aka_chad on November 27, 2009 at 4:45 am
It depends on the state but I think that 12 is the minimum age. It’s that or it’s 13. I think it just depends on the kids, the parents, and the event.
Comment by jamesmusik84 on November 29, 2009 at 12:50 am
There is no real minimum in most states, at least that I’m aware of, but there could be in some. The real question isn’t how old the babysitter, but whether or not the parent is endangering the child by leaving them with the babysitter. A 9 year old could be completely competent to babysit, especially if she was aware of what to do in an emergency, but if something happened to the child she was watching, there could definitely be charges of child negelct/endangerment against the parents.