Is there a legal age on babysitting?

Question

Everyone is telling me different ages . . .

my unclle said 14

my dad said 13

a tv show said there is non as long as parents of babysitter and baby agree

im confused :S

Answer 1

Some states are implementing laws to standardize babysitting ages.

If you will be babysitting for over 20 hours, labor law require that you be paid mimimum wage and be of working age in that state.

Some require classes in CPR, etc.

Read this link, it will answer all your questions.

http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/w...

Answer 2

I live in a small town in Iowa and my 11 1/2 year old daughter babysits my step daughter's children, ages 1 yr, 4 yr, 6yr.  Never at night though, only once with the 4&6. She's exstreamly mature, even more mature than most 14 year olds. She took a class at the community center and is a certified babysitter. The class was for 9+ and they learned infant and child CPR and other babysitting and baby basics. She babysits them alone for only up to 3 hours, unless it's just 4&6. The father of the children works as a taxidermist and has a taxidermy room in the garage and she watches the children for about 5 hours, in case of emergency he's there.  

Answer 3

There is no legal age.

I started babysitting when i was 12.

It helps if you take a babysitting course, like the one the Red Cross offers, or a Safe Sitter course.

It depends on the parents / your responsibility.

If your under 12, you should look into something called a mothers helper. You stay with the kids, but one of the parents is still home. Its a great way to get some experience & earn some money, before you take a class or are responsible enough to look after a child by yourself.

red cross class:

http://www.redcross.org/SERVICES/HSS/cou...

Safe Sitter:

http://www.safesitter.org/

Answer 4

I think the TV was right because I was 11 and I babysat a few kids.

Answer 5

I would say 16. Because under 16 and you are a minor. Plus you're not allowed to be left in the house alone when you are under 16. Therefore you can't be left home alone with younger kids until you are 16.

Plus if anything was to happen to the children you are babysitting then you can't really be held to account because you are a minor at under 16 and you are not legally allowed to be left home alone until you are 16.

Answer 6

I'm almost positive it's 13. I took a babysitters' class, and the lowest age that could come and learn was 13.

Answer 7

I don't know where you live, but in the state of Illinois, you can babysit at 13 if you are certified in infant and child CPR and have taken and passed a course in babysitting......otherwise, it's 16

Answer 8

i don't really think there is a legal age, as long as the kid is trustworthy. i started at 13.  

Answer 9

its 13 but you should get a liscense.but thats in maryland i dont know where you live,but i know my moms friends doughter was 12 and she got in trouble for babysitting at a young age,but when she turned 13 she was fine.

Answer 10

why would there be a legal age, it is an under the table job. so just tell them both that, it is any age as long as the ppl you are babysitting for trust you enough to watch their kids.  

Answer 11

there is no legal age,  but there are legal criteria, like making sure the babysitter is competant enough to look after a child. it is the parents responsibility to make sure that this is the case, and also that there is enough food, supplies in the house. so in theory if a 9 year old were to look after a child, it would be legal as long as provision was made. although it might be legal, it would be completely irresponsible in my opinion, but the law is a strange thing sometimes.

Answer 12

There's no legal age. But you do need to be mature enough to look after children.

Answer 13

siblings it is 14 and other peoples children is 16  

Answer 14

the legal age to babysit is 14.

this is because a child under the age of 14 is not allowed to stay in a house alone with or without a younger person there.

Answer 15

It depends becuase some people will feel more confident knowing a more mature person is looking after there baby rather than a teenager who is barely a child. Where as a friend or relative will unless they dont trust you.  

Answer 16

TV show is weird...

there isn't really one, it actually depends on the PARENT. 14 is most people's preference because you're not stupid and you know how to get out of some situations. If you have CPR training you rake in the customers though *winks*

Answer 17

Not until something bad happens.  Then the authorities would look at the age of the babysitter and determine whether the parents were negligent in leaving their children in the care of that individual.

Answer 18

13

Answer 19

It depends on your state, national average is 14.

Answer 20

its 14.

Answer 21

i believe its 15-16 summin around there

Answer 22

there is no legal age. you just have to be mature enough to handle it.

Answer 23

I think the TV show is right

Answer 24

there is no legal in my state

but you can't get 'certified' babysitter until you're 14

Answer 25

whenever you're responsible enough to take care of a child

Answer 26

No.

Answer 27

Depends on were you live genraly though their is no legal age. The older you are and the more certified you become the more you can get payed.

Answer 28

I think u have 2 take a class at 13-14 and if u know everything about babysitting, u can babysit.

Answer 29

yeah its 14

Answer 30

No... there isn't a legal babysitting age. Anyone can babysit as long ad the parents of the families agree it's ok!

Answer 31

nope, no legal age! it's whenever the parents think - some girls start at 11, others at 13, some never do - nothing legal.