What is the legal age?

[Dee1985]

what is the youngest age children can babysit?

i used to babysit for neighbours from the age of 14. but i was always a lot maturer then most girls my age..

but i want to go bingo tonight for 1 hour its round the corner both babies wil be in bed and wont wake and my sister is 14 her boyfriend is 15?

 

[chezzabell]

im sure its 14 hun

 

[Tasha20]

Yes I thought it was 14 too

 

[Dee1985]

ummm im not sure??
i do feel comfy leaving them with her, the kids dont wake once in bed and she is very grown up for her age?

just not sure if she is legally able too?????

 

[Jaidy]

Hey D,

http://www.raisingkids.co.uk/0_1/ex06_gen01.asp

Looks like there is no minimum age so your keeping it legal

 

[Dee1985]

cheers for that Jade

 

[Emmylou]

I babysat from 14 and so did my sister......enjoy the bingo Hope you win big......


.......love your flahing emoticon by the way

 

[Hypnorm]

I was told by our midwife and nursery nurse that it was fine if friends and family, but if it was anyone else then they should be certified and a register childminder!

 

[Autaven]

Yeah I agree with Hypnorm, I would trust family and friends (to an extent ).
But anyone else, I would need to hear a lot of experience and hear from other parents who have left their children with them.

 

[missac]

did you win?

 

[K X]

I am a geek, I wouldn't leave Rebecca with anyone other than my mum.

 

[Jadie]

I know they are a lot older but I hate this happening... the neighbours leave 3 kids all day by them selves 9, 10 and 13. they been left since the youngest was 6 or 7. I wish we had reported them before now cos surly this is not right?? sorry break into thr thread!

 

[nicki]

I know they are a lot older but I hate this happening... the neighbours leave 3 kids all day by them selves 9, 10 and 13. they been left since the youngest was 6 or 7. I wish we had reported them before now cos surly this is not right?? sorry break into thr thread!

Thats shocking. How can a 13 year old be responsible for a 9 & 10 year old? I would mention it to the authorities even now, its just not right in my opinion.

 

[Jadie]

the 9 and 10 are on there own on school days!

the thing is we had a row with them last week, about parking etc! he was yelling at us when his kids were there! I told him to stp and he called me a fish wife!!!!!

what if he knew it was us that reported them? But now I think the kids were out side playing in the day last week so any one could have seen them!m

 

[Dee1985]

hi girls no i didnt win
i didnt go, i decided to save my money and stay in, so had a cosy night in and watched a fab film instead.
but kris wants to take me to see saw 3 soon so il let Jade baby sit then

 

[*saulino*]

Hi

Out here beleve it or not the legal age for babysitting is 12, when i was 11 i baby sat a 2 and 4 year old, now that i have Kiara i have no clue how that mom ever left her kids with me all week its crazy.
She never did pay me and never watched her kids just let them run around.
Katrina

 

[Minime]

As far as I know there is no legal age to leave kids on their own but you can get prosecuted for neglect. For babysitting I was told that its recommended 14 if related to the child and 16 if they're not but again no legal limit.

I also believe that kids have to be 16 to be left alone overnight, again no legal age per se but they can have you for neglect if anything happens. I know this as my ex husband worked nights and left his 14 yo DD alone EVERY night, I spoke to social services about it and they told me there was no limit however if anything happened to her in his absence he could be prosecuted but basically he could leave her on her own at his own risk.

My mate is a childrens SW and her 14 year old looks after her 10 year old sister which is fine but she wouldnt leave her 14 year old to look after say a 2 year old for more than an hour or so and would ensure that she was contactable at all times. I think it depends on the maturity of the "babysitter" so I think Dionne if you trust your sister and you're contactable then it wont be a problem.