Donate SIGN UP

babysitting

Avatar Image
largo | 19:55 Mon 18th Jun 2007 | Law
1 Answers
what is the legal age for babysitting?
Gravatar

Answers

Only 1 answerrss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by largo. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
This question has come up often. There's no official minimum age for babysitting. However, the following points need to be taken into consideration:

A young person must be at least 13 years of age before being allowed to take on any form of employment (including babysitting).

Local authorities can restrict 13-year-olds to certain occupations (which are likely to exclude babysitting).

No young person who has not yet reached school-leaving age may work after 7.00pm, even at weekends and during school holidays. That includes baby-sitting.

Theoretically, at least, any young person under school-leaving age must obtain a permit from their local education authority before undertaking any employment (including baby-sitting). I must admit, however, that I've never heard of anyone obtaining such a permit for babysitting.

On school days and Sundays, no young person under school-leaving age may work more than two hours. (Again, that includes baby-sitting).

On Saturdays, the maximum length of time which 13 & 14 year olds can work is 5 hours. For 15 & 16 years old (who've not reached school-leaving age), the limit is 8 hours.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/FamilyIssu esAndTheLaw/ChildrensRights/DG_4002945

Additionally, the parents of the young children could face prosecution if Social Services if it was deemed that they'd left their offspring in the care of someone who was too young to take responsibility. There's no fixed age; individual circumstances would have to be taken into consideration.

The NSPCC recommend a minimum age of 16 for babysitters:
http://www.nspcc.o

Do you know the answer?

babysitting

Answer Question >>