Q: What is the law regarding babysitters?
There is actually no minimum legal age for someone to babysit for a child, but where responsibility lies for the child being cared for is clear. If you leave your child in the care of a person under 16 years old and something happens to the child, then the responsibility lies with you. If the babysitter is over 16 years old, the law states that they can be found guilty of neglect.
The Children's Legal Centre and the NSPCC recommend that children younger than 16 should not babysit, based upon legal responsibility and that they are less aware of potential dangers and risks. If you do hire a babysitter aged under 16, you must be prepared to take responsibility if something goes wrong in your absence.
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