How old does a babysitter have to be?

There is no minimum legal age a person has to be before they can babysit.

Parents should carefully assess a babysitter under the age of 16.

Guidance from the NSPCC suggests a parent should choose a babysitter who is over the age of 16.

Under some circumstances, parents can be prosecuted if any harm comes to their child whilst a babysitter under the age of 16 is supervising.

If a parent decides to leave their child with a babysitter who is under 16, the parent must be prepared to take responsibility for anything that should go wrong in their absence. The parent is still responsible for the care and safety of their child.

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