Babysitting can often be a rewarding experience, but as with all things related to child care, there are issues to consider before taking on such a big responsibility.
From understanding the legal requirements and safety risks that come with babysitting to ensuring the sitter, teen or adult, is emotionally prepared to take care of someone else’s child–keep reading to learn all the answers to: how old do you have to be to babysit and what are the relevant regulations in the state you plan to offer this service.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Babysit?
Legally, the most appropriate age to babysit is twelve years old. However, psychologists argue that the overall maturity level is more important than the actual age of the person doing it.
In reality, there is no true answer as to what is the most appropriate age to babysit, as all children mature differently. That’s why it’s wise to consider both the legal and psychological aspects before allowing your child or anyone else take on the responsibility of babysitting.
As a parent, another key factor to consider is the age and maturity level of your child or children. If you have a toddler or baby, you may feel more comfortable hiring someone older and more experienced in order to provide the best care.
Is There a Minimum Legal Age to Babysit?
Yes, some states, like Illinois and Maryland, have a minimum legal age for babysitting. In Illinois, the requirement is for the person to be at least 14 years old, and in Maryland, the minimum legal age to babysit is 13 years old.
Babysitting age laws vary from state to state as they are connected with the legal age that a child can be left home alone. Colorado, for instance, has no minimum babysitting age but has a minimum home alone age at 12 years old so it’s important to check with local regulations first before hiring an underage sitter or asking your child to babysit their sibling.
Additionally, even though most US states do not have any specified babysitter minimum age, a few have very strict requirements that apply to persons under twelve. These rules refer mainly to legislation that safeguards minors from working in dangerous conditions.
Furthermore, some local governments have particular stipulations or constraints on young caretakers who are under 18 years old. For instance, they could limit the number of children one person can look after and prevent them from caring for kids younger than a certain age as well as forbid overnight caregiving duties.
Finally, some states require that anyone who is hired as a babysitter must first pass a background check and demonstrate emergency preparedness and basic first aid. The Red Cross, for instance, offers a course for this. The minimum enrollment age is 11, which makes it ideal for any teen looking to find a job and make extra money.
Note that parents who wish to learn the most recent data on restrictions in their respective state, should first contact their local child welfare agency.
Babysitting Age by State
| State | Legal Babysitting Age | Home Alone Age |
| Alabama | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Alaska | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Arisona | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Arkansas | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| California | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Colorado | No Minimum Age | 12 years old |
| Connecticut | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Delaware | No Minimum Age | 12 Years Old |
| District of Columbia | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Florida | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Georgia | No Minimum Age | 8 Years Old |
| Hawaii | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Idaho | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Illinois | 14 Years Old | 14 Years Old |
| Indiana | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Iowa | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Kansas | No Minimum Age | 6 Years Old |
| Kentucky | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Louisiana | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Maine | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Maryland | 13 Years Old | 8 Years Old |
| Massachusetts | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Michigan | No Minimum Age | 11 Years Old |
| Minnesota | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Mississippi | No Minimum Age | 12 Years Old |
| Missouri | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Montana | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Nebraska | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Nevada | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| New Hampshire | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| New Jersey | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| New Mexico | No Minimum Age | 10 Years Old |
| New York | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| North Carolina | No Minimum Age | 8 Years Old |
| North Dakota | No Minimum Age | 9 Years Old |
| Ohio | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Oklahoma | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Oregon | No Minimum Age | 10 Years Old |
| Pennsylvania | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Rhode Island | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| South Carolina | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| South Dakota | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Tennessee | No Minimum Age | 10 Years Old |
| Texas | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Utah | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Vermont | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Virginia | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Washington | No Minimum Age | 10 Years Old |
| West Virginia | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Wisconsin | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
| Wyoming | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age |
At What Age Can a Child Babysit a Sibling?
From roughly 11-12 years of age, children can begin to babysit their siblings for short durations. To ensure safety and build trust, allow them to start off with limited timeframes and then slowly increase as they demonstrate responsible behavior.
It’s also important to note that until your oldest child is 16 or older, nighttime care should not be given without an adult in the home.
There are also state guidelines that should be taken into consideration like the minimum age at which a child can be left alone without adult supervision and for how long. Kansas, for instance, has set a minimum home alone age at 6 but does that mean that that a six year old is competent to take care of, say a 2 year old?
Similarly, the District of Colombia laws state that when an older sibling is given the task of overseeing a younger one, it should not be for longer than two or four hours respectively during daylight – never after dark. In addition, a child who is considered mature may be left alone for up to five hours but no later than 10 pm. And in such instances the child must be able to call their parents or a responsible adult who lives nearby.
Things to Consider Before Letting An Older Sibling Babysit
In addition to the legal babysitting age, there are other factors to consider before letting your older child babysit their brother or sister. Here are a few things to go over before making a final decision:
- Your older child’s physical and mental maturity to care for themselves and their younger sibling and this includes whether or not they can warm the food up for themselves and their siblings.
- The child’s understanding of the house rules and the importance of rules.
- Maturity and responsibility in regards to handling an emergency situation.
- They know what to do in case a stranger appears at the door.
- Capacity to maintain control of their younger sibling in case of an argument or misbehaving
- Ability to ensure that their younger sibling is safe and follows all common sense rules such as not playing with electrical outlets, not running near the pool, etc.
- The child’s understanding of what medical attention is necessary in case of an accident or injury
While it’s important to evaluate your child’s maturity and level of responsibility before allowing them to babysit their sibling, it’s also important to provide them with guidance and support. A good way to do this is to create a list of rules and expectations and make sure they are followed.
Finally, remember that even if your older child is of legal babysitting age, you should never leave them unsupervised for long periods of time or overnight.
The Takeaway
Questions like how old you have to be to babysit and when is the best time to leave your baby or toddler in the care of their older sibling can be tricky to answer. Firstly because most states do not have any specific legal requirements regarding the minimum age for babysitting. Second, it all depends on the level of maturity of your older child. As a parent of a child who needs babysitting or one that is interested to become a babysitter, the best thing you can do is check local legislation and determine what’s appropriate for your family.