Finding a qualified and responsible babysitter for your children is an important decision. Many parents consider hiring a preteen or young teen to babysit, either for their own children or for other families. Determining the right age for a child to begin babysitting depends on several factors.
What is the Legal Age to Babysit?
There are no federal or state laws that establish a minimum legal age for babysitting. Some states may have local ordinances that set an age requirement, but these are uncommon. Babysitting is typically considered a form of self-employment or an informal arrangement between private parties. The decision about when a child is ready to babysit is left up to parents and guardians.
Some factors parents may consider regarding age and maturity include:
- The level of responsibility and independence the child has demonstrated
- Whether the child is physically capable of caring for younger children
- Whether the child can follow safety rules and handle basic care duties
- The child’s comfort level with strangers and confronting unexpected situations
- How well the child communicates and can call for assistance if needed
Many experts advise against leaving children under 10 home alone without adult supervision. However, some mature 10-year-olds may be ready for supervised babysitting duties like watching a sibling while a parent runs a quick errand.
What Age Can You Leave a Child Home Alone?
Most states do not have laws regarding minimum age to leave a child home alone. General guidelines are:
- Under 7 years old – never left alone
- 7-9 years old – brief supervised periods with access to adult assistance
- 10-12 years old – up to a few hours alone during daytime
- 13+ years old – increased time alone as maturity allows
Parents should consider the individual child’s maturity and sense of responsibility when deciding if a child is ready to be home alone. Establish ground rules, check in frequently, and start with short time periods. Some locations may have higher minimum ages like 12 or 14 to be home alone due to local laws.
What Qualities Make a Good Babysitter?
The best babysitters have a mix of important skills and traits beyond simply being a certain age. Look for a babysitter who demonstrates:
- Responsibility – follows rules, is dependable and prudent
- Patience – stays calm, can gently handle challenging situations
- Attentiveness – focuses on and engages with children
- Communication – listens well, provides clear information
- Problem-solving – thinks quickly, uses good judgement
- Experience – feels comfortable around children
A babysitter should also have knowledge of safety procedures, first aid, and emergency response. Verify they understand how to handle discipline appropriately. The most essential attribute is someone who truly enjoys spending time with kids.
What Training is Recommended?
Taking babysitting classes can help prepare preteens and teens to provide safe, quality care. Many organizations offer babysitting courses such as:
- American Red Cross
- YMCA
- Boys and Girls Clubs
- Girl Scouts
- Hospitals and community centers
Typical classes cover child care basics like:
- Age appropriate activities and games
- Feeding and diapering
- Discipline and behavior management
- Safety and injury prevention
- Communicating with parents
- First aid and emergency response
Many classes include CPR training or certification. Taking a class helps demonstrate responsibility to parents. Hands-on experience like volunteering at church childcare can also be valuable.
What Age Do Babysitting Services Hire At?
Most professional nanny services and babysitting agencies only hire babysitters over the age of 18. However, some services may employRed Cross certified sitters as young as 13 or 14 with parental consent. Babysitting services will conduct extensive background checks and training for all employees.
Examples of minimum hiring ages for major national babysitting services in the United States include:
| Babysitting Service | Minimum Hiring Age |
|---|---|
| Care.com | 18 years |
| SitterCity | 19 years |
| UrbanSitter | 18 years |
| College Sitter Contact | 18 years |
These services may make rare exceptions for mature 16 or 17-year-olds to babysit through their platform. But in most cases, professional babysitting jobs require legal adult age of at least 18 years old.
What is the Best Age to Start Babysitting for Family and Friends?
For informal babysitting arrangements for family, neighbors and acquaintances, the recommended minimum age to start is:
- Age 10-12 for babysitting siblings or other familiar children for up to 2 hours with adult checking in
- Age 12-15 for expanded babysitting duties for trusted families and children age 2 and older
- Age 15-18 for overnight babysitting responsibilities
Maturity levels vary greatly among preteens and teens age 10 to 15. Discretion is needed for determining readiness. Other tips include:
- Start with daytime and short durations of 1-2 hours
- Provide parents’ contact information and emergency procedures
- Ensure the child knows first aid and CPR if possible
- Check in frequently at first until proven responsible
- Ask children for feedback on how the babysitter did after
With the proper precautions, many preteens and teens can capably provide babysitting help to neighborhood families and learn work responsibility.
Age 10-11
Age 10-11 is generally too young for babysitting non-family members. However, some parents may consider allowing mature 10-year-olds to watch a familiar child for 1-2 hours with adult supervision nearby. This can build experience to prepare for more responsibility at age 12+.
Age 12-14
Ages 12-14 can be suitable for babysitting part-time if the child demonstrates adequate maturity and interest in childcare. Red Cross classes and CPR certification around this age can help assure parents. Start with close friends’ and relatives’ children for a few hours during daytime before progressing to longer times.
Age 15+
By ages 15-17, most teens have the capability to babysit part-time or full-time in the summer for family, friends and neighbors. Overnight babysitting may be reasonable by age 15 for trusted families. Still provide emergency contacts, verify comfort with tasks like diapering, and check-in periodically.
What Do Babysitting Services Charge per Hour?
Babysitting services rates range widely based on location, number of children, qualifications of the sitter and types of services included. Average hourly rates in the United States are:
| Babysitting Service | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Care.com | $15 – $25 per hour |
| SitterCity | $15 – $22 per hour |
| UrbanSitter | $16 – $28 per hour |
| College Sitter Contact | $12 – $20 per hour |
For individuals hiring a babysitter directly, expect to pay $10 – $20 per hour based on the sitter’s age, skills and location. Babysitters under age 15 often earn $5 – $10 per hour since they require more supervision.
Conclusion
Determining when a child is ready to begin babysitting depends foremost on demonstrating responsible behavior and an interest in childcare. While no laws establish a minimum age, 10-14 years old is commonly recommended for starting with close friends and family during daytime hours. Formal babysitting services tend to hire employees age 18+ due to insurance and liability reasons. With the right guidance, training and precautions, babysitting can be a valuable learning experience for many mature preteens and teens.