You may be interested in babysitting to earn some extra pocket money. It is a rewarding experience especially if you are responsible and sensible enough to look after someone else's child.

There is no minimum age in law for a young person to babysit for a child. There is a clear definition as to who is responsible for the child in care if something was to happen - Follow this link to find out where the responsibility lies with respect to you.

To make it as safe as possible you should take the following safety tips:

Do

• babysit for friends and family that you know.
• leave the name, address and phone number of the house that you are babysitting in with your parent or other responsible and trusted adult.
• make sure that you have the name, address and phone number of where the parents of the children that you are looking after are going to, just in case you need to contact them. Keep this information safe and close to hand - ideally by the phone.
• make sure that you have contact details for emergency services to hand in case of any problems.
• ask the parents of the children you are babysitting to give you the details of a neighbour they trust, expecially if you are not close to home. Keep these details safe.
• ask the parents of the children to let you know a time when they will be back and tell them they must let you know if they are delayed.
• arrange with your parents a time to be home, arrange suitable transportation home.
• make sure that you know where the emergency items are for example the first aid box and fire extinguisher. Know how the alarms work and what you should do in case a fire alarm goes off

Don't

• babysit for strangers even for money - if you see an advert for a babysitter do not apply.
• switch on any electrical items that you have not been shown how to use - they may be dangerous.
• keep the doors and windows locked when you are on your in the house.
• let anyone who is not known to you into the house. If a stranger knocks on the door, make sure that you can see them before you open the door, and only do this if there is a safety chain in place - check their ID and then make a decision. If you are in any doubt - do not answer the door.