There is no minimum age set in law when a young person is allowed to babysit for a child, however where the responsibilty lies is very clear.

If you are under 16 years of age

If an adult leaves a child in the care of another person under the age of 16 years and something happens to the child the responsibility rests with the parents.

If you are over 16 years of age

The law states that a person is guilty of neglect if they are over 16 and the person neglected is under 16.

Related Sections

For advice on how to ensure that your babysitting experience is safe, please visit our section Babysitting Advice