Babysitting

[xhxmxsx]

My friend is going out tomorrow night with her husband and her husbands friends daughter is looking after their 4 children, she is 13/14 tops is this against the law?

[oldgrape]

i believe a child is meant to be over 12 years to babysit but for 4 children i,m not sure i wouldn't advice a 13 yr old do maybe get one of the 13 yr olds friends to help out

[xhxmxsx]

i couldnt find anything stating a law about ages to babysit, my friends children are 7 ,5 , only just 2 and 7 months i have told her it is not a good idea as the babysitter is so young and have told her she can get into trouble if something happened

[tiny e.a]

I think it'll be fine, although agree that maybe if she had a friend with her it may give her a bit more confidence. I'm sure your friend trusts her or she wouldn't allow it and you should trust your friends judgement. No doubt that the girl will contact her own mother or father (who as you say are family friends) if she feels she can not cope with something.

You have advised your friend that you feel an older babysitter would be more suitable and that's about all you can do. Even if it was illegal what would you do? Report your friend to the police?

[xhxmxsx]

i wouldnt report her but her neighbours might as they do not get on and have reported her to social services etc numerous times

[tiny e.a]

I didn't really think you would report her, I was just pointing out that there really isn't much you can do about it, unless perhaps you could look after the children?

Perhaps though she's also just trying to help out her friends daughter, giver her some extra pocket money or something. I wouldn't worry about it too much, even if the neighbour does cause problems a 13/14 year old is allowed to look after children as far as I'm aware, you're friend isn't committing a punishable offence so it won't matter.

[hundreddolla]

Whether it's illegal or not. It's a stupid idea.

[ojread2]

I agree with hundreddolla, it is a silly idea - if she is 13/14 tops then how old is she actually?
However, there is no legal age limit for leaving a child home alone and nor is there one for how old a babysitter should be but the NSPCC web pages sugest that 16 is the right age
Can you offer to sit for her?
xx

[tazz]

its 14yrs old, it was when i did childcare anyway

[Buenchico]

I'll leave others to debate the 'appropriateness' of a 13 or 14 year old babysitting.

I'll simply point out that it's illegal to employ any person below school-leaving age after 7.00p.m., even during the school holidays. That applies to any top of job, including baby-sitting, and irrespective of whether the job is paid or unpaid. So the simple answer to your question is 'Yes'.

Chris

[hocus_crocus]

Actually it's 16. i asked my mate who's a police officer.

[bundleone]

This is much too young to look after four children, especially as two of them are babies.the baby sitters parents should be worried and not allow her to do it.

[Goodsoulette]

hocus is right leaving one child alone is fine but to be in charge of other kids you do indeed need to be 16.