What age can a child baby sit?

[Mistlewoe]

I have a very mature 13 year old ds, who has a keen sense of responsibility and is a stickler for following rules. I'm thinking of "training" him to baby sit his younger brother aged 8. By training I mean I would start with short periods of time while I go for a run. Someone has informed me that it's illegal until he's 14. I've never actually heard of such a law existing.
Wouldn't he be ok just for half an hour or so?
I babysat my younger sister from a much younger age, but my parents made all sorts of dodgy decisions (70s)

There is no minimum age so it's not illegal. It should be judged on maturity and whether the younger child will behave if left alone with their brother in charge

I must say I thought it was 14 too, it certainly used to be. However, who is going to report you? I'm sure plenty of 13 year olds stay with a younger sibling for a while when parents are out.

This BBC article (from 2011) gives some information:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12380329

www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/

If you are sure your oldest is comfortable, it's fine.
My 10 year old stays at home for upto an hour between me taking is brother to a sports club and DH coming back from work. Our rules are no cooking, no answering the door.

And I left the 2 of them (10 and 8) for 20 mins yesterday while I took DH to the station.

There is no law about minimium age - it is down to discretion. They need to be safe, and comfortable with what you are asking of them.

To be held legally responsible it's 16.

If an under 16 is babysitting and something goes wrong the parents will be held accountable.

Only you know if your 13 year old is mature enough.

My 12 year old regularly watches her younger siblings. She often races to their primary school from high school (she finishes 20 mins earlier), picks them up and gives them a snack at home until I get home from work 40 mins later.

She looked after ds8 today who is unwell so I could get the Christmas food shop.

My daughter is very calm and capable - the two younger children like having her pick them up. They are all home birds and get on really well.

If anyone was unhappy though - i wouldn't force the issue and would instead arrange alternative childcare.

there is no age specified in law, you just use your judgment as you do with so many parenting decisions every day.
if you think it's ok, and they are happy and compliant with you instructions, then that is how you organise your family.

My 12 year old regularly watches her younger siblings. She often races to their primary school from high school (she finishes 20 mins earlier), picks them up

My dcs school would not allow a 12 year old to pick them up.

Although it's 16 to be held legally responsible if babysitting, as already posted there is no age for leaving your own DC home alone.

Really depends on the child.

My niece began babysitting for my youngest 2 when she was 13. My kids were age 5 and 4 so very young, but she has always been so sensible and interested in kids (she is 20 now and studying to be a teacher). By the time she was 15 she was looking after my baby as well. I was only ever local and there were no issues.

My younger nieces however were never interested in babysitting, and I don't think they could have handled it at that age.

My middle son is 11 now and I think I would leave my youngest with him when he is 13 (she would be 9) because they get on well and he is sensible.

Do you mean in the day or at night?

I have a 12 and 8 year old and MN told me that if I can't leave them alone together then I must be doing something wrong

FWIW I can't trust them as far as I can throw them when I'm in the same room as them, let alone if I leave them in the house without an adult.

I regularly looked after a new born family members from aged 12.

Newborn? Aged 12? No adult?

I'm not sure that's something for anyone to be proud of.

well, in the past and still in many places abroad, it is normal for slightly older children, esp girls, to do most of the care of younger ones.
that may be necessity and custom of course, but it was certainly the norm in my parents' time, in these islands.
and it's noticeable that 95 % of careworkers, doing personal care and everything else, that I have met, are from abroad, mostly Africa and asia, some eastern Europeans. most are young some only 20, and they shew a maturity and capability that is sadly absent in most home-grown young people.
not their fault, but they are given so little personal responsibility, and everything done for them, everything revolving around them, this is what it can lead to. one young chap rang his mother from college to ask how long did it take to fry and egg; she said when it looks done. but how will I know. he had it rolling around the pan in its shell.