baby sitting

[notbravenough]

does anyone know if there are laws fo babysitting ages?

Maybe 14 springs to mind but don't quote me..

No, there aren't. But 14 seems around the accepted age around here (ie a mature 14 year old and not in charge of babies). Which reminds me, must book mine for saturday.

I think it boils down to "Age of criminal responsibility". That is, at what age the law considers a child can be held accountable for their actions. See here and if in Scotland see here. Scottish law differs from English law. I think that it is reasonable safe to say Age 14 in England and Age 16 in Scotland.

In England, childcare provided between 6pm and 2am is unregulated. There is a new system - Independent Safeguarding Authority - coming in during 2009, which is very much like a register of everyone who works with children. It is not clear to me at this time, exactly what that will mean... it is possible that it would include anyone who does babysitting, but I expect there may be exemptions to exclude compulsory registration of carers who only care for a child in the child's own home. We will need wait and see how the scheme develops. Legal eagles can look at Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 particularly Schedule 4, Part 1 which defines Regulated Activity.

Anyway, expect that is far more than you wan't to know.

What is your interest in this subject? Are you a young teenager who wants to babysit? A parent who wants to use a young babysitter?