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Original poster

Legal age for Babysitting.... URGENT! DB looked after the kids today whilst I was at work

13 replies

Toothache · 04/07/2006 23:30

DB looked after my dc's today (5 and 2). He's 17.5 yrs old. H came around to see them whilst I was at work. Is there something he can use against me if he went for custody?????

It is legal right? He looked after them from 8.30am until 5pm.

worried

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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honeychild · 04/07/2006 23:31

Must be, surely. YOu can get married at 16.
Thought you only had to be 14.
Youngest i've had is 13, but we were only down the road and kids not so young.

colditz · 04/07/2006 23:32

GOD NO! He's old enough to have his own kids, FGS, if your ex even tries to throw that one at you, he can legally be a parent, never mind a babysitter! I think the age is 14 IIRC.

apronstrings · 04/07/2006 23:33

I would think its got to be legal - Sure you have nothing to worry about. After all you can get married and have kids of your own at 16!

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stitch · 04/07/2006 23:35

course its legal
aand he is a close family relation.

only if he was an unsavoury character could he have a case of somewhat. but relax, he's the kids uncle, over 16.

fattiemumma · 04/07/2006 23:35

there is no oficial legal age for babysitting.
unofficially it owuld be cnsidered poor judgment to use someone under the age of 14 to watch an under 5.

i owuld see absolutly nothing wrong with an almost 18 year old watching your children.
you ex may well attempt to use this against you, but your counsil will be able to argue that you are a single aprent working to provide a good home for your children.
you have done nothing wrong, certainly if this was a one off.

apronstrings · 04/07/2006 23:40

toopthache - can you do a link to your thread with the update? also wondering about the coil thing and can't find it anywhere.

Original poster
Toothache · 04/07/2006 23:42

PHEW! Got worried there. Bless my db... he had to change 2 horrendous nappies! Surely its character building?

He's such a sensible 17 year old. He's just left school and is going to watch them most Tuesdays.

OP posts:
LadyTamba · 04/07/2006 23:42

My brother is 17 and he looks after my kids. He even had ds2 over night at mine a few weeks ago.

When I was his age I was nearly married and living with H etc. Hes fine to be babysitting and you know and trust him.

Original poster
Toothache · 04/07/2006 23:43

AS - here it is

And thankfully...... AF started so false alarm!

OP posts:
LeahE · 04/07/2006 23:48

As fattiemumma says, there's no legal minimum. ROSPA and the NSPCC both suggest 16 for looking after a baby or toddler, though, and the British Red Cross run babysitting courses for 14-and-overs. There should be no problem whatsoever with a 17.5 year old (assuming he isn't dodgy in and of himself, of course).

lilackaty · 05/07/2006 19:01

i thought you meant you boyfriend so i was a bit worried when someone said he was a close family relation! theres no problem with him looking after the kids legally nad he sounds really lovley to do that dor you

bamboozleslover · 06/07/2006 17:03

there is no legal age in the UK. however as it is legal to have sex at 16 i assume it is ok for someone 16 or older to babysit.

LIZS · 06/07/2006 17:05

No legal minimum age. Don't see how he could use it against you since he isn't supposed to be there, is he ?!

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