by Sarah Staples

Created on: February 02, 2009

Deciding the ideal age for a babysitter is not a straight forward task. There are many issues that need to be considered, not least the legal issues surrounding childcare and parental responsibility. You need to be satisfied that when you leave your child in the care of a babysitter you feel confident that the babysitter will cope with all that is asked of them.

Looking after children is not an easy task. Children can be demanding, especially if they think they can get away with doing things when being cared for by a babysitter that they would not normally be allowed to do. As parents we adapt to our children's behaviour as they grow and mature. We know their little ways and how they might act in a certain situation. A babysitter, especially one with limited experience, will not have these years of daily experience that we, as parents, have gained.

In the United Kingdom, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) recommend that no one under the age of sixteen be left alone to look after young children. Although there is no legal minimum age for a babysitter in the United Kingdom, parents remain responsible for their children if they leave them in the care of a person under the age of sixteen, and risk prosecution if harm were to come to their child. Furthermore, the NSPPC advise that children under the age of thirteen are not mature enough to cope in an emergency, and it therefore follows that under thirteens should not be asked to babysit.

However, chronological age is not necessarily the best measure of a person's ability to be a good babysitter. Maturity is by far a more important factor, as the ability of two sixteen year old's , for example, can vary widely. When choosing a babysitter, not foregoing the legal issues, you need to ensure that the person you select is mature enough to care for your child's needs. Maturity is a much more difficult variable to judge than chronological age. You will need to careful interview your potential babysitter and spend time observing them with your child.

Other considerations include the age of your child and the length of time you will be leaving the babysitter in charge. Infants and young babies who need a lot of personal care and attention will ideally need an older babysitter who has previous childcare experience. Similarly, an older child may well be fine left with a responsible teenager for a short period of time.

Understandably, a younger, teenage babysitter will probably charge a lower hourly rate than an older person with more experience. This fact should not however influence decisions. The safety and wellbeing of your child must remain your greatest priority.

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