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lollylegs_leslie · Mar 13, 2010, 05:43 PM

I love working with children and I was wandering how old you have to be to do it. Cause some people say you have to be 18 to do it legally

justcurious55 · Mar 13, 2010, 05:56 PM

I started babysitting my siblings when I was in middle school. By high school I was babysitting for other families. As long as its OK with your parents and whoever it is you're babysitting for, I've never heard of it being illegal for a minor. More like common practice. I had friends in high school who babysat way more than me. If you wanted to start a full on babysitting business or become a professional nanny, then yeah, you'd probably need to be at least 18.

Jake2008 · Mar 13, 2010, 06:03 PM

If you were running a daycare, which I believe is considered to be more than five children and so many hours a week, then you are supposed to have a license, insurance etc. and have to adhere to all the safety protocols required to maintain your license in good standing. Then you have to give receipts, claim income, taxes, etc.

If you are just wanting to sit the kid down the street for an evening when their parents go out for dinner and a movie, probably having your babysitting course is a good idea. The Red Cross used to offer it where we lived, and my daughter took it. She also took an additional course in baby CPR. With those qualifications she had all the jobs she wanted.

I am in Canada, and it may be different in the State you are in. Check with your local municipal office, or Google what you can for information where you live.

brijake · Dec 11, 2011, 06:36 AM

Well there's no legal age in Canada I think it just depends on how mature you are I'm 10 and everyone says that someday I would be a GREAT parent I love kids and when I turn 13 I'm going to start babysitting! :) hope this helps.

JimmyDean · Feb 25, 2012, 06:53 PM

To be a mothers helper you have to be 11, but to babysit alone it is recommended that you are 12. But what really matters is how mature you are. You could get Jenny, the very cautious and attentive 12 year old or you could get Lisa, the 14 year old that texts all the time. So overall, it just depends on the personality and the person. Hope this helps!