Can my 12 year old babysit his 7 year old sibling in California.
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can my 12 year old babysit his 7 year old sibling in California.
My husband and I are runners. We have a 12 year old who completed the American Red Cross Babysitters course. We also have a 7 year old. My husband thinks it would be ok if we got up early and left the kids alone in the morning. We would wake up the 12 year old of course and take a cell phone. I am not sure if this is ok and I am trying to find out if this is legal to let a 12 year old watch a sibling.
Asked on June 20, 2009 under Employment Labor Law, California
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
There is no legal age for babysitting in California. However, as you mentioned the Red Cross allows 12-year-olds to take their babysitting course and I believe the military family handbook endorses the minimum age for babysitting at 12.
The qustion then becomes not is your child old enough but is he/she mature enough? You are best to answer that question. Some 12-year-old are; some are not.
Best of luck with your choice.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.