Babysitting Laws
Learn About Babysitting Laws
Are you ready for a babysitter and wondering what the babysitting laws are where you live? Well, before you begin scouring the internet for the laws pertaining to your state it is important for you to know that most states in the US do not have specific babysitting laws. Some states have laws that indirectly affect babysitting, but most consider babysitters as casual employees that may look after children and do light chores in a private home setting. Babysitters do not qualify for minimum wage or overtime pay.
It is important to check with your state laws to see if there are any laws that pertain to babysitting. Only the state of Maryland has a specific babysitting law that indicates a person must be 13 years of age or older in order to babysit. Minnesota does not have any laws pertaining to babysitting and has left it up to the counties. In some local areas there are guidelines set up that stipulate parents or guardians must return the same day so there is no overnight babysitting. In California it is recommended not to leave a minor, a child 14-years-old or younger, in charge of other minors.
Most of the other states have no laws or guidelines regarding babysitting. Fortunately, there are many cities and towns that have set up programs that are intended to help educate and train people who wish to earn extra money by babysitting. Sometimes there are also programs for parents to attend in order to educate them about babysitting and finding a qualified babysitter. It is important to investigate the local agencies that offer programs designed for babysitting. You want to be sure to find a reputable organization that you can trust. In many areas the YMCA/YWCA and Girl Guides offer special programs for babysitters.
While most states don’t have specific babysitting laws that pertain to the age of the babysitter, many of them do have laws that are put in place for both parents and babysitters in order to protect the child or children being cared for. There are also laws put in place to ensure the protection of the babysitter.
The best thing for parents to do no matter where they live is use common sense when choosing someone to care for their children. The age of 13 is a reasonable age as most girls are fairly mature by that age. You can check with local organizations such as the YMCA/YWCA and the Red Cross, your local church, school, Girl Guides, and the PTA to find out if they have a list of qualified babysitters in your area. You can also check with friends and neighbors as they may already have a qualified babysitter that they can recommend. Ensuring the babysitter has First Aid and CPR and doing a background check if you don’t know them is important. After all, there is nothing more precious to leave in the care of someone else.