How young is too young to babysit in CA? See rules for who can watch your kids
Affordable child care is hard to come by — especially in California.
In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that child care costs have risen across most of the country, consuming nearly 20% of a family’s annual income.
California is the third-most expensive state for child care, with annual costs of up to $16,945 for just one child, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Wondering if your child can stay home with an older sibling or underage babysitter?
Here’s what you need to know:
How young is too young to babysit?
In California, the answer depends on several factors.
There is no legally specific minimum age for babysitters — but the law requires that anyone watching a child, even if they’re under 18, must be mature, experienced and capable of providing proper care and supervision.
According to state regulations, parents should use a “reasonable and prudent parent standard” when deciding if a young babysitter is a good fit.
That means considering the babysitter’s age, maturity and whether they can handle potential risks.
Babysitters should also know how to contact a parent or guardian in case of an emergency.
While there’s no legal age limit, many Red Cross babysitting courses are designed for kids 11 and up.
Is my child ready to care for other kids?
When deciding if your child is ready to babysit, it’s important to first see if they have a genuine interest in caring for younger children.
Your child also needs to have experience being home alone, and they should feel comfortable doing so, according to a November 2023 article by Nationwide Children’s Hospital titled “Is Your Child Ready to Be a Babysitter?”
Which traits make a child a good babysitter?
Before becoming a babysitter, you should make sure that your child has the following traits:
- Responsible
- Mature
- Patient
- Follows rules
- Comfortable handling authority
- Makes good decisions
- Knows how to handle common household emergencies
How can I prepare my child to babysit?
To prepare your child for babysitting, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital article advises doing the following:
- Go over emergency situations with your child and how to properly handle them
- Let your child babysit siblings first
- Get them CPR certified
- Sign them up for babysitting classes
- Allow your child to stay home alone
How old does my child need to be to be left home alone?
In California there is no legal minimum age a child can be left alone, according to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office.
However, the maturity and emotional level of a child are “factors that should be taken into account,” the agency said.
In a 2015 survey conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 458 members of the National Association of Social Workers were asked what they thought was an appropriate age for child to be left home alone.
Most social workers agreed a child should be at least 12 years old before being left home alone, the survey revealed.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How young is too young to babysit in CA? See rules for who can watch your kids."
