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Can 14 yr old babysit 4 young children in CA.
- Thread starter phogan315
- Start date
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Zigner
Senior Member, Non-Attorney
Generally, yes.
PayrollHRGuy
Senior Member
There are generally no laws setting the minimum age to babysit. Where the law comes in is if something bad happens and then the parents might have to answer to a court why they left their child with an unfit person. Just to be clear I'm not saying you or any other 14 year old is unfit. It could just as easily be a 25 year old unfit person.
eerelations
Senior Member
I did at 14, with great success. But then again, the four kids lived in the house immediately next door to us (i.e., their front door was literally four feet from our front door), so their parents knew I could always call upon my parents for help if needed. (It never was, but still.)
PayrollHRGuy
Senior Member
I went back and looked at the OP's only other post and you are probably right.
Under California Labor Law Twelve is the minimum age that minors may be:
Employed in household occupations or as a personal attendant if issued a Permit to Work. [EC 49111] This should not be construed to apply to irregular employment as a babysitter or other personal attendant duties or to irregular yard or housework since those occupations, when pursued on a casual, irregular basis, are considered exempt from permit requirements. [18 ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. 114 (1951)] Since most domestic service is not considered part of the child labor provisions of the FLSA, the federal minimum age of 14 for permitted occupations does not apply to domestic service. [29 CFR 552.108] (See Chapter 7 of this Digest).
Under California Labor Law Twelve is the minimum age that minors may be:
Employed in household occupations or as a personal attendant if issued a Permit to Work. [EC 49111] This should not be construed to apply to irregular employment as a babysitter or other personal attendant duties or to irregular yard or housework since those occupations, when pursued on a casual, irregular basis, are considered exempt from permit requirements. [18 ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. 114 (1951)] Since most domestic service is not considered part of the child labor provisions of the FLSA, the federal minimum age of 14 for permitted occupations does not apply to domestic service. [29 CFR 552.108] (See Chapter 7 of this Digest).
not2cleverRed
Obvious Observer
Red Cross Babysitting certification is available for those ages 11 and up.
Girl Scouts currently has a Babysitting badge at the Cadette level (grades 6-9).
That said, the prudence of having a 14 year old take care of 4 "young" children depends on the 14 year old, the ages and temperaments of the children, and the duration. A couple of hours is one thing... Full scale all day daycare is another.
With 4 children, it would be better to have 2 people taking care of them.
Girl Scouts currently has a Babysitting badge at the Cadette level (grades 6-9).
That said, the prudence of having a 14 year old take care of 4 "young" children depends on the 14 year old, the ages and temperaments of the children, and the duration. A couple of hours is one thing... Full scale all day daycare is another.
With 4 children, it would be better to have 2 people taking care of them.