Law Society of Scotland
This information reflects the Society's web site at the date you downloaded or printed it and you should check at www.lawscot.org.uk to see if it is still current.

Babysitting

There is no law saying how old you have to be to babysit. You could do this from age 13, as with other jobs, although looking after children is a big responsibility more suited to older children. It may also cause a problem for the adults who ask you to babysit. You are not 'adult' in the eyes of the law until you are 16. This means that if anything happens to you or the child you are looking after, the child's parents (or those with parental rights) will be held responsible. Once you are 16, you have a general responsibility to safeguard the child.