Introduction
In the United States, there is no minimum legal age for babysitting in most states, except for Illinois and Maryland. Though there may not be a minimum legal age to babysit, many states require that anyone who wishes to babysit must be at least twelve years old. This requirement is due in large part to laws that protect minors from performing work that is deemed too hazardous for their safety and well-being. Certain jurisdictions may impose specific conditions or restrictions on childcare providers that are younger than 18. For instance, they may limit the number of children an individual can care for, prevent them from caring for children over a certain age, and even prohibit them from providing overnight care. Additionally, some employers also require that prospective babysitters attain a certain level of physical maturity as well as possess expertise in infant and child care, emergency preparedness and basic first aid. Furthermore, many potential child-care providers may need to pass criminal background checks before they are permitted to watch over someone else’s children.
| State | Legal Babysitting Age | Legal Age a Child Can be Left Alone | Minimum Driving Age | Minimun Working Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 14 Years Old | 14 Years Old | 15 Years Old | 12 Years Old |
| Maryland | 13 Years Old | 8 Years Old | 15 Years Old, 9 Months | |
| Alabama | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | |
| Alaska | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 14 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Arizona | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | 16 Years Old |
| Arkansas | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 14 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| California | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | 18 Years Old |
| Colorado | No Minimum Age | 12 Years Old | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Connecticut | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 16 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Delaware | No Minimum Age | 12 Years Old | 16 Years Old | |
| District of Columbia | No Minimum Age | 16 Years Old | ||
| Florida | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | |
| Georgia | No Minimum Age | 8 Years Old | 15 Years Old | |
| Hawaii | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | 18 Years Old |
| Idaho | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 14 Years Old, 6 Months | 16 Years Old |
| Indiana | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | |
| Iowa | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 14 Years Old | |
| Kansas | No Minimum Age | 6 Years Old | 14 Years Old | |
| Kentucky | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 16 Years Old | |
| Louisiana | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | |
| Maine | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Massachusetts | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 16 Years Old | |
| Michigan | No Minimum Age | 11 Years Old | 14 Years Old, 9 Months | |
| Minnesota | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Mississippi | No Minimum Age | 12 Years Old | 15 Years Old | |
| Missouri | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Montana | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 14 Years Old, 6 Months | |
| Nebraska | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | |
| Nevada | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | 14 Years Old |
| New Hampshire | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | 18 Years Old |
| New Jersey | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 16 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| New Mexico | No Minimum Age | 10 Years Old | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| New York | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 16 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| North Carolina | No Minimum Age | 8 Years Old | 15 Years Old | |
| North Dakota | No Minimum Age | 9 Years Old | 14 Years Old | 14 Years Old |
| Ohio | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | 16 Years Old |
| Oklahoma | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | |
| Oregon | No Minimum Age | 10 Years Old | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Pennsylvania | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 16 Years Old | |
| Rhode Island | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 16 Years Old | |
| South Carolina | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| South Dakota | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 14 Years Old | |
| Tennessee | No Minimum Age | 10 Years Old | 15 Years Old | |
| Texas | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | |
| Utah | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Vermont | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | 16 Years Old |
| Virginia | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old, 6 Months | 16 Years Old |
| Washington | No Minimum Age | 10 Years Old | 15 Years Old | 18 Years Old |
| West Virginia | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | |
| Wisconsin | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old | 18 Years Old |
| Wyoming | No Minimum Age | No Minimum Age | 15 Years Old |
Legal Babysitting Age by State
Alabama
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
Alaska
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
14 Years Old
16 Years Old
Arizona
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
16 Years Old
Arkansas
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
14 Years Old
16 Years Old
California
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
18 Years Old
Colorado
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
12 Years Old
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
Connecticut
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
16 Years Old
16 Years Old
Delaware
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
12 Years Old
16 Years Old
District of Columbia
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
16 Years Old
Florida
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
Georgia
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
8 Years Old
15 Years Old
Hawaii
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
18 Years Old
Idaho
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
14 Years Old, 6 Months
16 Years Old
Illinois
Legal Babysitting Age
14 Years Old
14 Years Old
15 Years Old
12 Years Old
Indiana
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
Iowa
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
14 Years Old
Kansas
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
6 Years Old
14 Years Old
Kentucky
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
16 Years Old
Louisiana
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
Maine
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
Maryland
Legal Babysitting Age
13 Years Old
8 Years Old
15 Years Old, 9 Months
Massachusetts
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
16 Years Old
Michigan
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
11 Years Old
14 Years Old, 9 Months
Minnesota
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
Mississippi
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
12 Years Old
15 Years Old
Missouri
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
Montana
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
14 Years Old, 6 Months
Nebraska
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
Nevada
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
14 Years Old
New Hampshire
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
18 Years Old
New Jersey
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
16 Years Old
16 Years Old
New Mexico
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
10 Years Old
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
New York
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
16 Years Old
16 Years Old
North Carolina
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
8 Years Old
15 Years Old
North Dakota
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
9 Years Old
14 Years Old
14 Years Old
Ohio
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
16 Years Old
Oklahoma
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
Oregon
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
10 Years Old
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
Pennsylvania
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
16 Years Old
Rhode Island
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
16 Years Old
South Carolina
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
South Dakota
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
14 Years Old
Tennessee
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
10 Years Old
15 Years Old
Texas
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
Utah
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
Vermont
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
16 Years Old
Virginia
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old, 6 Months
16 Years Old
Washington
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
10 Years Old
15 Years Old
18 Years Old
West Virginia
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
Wisconsin
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old
18 Years Old
Wyoming
Legal Babysitting Age
No Minimum Age
No Minimum Age
15 Years Old