What is the legal age for babysitting?

In the United States, there is no federal law dictating a minimum age for babysitting, advises YouthRules!. State and local governments may have specific requirements. For example, in Illinois, children can't be home alone for unreasonable periods of time until they are 14 years old, states the Illinois General Assembly.

The age when children can begin babysitting should be based on maturity level. Some children have the maturity to begin babysitting when they are 12 or 13 years old, states WebMD. Babysitters should be responsible, follow the rules, and be comfortable handling situations such as a ringing doorbell or a sick or injured child.