How old do you have to be to babysit in the United Kingdom?

There is no legal minimum age required to babysit in the United Kingdom. However, if a parent leaves a child with someone under the age of 16, that parent is still legally responsible for the child.

In England and Wales, the Children and Young Persons Act prohibits parents from leaving their children unsupervised or with people who cannot provide adequate care. Violation of this law results in punishment ranging from a fine to up to 10 years in prison. The UK charity National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children suggests that children under the age of 13 should not be left alone for significant periods of time.