In Scotland, how old do you have to be to baby-sit?

There is no specific minimum age for babysitting in Scotland. However, the parent is still legally liable for the child unless the babysitter is at least 16 years old, according to BBC News.

The Central Scotland Police suggests that parents use common sense when determining whether a certain babysitter is suitable. The punishment for leaving a child without correct supervision ranges from a monetary fine to 10 years in prison. In Scotland, the Children and Young Person Act is the law that states that anyone over the age of 16 has a responsibility not to abuse, neglect, abandon or cause injury to a child whether physically or mentally.