- Emma Hammett is the author of a book designed to prevent childhood accidents
- The law doesn’t state an age when you can leave a child on their own, she states
- Parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised and in any danger
- Think how competent an older sibling is when asking them to babysit, she says
Emma Hammett For The Hippocratic Post
1
View
comments
Every parent needs some time away from the stress of their children, whether it be a night on the town or a curry with close friends.
But many are concerned about hiring a babysitter, scared they won’t be able to cope with the pressures of looking after a toddler.
Others are confused about the laws and guidelines behind leaving their child home alone, and how old they have to be.
Here, in a piece for The Hippocratic Post, Emma Hammett, founder of First Aid for Life and author of a book to prevent childhood accidents, explains the options available to parents seeking an evening off duty.
Many parents are confused about the laws and guidelines behind leaving their child home alone, and how old they have to be (stock)
To mark Child Safety Week, I wanted to answer concerns from many parents and carers about when exactly it is safe to leave children home alone.
The law doesn’t state an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it is an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.
Use your judgement on how mature your child is before you decide to leave them alone, whether this is at home or in a car.
Babies should be closely supervised at all times and should never be left anywhere – even in a car when they are asleep and you are popping into the shops and the car is parked right outside.
People make calculated risks in their daily lives and the majority of the time, no harm occurs.
However, just because it is something that most parents have done at some point, that does not mean that it is safe to do so.
Parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health’.
How old should a child be before they can babysit?
People can be prosecuted for neglect if they leave children on their own and something goes wrong.
This is a highly contentious issue and one that becomes even more complicated when looking to establish when a child is old enough to be left in charge of other children.
-
‘Sleeping beauty diets’ are putting women at risk of an…
‘It was a small price to pay for still being here’: Retired…
Exercise is bad for your stomach: Taking part in vigorous…
They’ve cracked it! An egg a day helps babies stay healthy:…
When asking an older sibling or friendly teenager to babysit, it is vitally important to consider how competent they would be in an emergency. Ask yourself:
- How mature and responsible are they?
- Are they familiar with your home and any risks within it?
- How well do they know your children and do your children know and feel safe with them?
Remind your babysitter to be particularly careful of hazards including hot drinks, pets, tiredness and anything else that could cause a danger.
You should explicitly point out these things as potential dangers so they understand that it’s a responsible job.
Others are concerned about hiring a babysitter, scared they won’t be able to cope with the pressures of looking after a toddler (stock)
Would an older sibling be a better option?
Research published in 2010 in Injury Prevention, a BMA journal, revealed that when older siblings supervise younger children, there is an increased risk of injury.
Mothers tend to spot and remove dangers, whereas older siblings often interact with hazards, for example, making a hot drink and leaving it accessible.
Older children may resent being asked to look after siblings and so everything should be handled sensitively.
Children also took more risks when being supervised by sibling, copying what they were doing and failing to listen when being told off.
This led to an increase in accidents and injuries.
Parents need time away. Most babysitters are good, and the children stay safe and happy.
However, it does no harm to think carefully and plan before leaving them; everyone will be that much safer as a result.
This article originally appeared on and has been reproduced with the permission of The Hippocratic Post.
Share or comment on this article
- Nursery worker is left with broken ribs and needing…
- Heart-stopping video shows moment armed police gunned…
- Wife desperate for a divorce sets up her husband to cheat…
- ‘I’ll have to try to explain to our daughter why he…
- Police searching for EIGHTH victim of London Bridge…
- ‘I’ll be back’: Diane Abbott vows to ‘rejoin the fray’…
- Alex Rodriguez cheats on J. Lo and is not sexually…
- Shameless parking wardens slap tickets on cars left…
- Woman ‘brawled on the floor with her female friend after…
- Scattered chairs and half-finished pints: Haunting…
- Four-year-old boy tragically drowns ONE WEEK after going…
- Iran says Saudi Arabia was behind deadly Tehran…
- Bomb squad carry out two controlled explosions outside…
- EXCLUSIVE – ‘I was dumped by text for London Bridge…
- Donald Trump told James Comey ‘I need loyalty, I EXPECT…
- PIERS MORGAN: Theresa May’s savage police cuts and…
- BMW owner caught on camera punching and spitting on…
- ‘It looked like they pulled a toddler out of my belly!’:…
Comments 2
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.