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Can a child be left home alone.

There is no age laid down by the law stating when your child is old enough to be left home alone; however, it is against the law to leave a child home alone if it puts them at risk.

If you are found guilty you could face a prison sentence.

Applying logic and a modicum of common sense you should never leave a baby, toddler or a very young child home alone.

The older the child gets the more it must be down to the parent, they know them best. Children mature at different rates so you must consider how long you are going to be away, how easily you can be contacted and whether the child is happy to be left home alone.

Each situation is different would you leave a 15 year old over night? Would you leave a 12-year-old alone whilst you picked up some milk? With siblings, you may need to consider how well they will get on if left along together.

Leaving you child with a Babysitter.

Once again parental discretion is the watchword, a babysitter under the age of 16 is not responsible for the safety of a child, the parent is, there are no laws stating the age a babysitter must be, the law goes back to it being an offence if you put a child in danger.

If you are concerned about leaving your child at home alone, then it's probably best not to.

Whilst the Law is not specific on age that does not stop arrests being made, the latest figures provided by the police show that around one parent a day is arrested for leaving a child home alone.


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