Home alone

This page explains the law on leaving a child home alone including things to consider before taking this decision.

What age can I leave my child at home on their own?

When it is safe to leave a child unsupervised at home, many parents wonder. The law does not specify an age at which a child may be left alone at home. As there are no laws prescribing the age at which children can be left at home alone, it is up to you as a parent to determine when your child is ready. However, parents commit an offence if they leave their child alone at home, putting him or her at risk. 

The NSPCC advise that:

• children under the age of 12 are usually not mature enough to be left alone
• children under 16 should not be left at home overnight
• babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone

What are the potential legal consequences of leaving a child home alone?

While there is no law stating what age a child can be left at home alone, there are legal consequences that may result from a child being left at home alone if it is felt that this was unsafe for the child or put the child in danger.

Under the Children and Young Persons Act 1993, if a parent leaves a child unsupervised ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health’, they can be prosecuted for neglect. 

How do I decide whether my child can safely be left at home alone?

You should consider whether the child is mature enough to handle an emergency and how long the child will be left alone. If a child has special needs, they should be taken into account when leaving them at home alone or with an older sibling.

It is sensible to consider the following aspects:

• How old is the child?
• What is the child's level of maturity and understanding?
• How long will the child be left alone for?
• How often will the child be left alone?
• Where will the child be left?
• Are there any other children in the household?
• Are there any obvious risks?
• Would they know what to do in an emergency?
• How does the child feel about being at home alone?
• Be aware that the length of the time the child is left alone for will affect whether it is reasonable to leave your child home alone.

What should I do before leaving a child at home alone?

• Leave your child with a contact telephone number so they can reach you if they need to.
• Be available to return home straight away if required.
• Explain to your child the potential dangers of being left at home alone.
• Talk to your child about keeping safe at home.
• Give clear instructions about what to do if there is an emergency.
• Make sure your child knows how to contact emergency services and ensure that there is always someone they know who they can contact in an emergency.
• Leave a list of trusted people they can contact.
• If you have neighbours who you can trust, inform them and ask them to keep an eye out in case there is an emergency.
• Put obvious dangers out of their reach.
• Look out for potential risks and eliminate them.
• Make sure that your child is happy about the arrangements.
• Tell your child what time you are expected back and make sure that you are back on time.

How old does a babysitter have to be?

There is no legal minimum age requirement to be able to babysit. A parent should hire a babysitter who is over the age of 16. If you intend to hire someone under the age of 16, you have to carefully assess the babysitter. In some cases, parents can be prosecuted if their child is harmed while a babysitter under the age of 16 is supervising. If a parent decides to leave their child with a babysitter under the age of 16, the parent must be willing to accept responsibility for anything that goes wrong while they are gone. The parent is still responsible for their child's care and safety.