Would you let a 16-17 year old babysit your child?

I'd let a responsible person babysit my child. Some people are responsible at 16, some people are irresponsible at 60. It's down to the person, not the age.

Parents' need to ensure their informal babysitter arrangements are safe. But if you run a business (providing teen child minders) then you may have more of that responsibility and liability. So it may not be as simple or practical as she thinks. Perhaps she should get advice (legal, business).

If they were responsible and I had heard trustworthy reviews then yes I would be fine with it.

If I couldn't get any reviews then they would have to be a close friend or relative for me to trust them.

I started babysitting a family of two kids when I was 13, I'm now 19 and I babysit three different families (2,5,7 years old) (6,8 years old) (10, 13, 15), not to show off but they never had any problem with me =p and kids liked me and their mum said they were nicer with me maybe because they saw i was "younger" 0:)

But yeah, if i was a mum, i'd like to know the girl who's babysitting my kids. All these families knew me and knew i was responsible enough. so, my answer, if i know the person and i know they're responsible, yes, without any doubt.

I started babysitting outside of family at 14.

HELL NO!! After reading some of sick shit on this site about what teens do while babysitting. Like some 15 yr old guy posted a story on here about how he would make a 7 yr old girl he was babysitting suck his dick! Seriously what the fuck!

I sure as hell would not let teens watch my kids.

As long as they're responsible. Age is just a number with little relation to maturity.

Well... If I had children, id say, as long as they sat cheap, look nice, are polite, know my number, and the child likes um. They'd be good.

Two of my friends who are both 16 at the moment do babysitting, they both started at about 14. But it really depends if the person is responsible or not.

Sounds like she's got her shit together; why not?

If I had kids, I would have to know if the potential babysitter was responsible and what not. Has you sister taken lessons in CPR, childcare, etc?

Yep.

I would if I had kids, although I'd probably have a kind of sit down interview with the would-be babysitter just like a regular job.

Random suggestion: You could have the babysitters advertised on the Web Site list a few hobbies that they have so that the parents might be able to pick one that has something in common with their child.

Also, if you're advertising a whole bunch of 16-17 year old girls (or guys but that's less common), I'd advise against them going alone the first time they babysit for someone.

Yes. I babysat when I was her age.

Sure. I started younger than that. A lot of girls do.

Like what Dappled said, if they are respsonsible. It would have to be someone I turst, as well, not just any ole' 16-17 year old that is just looking for a babysitting job.

Yes.

They should get references from people they've babysat for, so that new clients can ask them questions about a sitter. Also, consider registering the business on sites like Care.com, and getting training in First Aid, CPR, etc. It'll counteract the apprehension of hiring an unknown sitter. Also, you can have "trial play dates" for the parents, sitter, and kids to get to know one another.

I don't have kids, but if I did it would depend on if the person is responsible or not.