NSPCC reveals when it is safe to leave children at home

When trying to balance the conflicting demands of work and childcare, some parents might consider leaving their children home alone. But when is it safe to do this?

You may be surprised to learn there is no legal age limit for leaving your child home alone, but the law says they must never be put at risk. At the NSPCC, we recommend not leaving children aged 12 and under on their own. It’s also worth remembering that children aged 6-12 are usually too young to walk home from school alone or cook for themselves without adult supervision, and might not know what to do in an emergency.

If a child has expressed concerns about being left without a parent or carer, those worries should be respected, and they should not be left on their own. Rather than leaving them alone, consider leaving them at a friend’s house, with family, or finding suitable childcare.

Once your child reaches secondary school age, talk to them about how they would feel being left home alone. Even though they’re older, they might not feel safe being alone in the house, so it’s a good idea to have a conversation about it. If they don’t feel ready or if you don’t feel they’re ready, they should not be left home alone. There is also advice available on the NSPCC website for parents and carers of children who are ready to remain at home unsupervised.

Remember that being home alone for the first time could be as unnerving for them as it is for you. As with all things, preparation is important, so discuss possible scenarios that might take place and how they would respond to them - would they know what to do if someone came to the door, for example?

Make sure they know what to do if there is an emergency. Ensure they have the emergency services and relevant contact numbers of family members or friends written down and ready to dial in case they can’t contact you.

Agree in advance what they’ll be doing while you are out. And, equally important, agree what they cannot do. For instance, cooking can be dangerous and should only be done by an older child.

Be clear about what time you’ll be returning and let them know if your plans change. Check in with them regularly too, to make sure they’re ok.

Depending on the child, being left home alone can be a big change to get used to. It's better to leave them for a short time at first, no more than 20 minutes, then build this up over time.

As you build up to leaving your child alone for longer periods of time, keep checking in on them and make sure they're comfortable and happy on their own. Being left home alone for an hour is very different to being alone for a whole afternoon or overnight, and we wouldn't recommend leaving your child home alone overnight if they're under 16 years old and only then if they are comfortable being left overnight.

If your child has an older sibling or step sibling, you may feel more comfortable and that any potential risks are minimised by them being at home together. And while there is also no legal age a child can babysit, you are still responsible for them and their wellbeing.

Our advice is to think very carefully before leaving your child alone with an older brother or sister, especially if they’re prone to squabbling. You won’t be around to smooth things over.

You can find more information about when the time is right to leave your child on their own on our website, along with a safety checklist and tips to find the right babysitter for you and your child. You can call the NSPCC for advice on 0808 800 5000.