How old should i be to babysit?

How old do you think one should be to babysit? I'm not talking about family and friends, mostly strangers wanting a babysit for a night out or something. I think 13 is probably the minimum. Any second opinions?

Dear tatcat8,
In Canada they offer babysitting courses. This allows you to babysit about the age of 12. Since Canada does not recommend a child under 12 to be left alone for more than an hour or so at a time being over 12 makes sense.
Sue...good luck

If the child is very young, I don't know if I'd leave them alone with anyone under 16, but that's me.

I'd say most people wouldn't mind hiring someone 15 or older. Younger than that and you might have difficulty.

13 or older. Possibly 14.

In my opeinion i think about 14 or 15 but familly like 12 0r 13

it doesnt matter as long as you think your cabable of taking care of kids and responsible =]]
-alexa

it doesnt matter as long as you think your cabable of taking care of kids and responsible =]]
-alexa

I think your old enough im thirteen and I can babysit but I only babysit inside the family

I started to baby sit at 12 it just depends really on if your responsible enuff or not

I'm a babysitter, 18y-old, started when I was 16, I would say not less than 15. It's true, it depends on the person, still..., I wouldn't leave my kid (if I had one, ha) unless I KNOW the sitter REALLY GOOD and have FULL TRUST in her/him(I'm not really sure that him actually exsist, lol, they mature later in life ). so.., I don't know, it's my opinion, and mabye it's different in different cultures, btw I'm from Macedonia(Greece's north neighbourd - Europe), and here there are not many sitters surviving, mostly grandpaps take care of their grandchildren, bye girls, take care