What age can a child be left home overnight in Louisiana?

Answer 1

Louisiana as almost every other US state, does not have a specific age law for such circumstances. At one time there was a LA code referring to the age of 9-years being the middle ground. The basic premise is that the parents will use good judgment as to the ability of the child to be left unsupervised. The law presumes that if there is a problem with a minor being left home alone such as the child being injured, then "just cause" for neglect or endangerment charges to be filed must be supportable. For example a very young child (IMO,under 12) or any child left in an unsafe environment, no food, water, heat, access to firearms, alcohol, an so forth. However, a very upsetting statistic for Louisiana is it ranks second in child deaths and serious injuries for children under the age of 6-years not being supervised properly. This includes children in home child care, home parental/older sibling care and those (believe it or not) left totally alone or in charge of younger siblings. There are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages for children home alone, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Georgia, Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with specific ages mentioned in their laws.

12 years of age appears to be the most common recommendation. Below in Related Links is an article entitled Latchkey Kids Age Limits state by state comparison with references.

One guideline from a California child welfare representative suggests that 8 year olds and over can be left at home for a brief amount of time(such as just after school). The most common statement is that a child's maturity should be the determining factor and not just age.

Answer 2

Louisiana has not created a law on this topic. The child should be safe, feel safe and know how to handle emergencies. Most authorities believe that a 12 or 13 year old can be safely left alone for an hour or two during daylight hours. There are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages for children home alone, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Georgia, Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with specific ages mentioned in their laws.

12 years of age appears to be the most common recommendation. Below in Related Links is an article entitled Home Alone Children Legal Age Limits state by state comparison with references.

One guideline from a California child welfare representative suggests that 8 year olds and over can be left at home for a brief amount of time(such as just after school). The most common statement is that a child's maturity should be the determining factor and not just age.

Answer 3

There are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Georgia, Illinois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with very specific ages. Typically 8 year olds and over can be left at home for up to several hours (usually after school before a parent gets home from work).

12 years old appears to be the most common recommendation.

Answer 4

There are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Georgia, Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with very specific ages. Typically 8 year olds and over can be left at home for up to several hours (usually after school before a parent gets home from work).

12 years old appears to be the most common recommendation. Below in Related Links is an article entitled Home Alone Children Legal Age Limits which provides a state by state comparison.

Answer 5

Actually in the state of Louisiana there is no age requirement to babysit. Parents may hire a babysitter of any age, BUT if something happens it is the parents who will be in trouble.

Do not hire someone who has not been properly trained ie: Safe Sitter. Those who go through the class, not only learn valuable skills and lessons they learn CPR, Chocking rescue skills and have passed a written exam. The stuff they learn will help them be better parents later on as well.

Answer 6

Legal AgeThere are very few states in the U.S. with legal minimum ages for children home alone, but many state agencies have published guidelines. Illiniois, Maryland and Oregon are a few of the states with specific ages specified in their laws.

Below in Related Links is an article entitled Home Alone Children Legal Age Limits which provides one guideline from a California agency representative who suggests that 8 year olds and over can be left at home for up to several hours (usually after school before a parent gets home from work). This site also provides a state by state comparison with references.

Answer 7

its best wait until the child is Over 12 years old, so that he or she is mature enough to know what is right and wrong.

Answer 8

There is no legislation on the age to leave a child alone. But there are laws about endangerment and welfare.

Answer 9

see link below