What age can a child be left home alone in Montgomery county MD?

Answer 1

Age at Which Children Can be Left Home Alone

There is nothing written in any code or other law that says that children cannot stay home alone overnight. Parents must use their own discretion. Children under age 8 cannot be left home alone for any reason. Children age 8 or older can be left home alone for short periods of time, as long as a parent or other adult can be contacted. Short periods of time could be before or after school, not an entire day. Children under the age of 12 cannot babysit, even for brothers and/or sisters. A child age 13 can babysit, although the regulations do not specify for how long. Please consult Child Protective Services to discuss this matter further at 240.777.4417.

• Maryland Child Protective Services Procedures (SSA95-13) define an "unattended child" as:
  • A child under eight left alone or in the care of a person who is not reliable or who is under 13.
  • A child aged eight through 12 left alone for longer than brief periods without support systems which should include phone numbers of parents, other family members or neighbors, information about personal safety, and what to do in an emergency. Children in this age group may not be left to care for children under the age of eight.
  • A child 12 or over who is left alone for long hours or overnight or with responsibilities beyond capabilities or where there is some special risk factor such as mental retardation or physical handicap that would indicate that the child may be in jeopardy.
  • A child who has been abandoned.
  • A child of any age who is handicapped and left alone, if the handicapping condition constitutes a special risk factor which indicates that the child is in jeopardy.
• Maryland Family Law, 5-701(p) states that NEGLECT is "the leaving of a child unattended or other failure to give proper care and attention to a child by any parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision under circumstances that indicate: that the child's health or welfare is harmed or placed at substantial risk of harm."
• The Montgomery County Child Protective Services defines neglect as "the chronic failure of a parent, caretaker, household or family member to provide a child under 18 basic needs of life, such as: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, attention to hygiene, educational opportunity, protection and supervision. Cultural standards which differ from those of most of the community are not necessarily neglect." To make a report call 240-777-4417.