Show of Hands

But maybe a cpr course

A baby sitting license? Seriously? So what, 15 year olds have to get licensed to watch their neighbor's kid now? No,I don't think so. Just think about the insane regulations that would result. What's next? Maybe you need a license to be a parent too?

I think so. My sisters have told me some minor horror stories about babysitters when their kids were little. I have no kids, so I can't say, but I can only rely on that

In some form yes.

I only use care.com for my kid (unless we know the person) because they run background checks and many have child CPR certs. Licenses would be hard to govern

A Babysitter no. A daycare center Yes.

Would an older sibling need a license to watch his younger?

The answare to this will vary if you have kids or not!! Does this app track this? Maybe it should. I have kids and I would not mind paying more for a certified babysitter. We have live in nanny so it does not matter, but if I did not.. Certification!

Maybe not a license but a certificate of competency and training to insure they are prepared. Some school or organizations offer this service.

Oh course they should would you want someone random person to look after your children

I think it's hilarious that more people think u should have a license to do manicures than to watch your kids...

Every time I hear "license" I hear the government asking "how can we squeeze any money out of this?"

Nothing would be more frustrating than a young teen girl having to go to the DMV to get a baby sitting license and file taxes 😂

I don't know about babysitting but a person should have a license to have a baby.

Training yes, license no.

That's ridiculous.

lol wut

Ridiculous.

Yes and no if your just a teenager babysitting for your neighbor or something and they know you then no but if youre a stranger then yes it would be a good idea

Everyone should be certified to watch kids. You never know what kind of dangerous things happen to the kids.

If you want to make sure that your babysitter is an upstanding person, pay for your own background check.

I think parents even need a license...

Yes for non-family

This question needs to be clarified, I think. Someone babysitting kids full-time is a vastly different situation than someone watching kids for date night.

It's an unfair burden on teenagers. Parents need to be responsible for vetting babysitters.

For a professional service, maybe. For people you know, a friend, or a kid down the street, no.

It's too basic to require a license for. Even a 10 year old could watch a baby for a period of time.

Sure, but parents should have to get licensed before they can have kids, too.

I'm babysitting right now! I answered the door when the pizza man came. I'm watching the little boy play video games and telling the little girl how cute her playdoh creations are. Why would I need a certification for this?

No, but personally, I would feel better with a babysitter who had taken a class and had first-aid training.

Haha, of course not. That's beyond silly.

Wow..that would really put parents with many offspring at a disadvantage.Can't make the older ones in charge of the younger ones anymore.

No, no, and FUCKING NO! How would you test somebody for licensing? Change a diaper? Order pizza? No murders in your background check? You pass. Everybody can already do that! The government would slow and worsen everything. Seriously people?!

That would invite a deluge of unnecessary government control. But then what else if new?

I understand pieces of paper printed on heavy stock make people feel safe, but I suggest you let private companies handle the certifications. Then if it's really important to you, you can only go to businesses that are privately certified

We need to ask the government for permission before we do anything...


Sarcasm

Before my mom let me babysit as a teenager, she signed me up for a first aid/cpr class at our park district.

No but only because a lot of babysitters do it informally (ie are teenagers, neighbours or relatives)

No. Our babysitter is not licensed and we managed all on our own to check her references and legal history, and took the time to build trust before leaving her alone with the kid.
No government required.

A nanny state? Lol! The government shouldn't license ANYTHING! Private companies can set standards that're better & better managed than government.
🚫
Stop depending on a flawed/greedy/ corrupt system to take care of you. Grow up. Take responsibility

For a daycare yes, a babysitter no.

If they're saying they are a professional, then a license (spelling?) would seem better. As for just a babysitter who doesn't claim to be a professional, then no.

Maybe to watch more than two or three kids at a time, as a regular job, but generally no.

No. It's the parents responsibility to make sure their kids are in good hands.

Absolutely. I want to know that they've been checked out and trained.

Professionally, yes they should; as a service to a friend or neighbor, no.

They'd unionize there goes the cost.

Depends on whether it's a day care service with a bunch of kids or your teenage neighbor.

You should need a license for everything. If you're not licensed, you're a danger to society.

We need a bigger government to handle more license stuff