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I feel like my answer would be different with a family member like that. If I'd seen the family member with the LO(s) and (s)he was really good with them and I knew her to be a responsible person, probably 16+? I'd probably leave my car that has the car seat with my keys in case of emergency and want the sitter to be able to drive.

For a stranger? Definitely 18+... out of high school.

15?

Depends on the situation, if it's for 2-3 hours while we go to dinner or something, she's family and we trust her and know she's a responsible kid, 13-14. If it's longer or we are in a different city, ect. I would want them to be 16. But honestly, as long as I trust them age is just a number to me, our daycare lady's daughter babysat our DD when she was 14 and I in no way had any reserves, she's was already around her daily and she knows what she's doing so I'm not going to say no just because she doesn't' have a driver's license. I would prefer for them to call 911 than drive to a hospital with my child anyway.

I'm flying my 13 year old niece in this summer to help me with LO #1, since I'll be 9 months pregnant. She's GREAT with kids. I am a little paranoid with bedtime routine, but my LO goes to sleep at 7:30 pm and I would have no issue going out for a date night afterwards with my niece at home.

For daytime stuff, or taking LO to the park, I would totally trust her.

Man, I started babysitting as soon as I was allowed to take the class at 11! Always for neighbors, and my mom was always our "back up" in case I needed something.

I used to be a youth group leader and had a couple really responsible 14 year olds that I felt comfortable leaving LO with once he was a couple months old. They are both 16 now, and they are wonderful.

I think if it was family or someone I knew well (especially if their parent was close by and available as well) I would maybe be okay with 12 or 13 for a short period of time as long as I was close by too. For normal night time date nights out, 14 would probably be the youngest I would be comfortable with. I think the distraction of technology/cell phones makes a huge difference, and I am not sure I would trust a middle schooler to be as "on" as I would have been with less to distract me from the kids.

@hotchildinthecity: I had the same reaction! I also started babysitting for neighbors around 13. I think I was almost 16 before I started babysitting for people I didn't know directly (my friend would refer people to me when she couldn't take a job). But for family I probably started at 12; I had a sister born around that time so my aunts already knew I was comfortable with and could handle babies and toddlers for an evening.

I agree with the other posters that it depends on how mature and responsible your niece is. I think her taking babysitting classes points to that. You can also consider how close her parents live in case she needs to call for support in the unlikely event of a sick kid or other emergency while you're out.

Probably 15. Someone in our neighborhood sent a message out to everyone (on our neighborhood site where we all have accounts) and offered her daughter's babysitting services and she mentioned her daughter was 12 and I was like "Hell to the no! You crazy, lady!"

I started baby sitting in middle school but either older kids or I was only there for bed time so essentially did nothing.

I would wang 15+ for my kid, depending on the person.

It would depend on how well I knew the person & their maturity level. Also how old my LO is... no matter how great the teen, if I had a newborn or younger infant/toddler, I don't think I would leave them alone w/them.

My friend's daughter is 13 and she's so good w/my LO. I would feel comfortable leaving my 3-year-old daughter with her for a couple hours.

12-13. I'm pretty lax as long as I know them, their family, etc. plus my kid is almost three, he just needs a play mate and someone to keep him safe.

This week we had to find backup care and my go to girl is 13! She's awesome with him and I trust her! Plus her mom is a mile away, and dH only works a mile from home too.

I started babysitting my cousins when I was 9. For family, depending on how responsibile the cousin is, maybe 12+.

I babysat at 13 and was pretty mature for my age. I think for me it would all depend on the babysitter. If I were to have someone babysit who was in the 13-15 range, I'd have to know her or her family very well.

I'm the scaredy cat who will say 18+. Seeing 13-17 year olds now, they just seem so young.
My teenaged cousin babysat my nephew and she was distracted by her phone and social media (which weren't around when I was a teenager and I think makes a huge difference) and he rode a bike down a short flight of steps. That just sticks in my mind.
I only say 18 because thinking back to my freshman year of college I think I was mature enough to understand that social media and cell phones could wait, I wouldn't be as distracted. Although those things didn't exist while I was in college either so who knows, haha. But I imagine I would have had the discipline at that age.

My gut reaction was a mature 16 year old. Since your cousin can't drive, personally, I wouldn't go more than 5m away. But that's me.

I think 15-16!

15 or a 16 for a couple of hours.

I'm pretty sure I was 12 years old when I started babysitting for non-family members. So since she's family and you know her well, I don't think I would have any problem with it.