How Old Does Your Child Need To Be To Stay Home Alone In Louisiana?

(KHLA - Lake Charles, Louisiana) - School is out for the summer, which is leaving a lot of parents in Louisiana asking whether their child is old enough to legally stay home alone. We have all the details.

Summer is a hard time for some families. They might not be able to afford a babysitter, but they also need to go to work during the day while their kid(s) are off from school. Or maybe you just need to leave for a quick errand, and your child wants to stay home to play video games. It begs the question, how old is old enough for a child to stay home alone in Louisiana?

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My wife and I waited until our son was 15, only because he needed to take care and watch his younger sister as well. If we had only had one child, we probably would've let him start staying home alone maybe around 11 or 12.

The website iMOM.com says before deciding to leave your child unsupervised, make sure they demonstrate maturity, can manage their own needs, and know how to respond in emergencies. Create clear rules, go over essential safety tips, and set up daily routines to help ensure their well-being and safety.

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Louisiana and 33 other states have no minimum age requirement for a child staying home alone.  They leave it up to the parent's discretion.

Illinois is the strictest state in the country; their "Home Alone Law" states that children under the age of 14 can't be left home alone without adult supervision.

How old do you think is old enough for a child to stay home alone? Let us know, comment on our Facebook post.