Want to babysit too?

German law (Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz, JArbSchG) sets it out:

• From age 13, you may do light work — babysitting counts. Condition: your parents agree.
• From age 15, the rules loosen — longer hours, full-time allowed during school holidays.
• From age 18, normal labour law applies.

Age 13–14: max. 2 hours per day, not during school hours, not between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Age 15–17: max. 8 hours per day, not between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. (some exceptions for events until 10 p.m.).

In practice: under 15 only during the day, evenings only from 15 with judgement.

• Give medication — only if the parents write down exactly what, when, and why.
• Babies under ~1 year if you have no experience — ask an adult babysitter first.
• Drive the child alone (unless you have a licence and the parents allow it).
• Drink alcohol — not even „just a coke" if it's spiked. On the job: no.
• Post on social media without explicit parent OK (pictures of the kid, location, stories).

A paediatric first-aid course isn't a nice-to-have — it's a must. Kids choke differently, infants need different CPR. Courses are offered by Johanniter, ASB, DRK, Malteser — usually 4 hours, €30–50.

Ask your parents to do the course with you. Parents of the kids you babysit love seeing your certificate.

• 112 — fire & ambulance (injury, breathing problems, serious fall)
• 110 — police
• 116 117 — on-call doctor (nights & weekends, non-emergency)
• Munich poison control: 089 19240 (24/7) — if the kid swallowed something wrong
• Parents' mobile + a second contact (grandma, neighbour) — get before every job

• Fully charged phone + powerbank
• A couple of plasters and wet wipes in your bag
• Snack & water bottle for you
• For drop-offs at your place: small toy kit, a few books

Typical in Germany: €10–20 per hour. Big cities (Munich, Berlin, Hamburg): €15–25. Rural areas: €8–12.

Factors that raise the price:

• Multiple kids at once
• Very small kids (under 2)
• Late evenings or weekends
• Events / birthday parties (often a flat rate)
• First-aid cert, babysitter course, experience

Important: Agree on the price before the first job. In writing (a short WhatsApp is fine) — avoids arguments.

Bank transfer is better — two reasons:

• Parents can only deduct babysitting from taxes if it's transferred (see below).
• You have proof if there's ever a dispute.

Cash is OK for small amounts or if the parents insist — ask for a short receipt.

Short answer: as long as your total annual income stays below the basic allowance (2026: probably around €12,000), you pay no income tax.

As a student babysitting occasionally, you'll be well below that — so usually nothing to do.

Still, you should keep a simple log of what you earned and when (a small spreadsheet is fine). If the tax office ever asks, you'll be sorted.

No, as long as you babysit occasionally. Tax-wise it counts as a self-employed activity without the intent to run a business — no business registration needed.

If you do regular, many hours and earn well above the basic allowance long-term, talk to your parents — then a visit to a tax advisor or the tax office makes sense.

Neither applies to babysitting. These allowances are for sports club / volunteer work. Babysitting is a normal service.

In Germany, babysitting counts as a household-related service (§ 35a EStG). Parents may deduct 20 % of the cost (up to €4,000/year) directly from their income tax.

Example: they pay you €100 → they save €20 in tax.

Conditions:

• An invoice from you (see below)
• Bank transfer — cash is not accepted by the German tax office

• Your name + address
• Parents' name + address
• Date of the job (or period)
• Description: „Childcare at the home of the [Lastname] family"
• Hours and hourly rate
• Total amount
• Note: „VAT-exempt according to § 19 UStG (small-business rule)"
• Bank details for the transfer

A Word or Google Docs template is enough — no special software needed.

Yes! I have two ready for you:

• 📄 Open the invoice template — fill in directly in the browser, then „Print → Save as PDF".
• 🧾 Open the receipt template — shorter than an invoice, good for cash payments.

Tip: fill in once, save as PDF — you have the template for all future jobs.

If you knock over an expensive vase or the kid throws their parents' laptop on the floor: in most cases the parents' household liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) covers it — you're a minor and covered by your family policy.

Important: ask your parents before your first job whether your family policy covers „Gefälligkeitsschäden" or „paid activity". Some policies exclude it.

The child is covered by their parents' health insurance — treatment is covered.

If you were grossly negligent (e.g. left the child alone → serious fall), the insurer can claim back. So: stay alert, document briefly what happened, and call the parents immediately.

For occasional babysitting: no. If you do it regularly (multiple families, many hours), a professional liability insurance for childcare can make sense — but that's mostly relevant from 18.

1. 30 minutes is enough — at the parents' home, with the kid present.
2. Introduce yourself: age, school, hobbies, do you have siblings.
3. Ask about the child: bedtime, allergies, favourite games, dislikes.
4. Ask the rules: screen time, sweets, bedtime rituals.
5. Exchange emergency contacts.
6. Agree the hourly rate and whether cash or transfer.

• Where are plasters, first-aid kit, thermometer?
• Where's the house/apartment key (if you go out)?
• Movement permission: can you go to the playground / bakery?
• Food: what's allowed, what isn't?
• Bedtime routine: book, song, night light?
• What if the kid won't sleep?

• Word of mouth — ask your friends' parents. Works best.
• Flyers: supermarket, bakery, daycare entrance, playground noticeboard. Nicely designed flyers with a photo + QR code to your website attract more parents than plain phone numbers.
• Parent WhatsApp groups in your school / neighbourhood (ask your parents to post).
• Your own website — see below ⤵️

• Your full address — district or postal code is enough.
• Pictures of kids you babysat (not even „anonymised").
• On TikTok / Insta as a minor — talk to your parents first.