🏠 From what age can I leave a child home alone?

With conditions

Quick answer

It depends on the child's age and the circumstances — there is no single "permitted age" in the law, but the limits are clear, and the myth that there is one magic number is misleading. Under the Law on the Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of the Child and the guidance of the State Child Rights Protection Service, a child under 6 may not be left without the supervision of a person over 14, unless there is an objective necessity. A child under 14 may not be left alone at home or outside from 22:00 to 06:00, even briefly. Leaving a child over 6 alone during the day is not directly forbidden, but the parents must assess the child's maturity, ability to follow safety rules and the safety of the surroundings. The key point people miss: briefly (up to 15 minutes) leaving a young child in a safe environment with a capable 7–13-year-old, or while going to buy food, is not treated as leaving without supervision.

📋 The rules

A child under 6 may not be left without the supervision of a person over 14
A child under 14 may not be left alone from 22:00 to 06:00 at home or outside
Leaving a child over 6 alone by day is not forbidden, but parents assess maturity and safety
Brief (up to 15 min) leaving with a capable 7–13-year-old or a quick shop is not neglect
Ensuring a left child's safety and supervision is a parental duty; neglect brings liability

🔓 Exceptions

An objective necessity (e.g., an urgent errand that cannot be put off) is assessed separately
Every child is different — maturity, not age alone, decides whether a child can be left alone
A brief absence for essentials (medicine, food, a delivery) is not treated as leaving without supervision

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Here the point is not a set tariff but how quickly neglect turns into a serious problem. If a child is left without the needed supervision, the State Child Rights Protection Service may step in first: a warning is issued, the family situation is assessed and, if needed, a case-management process is started. What people miss: failing to fulfil the duty to supervise a child can bring parents administrative liability under the Code of Administrative Offences, and if the child is left in a dangerous state or is harmed, criminal liability too. In the most serious cases, persistent neglect can lead to restriction of parental authority or the temporary removal of the child from the family. In practice the danger is not only the solitude itself but its consequences: an injury, a fire or an accident at home brings not only legal but also hard-to-repair personal responsibility, which is why what matters is not only age but the child's real ability to look after themselves.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

From what age can a child be left home alone?

There is no single exact age limit in the law, but a child under 6 may not be left without the supervision of a person over 14. An older child may be left alone during the day if the parents are satisfied about the maturity, ability to follow rules and safety of the surroundings.

Can I leave a child alone overnight?

No, a child under 14 may not be left alone at home or outside from 22:00 to 06:00, even briefly. Such a night-time absence is treated as neglect and can bring both administrative and, in more serious cases, criminal liability.

Can I briefly leave a child while I go to the shop?

Yes, briefly leaving a young child, up to 15 minutes, in a safe environment or while buying food and medicine is not treated as leaving without supervision. What matters is that the environment is safe and the child is able to be alone briefly without direct adult supervision.

Can another child look after a young child?

For a short time, up to 15 minutes, a young child in a safe environment may be looked after by a capable 7–13-year-old. For a longer or night-time absence that is not enough — a child under 6 needs a supervising person over 14.

What is the penalty for leaving a child unsupervised?

Depending on the situation, the child-rights protection service may intervene, parents may face administrative liability and, in dangerous cases, criminal liability too. Persistent neglect can end in restriction of parental authority or the temporary removal of the child from the family.

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