The Orsini & Rose Law Firm

Personally, I don’t think kids have to be spanked to be disciplined, but that’s just me. I never spank my kids, and neither does their mother, from whom I’m divorced. But could anyone else spank them? It’s legal for babysitters to spank kids, but a parent can forbid it. Under the law, babysitters act “in loco parentis,” latin for “in the place of a parent.” A babysitter can do anything a parent could legally do, including spanking. It’s the same for teachers, day care workers, etc. If they want, parents should be clear with babysitters and explain that spanking is out of bounds, otherwise, babysitters may spank.