Babysitting: Yichud

How can I handle Yichud issues when babysitting?

Shalom! 

Thank you for your question. 

Yes, the laws of yichud often pose a challenge for babysitters. This is because it appears, for example, that a teenage girl may not babysit for a nine- or ten-year-old boy. Nevertheless, the laws of yichud are often relaxed in a situation of petach patuach (the door is open) and reshut harabim (there are others in the area). For example, if the front door of the home is left somewhat open (petach patuach) and it is daytime or early in the evening when others are likely in the area (reshut harabim), then yichud, such as in the babysitting example mentioned above, is permitted. 

Additionally, if members of the household, or even other individuals, are likely to enter at any time, without notice, then yichud is often permitted. If other children are present (e.g., the babysitter is watching more than one child), there will often be no yichud restrictions either. Some rule that the leniency of petach patuach and reshut harabim do not apply if the man and woman are friends or otherwise enjoy an informal relationship with each other, a concept known as libo gas ba. Some authorities permit yichud, even behind a locked door, as long as others have a key and are likely to enter at any time. 

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