babysitting laws???

I am from the state of PA, wanted to know if I need a signed form (notorized, etc?) if I leave my 5 month old baby with a friend for a little over a week, while we take a long awaited family vacation. Someone told me if my baby gets sick and needs medical care, nothing can be done unless I have given my friend "temporary custody"- in some kind of writing. Is this true? what is necessary? Thank you.

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally posted by iluvmysons
I am from the state of PA, wanted to know if I need a signed form (notorized, etc?) if I leave my 5 month old baby with a friend for a little over a week, while we take a long awaited family vacation. Someone told me if my baby gets sick and needs medical care, nothing can be done unless I have given my friend "temporary custody"- in some kind of writing. Is this true? what is necessary? Thank you.

My response:

You don't need to give anyone "temporary custody" - - and you couldn't even if you wanted to, without a court order.

In this instance, all you need is a "Child Care / Medical Authorization" form. They're on the Internet, so run a search.

IAAL

[LegalBeagle]

Originally posted by iluvmysons
I am from the state of PA, wanted to know if I need a signed form (notorized, etc?) if I leave my 5 month old baby with a friend for a little over a week, while we take a long awaited family vacation.

How can it be a *family* vacation when you are leaving your 5 month old baby behind?

*sigh* times sure have changed..

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally posted by LegalBeagle

How can it be a *family* vacation when you are leaving your 5 month old baby behind?

*sigh* times sure have changed..

My response:

Actually, I applaud this woman for leaving her child home for a couple of reasons:

1. How much is a 5 month old going to get from long hours on a vacation, and will the child even realize what's going on ?

2. Our writer is hopefully, and thankfully, cognizant of the fact that a screaming, crying, child in a restaurant or an amusement park, or at the movies, or anywhere that adults are trying to get enjoyment, is a REAL pain in the ass - - to everyone in the vicinity.

Thank you, writer, for leaving the child at home.

IAAL

[jyoung]

begs the question, just what to do with the imp when your trying to catch up on those Soprano's videotapes.....in the past I found the car seat in the garage very effective.

Actually I haven't had the baby yet, this will be child #4, we were all excited had our 1st Disney World trip planned, had the hotel booked, rental car booked, and then found out I was pregnant, so we canceled. Too risky to go out of town while pregnant. My oldest is 10, he was extremely disappointed, I was planning on bringing the baby if we decided to book again, but my best friend gladly offered to keep him home. Believe me, I AM TORN!!! I'm afraid I won't be able to leave him and end up canceling again. I am a stay at home Mom full time, and practically NEVER use babysitters, honestly probably only once a month- if that. And we never take vacations. I'm not at all offended by those who feel I SHOULD take the baby- maybe you are right! I still might! I don't like the fact we'll have to get an extra hotel room for being a family of 6 though. I want us all to stay in one room, but those are the laws!

[stacyg2]

Don't feel bad about leaving the baby with a friend. For one the baby won't even know where she or he is and you'll be able to do more.
I went away for a weekend and left my son with my mother. I just wrote a signed letter saying that I give her authorization to permit my son to be seen and be given treatment by a doctor. He did have to go to the doctor's for a fever that time(I still feel bad) and the letter was fine.
Go and have fun on your trip!