Why is it called babysitting?

Have you realized that the parents when they are talking about their kids said " My baby" even when their kids aren't babys anymore. :) I think that is babysitting because when the kid is still baby the word is correct. But why to search and find another word for grow up "babys" when we already have one - babysitting, it is much easier :) Other is up to parents to explain why its "babysitting" to one not baby 10 year old boy or girl :)

I belive that they call it babysitting no matter what age the children are because in a mothers eyes they will always be our little babies.

I thought about this along time ago,anmd ya know what i think? That in those days just little babies needed watching,and basically they are in a crib or holding new bornsmlike rocking them,the older kids were out playing or helping on farms,so i think babysitting just came from sitting there in a chair,rocking the baby:)

It started out as sitting watching a baby who couldnt walk or go far. It choice wether you refer to a watching over a ten year old "baby sitting" now. Here, there are "child care" providers and baby sitters. Pretty much any child over 4 go to child care and not baby sitters. I guess its the people in the area and what they prefer to refer to it as. You are correct, its technically not "baby sitting" when your watching over a 10 year old.

Here is Australia you're technically nothing more than a baby sitter unless you have the legitimate qualifications - yes, here you need to prove you're able to take care of children before you can work with them. In the USA i know people do home day care - that's something i don't think we can do here coz you're not qualified to do so. You need up to date information & skills, as well as up to date first aid certificates! I have no idea why baby sitting is called that coz i used to baby sit a 6 year old - i guess it's just the unofficial wording for something you aren't qualified to do but do it anyway - does that make ANY sense??? :)