...to leave 17mo DD alone in the house... (its not as bad as it sounds!)

[deepheat]

OK. I'm babysitting tonight while DW is having a well deserved night out. We have friends who live directly opposite us across the road and its a small road. Our baby monitor works perfectly in their house. They suggested I pop over for a drink. Mentioned this to DW and it was an absolute no-no.

Thing is, I would be about the same distance from DD as if I were at the bottom of our garden. If she woke, I could be back within 30 seconds. Is it so bad? There's no risk of a fire or anything like that so I don't really see what the issue is beyond the psychological difference of being out of the property.

I should add that I agreed with DW that I would stay in tonight and so will not go out but I'm curious as to what people think as a matter of principle (possibly for future reference).

By the way, they have a DS and no baby monitor so couldn't come over here.

[booyhoo]

how are you babysitting your own child? does DW pay you?

[bearcrumble]

Someone is going to mention the McCanns you know.

[Meglet]

yabu.

There is never 'no risk of a fire' for a start.

[mumbar]

Could DD not be taken over when asleep and put down in their bed? Thats what I always did with DS and still do now sometimes and he's 6yo.

[booyhoo]

so have you done this before if you know teh monitor works in their house?

[HappySlapper]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it per se. But I also think that since you agreed, it shouldn't be too much of a hardship for you to spend one night in watching the baby while she has a night out.

That said, I personally wouldn't do it.

[ICouldHaveWrittenThis]

Don't be ridiculous!

also, you don't babysit your own child FFS

[DancingThroughLife]

anyone?

This has to be a wind up. There is so much wrong with this it's hard to know where to start.

[RJRabbit]

If it's THAT important for you to go out for a drink on the one night your wife goes out, pop DD in her pram and let her sleep in their hallway/lounge/some other room.

[Hassled]

Yes, there could be a fire and no, you're not babysitting. You're not doing your DW a bloody favour, you're doing what you should be doing as a parent.

[HumphreyCobbler]

I wouldn't.

But I often go down to the bottom of my garden while the DC are asleep. I don't know why I am being so inconsistent, but I just wouldn't leave my own house and go to another one while my children were asleep.

[bearcrumble]

Oh and you know what else? It IS as bad as it sounds.

Are you a pisshead?

[mumeeee]

YABU, Yes the baby monitor may work in your friends house,but anything could happen while you are out of the house, How do you know ther is no risk of fire?

[HecateQueenOfWitches]

Well, you get a slap first off for saying you are babysitting your own child!

You could lend them your baby monitor and have them come over to you.

You could take your daughter with you / they bring their son over to you and the kids sleep over

[Tee2072]

LOL booyhoo. Not sure that's the point but I had the same thought.

And no, OP, I wouldn't go even across the road. Or to the bottom of the garden, for that matter. Stay inside your house. You never know what might happen.

[Psammead]

My in-laws live the other end of our garden and we often pop over there whilst DD is asleep. DH can be there within seconds. On principle I think it's ok, but its a choice everyone must make on their own. Also depends on how rowdy you would plan to be and if you'd be drinking heavily etc.

Tis a very divided issue here, so hold on tight.

[gingernutlover]

You would BU to do it yes?

Baby monitors are great in that they allow you to hear what is happening in the babies room - not great when you arent there to intervene if anything is actually happening?!?!

I agree with everyone else that if your DW is enjoying a well deserved night out, then what on earth is wrong with you having one night in on your own?

[Igglybuff]

Babysitting your own child?!

My neighbour has done this in the day - but we live in the same building in a house converted into flats. I didn't think anything of it at the time - we were in a room above her DC and she had a monitor.

Over the road seems too far.

Your DW is also probably annoyed that you can't stay in and be in charge properly for one night while she has fun!

[KirstyJC]

Firstly, are you also a parent to DD? If so, I think 'parenting' would be a better choice of word than 'babysitting'.

And no, you shouldn't leave her. The baby monitor might not pick everything up and you wouldn't be able to just pop in and check on her as easily as at home, especially if you're drinking with friends. I think your DW's reaction makes it clear she thinks the same too.

[booyhoo]

op as you are saying you DW is on a well deserved night out, does that mean you are up to date on your nights out? so do you really need to be going out on the one night you need to stay in? can't you just say "no thank, DW is out to night so i would have to get a babysitter in"

[PhishFoodAddiction]

YABU.

It's too far away if something happens- you wouldn't hear smoke in the baby's room over a monitor. There is never 'no risk' of fire.

Take your DC in the pram if you're so eager to go..but I don't see what's wrong with staying home. It's only one night ffs!

[booyhoo]

also, teh fact that your wife has told you she isn't happy about that means you would be completely disrespecting her to do it anyway. if you must go out, at least give her the chance to come back and stay with DD (not that that would make you very popular either) because she clearly wouldn't be happy with what you are suggesting.

[Bluegrass]

Apparently my parents would regularly leave me and take the baby monitor next door for a bit of socialising (in the 70's). I'm ok with that, but in our largely safe and antiseptic world we live in an age of paranoia, so expect to be lynched.

[sparklerainbowglitter]

Cant see any problem myself - only the same as if you lived in a very big house if the baby monitor works it is no different.