To take this approach to parenting a toddler?

I don’t think it’s a healthy or sustainable approach in all honesty. Where is your child learning to entertain themself with toys or simply just “be” in their own home? Children need down time and freedom to be bored and make their own amusement. Presumably at that age, they’re largely confined to a buggy/pushchair rather than spending hours walking around while you’re out?
Id be thinking about why I find being at home so unmanageable if I were you in all honesty.

YANBU. Some children are much easier out and about. My daughter was about 2.5-3 before we starred being able to spend the whole day at home. And I am quite a homebody so it was definitely nice to reach that point! Next child was lower maintenance at home than out! You parent the child you have.

I think that’s a bit weird. Don’t you bake/cook together, do normal household jobs together? Paint, draw, make things?

Going out for some fresh air is good obviously, and we did some days out. But we also spent a lot of time at home just doing normal things. My DD had her own knives and peeler etc and loved to help with meals for example. Yes it turns a 10 min task in to an hour but it’s really good for them.
She also loved to sort laundry and mop floors with her toy mop, make cakes and biscuits.
Do you do crafts together?

What on earth is so terrifying about being at home for 5-6hrs?

It's fine. All the people going on about chilling at home are probably sticking their child in front on TV or a tablet most of the time.
Staying home gets more enjoyable when they are older and they get involved in playing with their Lego or doing self directed craft things. Suddenly it is possible to spend a morning at home with everyone happy and occupied and not having to entertain them or use a screen or have a destroyed house

I really don’t understand why people see this as an issue. The main thing is does it work for you and is your son happy? If yes, then why change. You’re allowed to do things your own way.

Don't overthink things.

Just do what you both enjoy. Don't worry about what others may think.

What happens if he's poorly? Do you still go out?

I was exactly the same when my first was a toddler. She was very full on and food focused so if we stayed indoors all she wanted was a constant stream of snacks and tearing round the house. Going out morning and afternoon kept us both sane for that intense period. We stay at home more now she’s older and (a bit) calmer!

I think it sounds lovely for him but I do believe longer periods of down time are important too. Not worth a stressed mum though.

Hahahaha.

If you get home at 12 then after lunch have six hours of the house being routinely dismantled, tantrums, scribbling on walls, tidying toys away 10000000 times, screaming (you or them) and time becoming something that is no longer an hour or two, it stretches out from prehistoric period into the dawn of time, empires are lost and won while you desperately wait for bath time.

I remember it well.

We are through it with the first one but well approaching it with the second 😅 but the school run is a natural afternoon break so to speak.

In the long run I think you need to build in downtime. At the moment you’re giving the impression that he always has to be doing something but being able to do nothing is also important. Rest is important!

I only had one day at home on my own with mine, but I always went out. I hated being at home, it was so stressful and yet so boring at the same time.

It does get easier, by around 3.5 I was less desperate to escape the house (although we always went somewhere for a bit). But those toddler years - out of the house is much easier. You have the weekend for pottering.

And yes, I found being at home with a toddler all day fairly scary. It's interminable. Being a SAHM is my idea of actual hell.

I do think it’s incredibly weird that the idea of being at home with him “terrifies” you.

Do what works for you, honestly it's not damaging your kid. It might not work for someone else, but that's because every kid is so very different. My eldest I went to great lengths to be out as much as possible, because she got so bored at home. Youngest much more of a home body, being home with her is way less stressful. They just have different personalities.

I'm out loads with my toddler and baby! It's easier to be out. Plus tires them out more!

I was the same with ds at 2. We still do plenty but he’s approaching 4 now and we have more time at home. I’m just not into the sort of activities always pushed for days at home and it inevitably turns into screens.

I used to like to get out of the house every day when my children were that age. Mainly to get them some fresh air and tire them out and also because I found it easier to break the day up. But we didn't spend the whole day out. I don't think you're doing anything wrong if that's what you like to do.

I was the same OP. Found it very hard to be home for long stretches of time. Always went out even for just a couple of hours and then used nap time to get stuff done.
Happy parent = good parent.

It's hard with a toddler at home and can be a lot more tiring

Unless actively unhealthy or toxic you can parent how you like, so you can just ignore the other parents to some extent. However I just feel so stressed at home and so bored that I like to leave doesn't sound good. Maybe the other parents are wondering as this isn't how home should feel.

What do you think is going on for you?

It'd be better probably if there was more balance of home and out. Balance is usually better than all one way or the other.

We go out every day . I'm at home (as in not at work) with mine 5 days and I go stir crazy if I stay in. But we are generally back for 1ish and afternoon he plays /does crafts things like that. I generally do things locally like stay and plays, cafe, park, soft play etc in the mornings. National trust etc we do but at weekends when dp comes too.
You what suits you. He will be learning lots out and about anyway! It's absolutely fine in my opinion.

I think perhaps you need to address why you get so stressed and bored at home. I think a bit of downtime relaxing at home is great especially with the cold winter coming up, nothing wrong at all taking him out in the fresh air whilst you can.

I used to do this with mine OP, the eldest especially was a nightmare at home - a tornado and everything was chaos. At least out there were lots of distractions!

Still at 7 prefers being out of the house and doing things

I would hate that. My two have always enjoyed having days playing with their toys at home or messing around in the garden. When do you do chores?