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Leaving baby alone in another room

107 replies

Captaincalamaris · 26/09/2024 11:42

How long would you hypothetically leave a 4 month old baby on a play mat (not a pen) whilst you were in another room and they were out of sight? Having this argument with DH.

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Littlegirll · 30/09/2024 15:29

MakingPlans2025 · 26/09/2024 20:27

@Parker231 I did, just took bouncy chair into bathroom 🤷‍♀️Mine would have cried if left alone long enough for me to shower. But each to their own as long as the baby is safe.

I either leave my DD with her dad or I wait until she is asleep before having a shower. I used to leave her in her cot when I went to the toilet, but she's a toddler now so I take her to the bathroom when I need a wee.

Lanzarotelady · 30/09/2024 09:30

LongLiveTheLego · 28/09/2024 20:57

Yeah may as well just ignore the lullaby trust and let them fall asleep and die while unattended. They wouldn't have school issues then as they would never go!

Do you keep vigil all night as well? Stand over them observing their colour and respiratory rate? No.

Stop being so bloody dramatic

Bearbookagainandagain · 28/09/2024 21:02

Awake, I wouldn't really leave them more than 10 min (mainly because they would cry and call before that I think). I have left them asleep on the mat for longer to tidy the kitchen or cook, but we have cameras so I would have been able to check on them regularly.

LongLiveTheLego · 28/09/2024 20:57

Lanzarotelady · 28/09/2024 11:02

You're all bloody bonkers, no wonder your kids can't be left alone for 5 mins, taking them into the shower with you in a chair?
No wonder they struggle when they go to school

Yeah may as well just ignore the lullaby trust and let them fall asleep and die while unattended. They wouldn't have school issues then as they would never go!

LongLiveTheLego · 28/09/2024 20:55

Not at all you do not leave a baby unattended on a playmat. You don't leave a baby under sick months alone in a room longer than it's takes to have a wee or grab a water bottle from the fridge.

Pinenuts91 · 28/09/2024 20:50

Generally 10 mins max until I pop my physical form in, but i also have a motion camera on them so I'm technically always watching as It's linked to my phone so take that everywhere upstairs so I can run back 😅

There's been too many scary moments (my baby has fit like episodes) so I'm always on guard 😅

mitogoshigg · 28/09/2024 20:45

@Mrsttcno1

I had a travel cot, perfect for both jobs though mine refused to actually sleep in it! (Or any other designated baby bed)

EmBear91 · 28/09/2024 20:44

Your husband sounds mental to me! I’d never leave my baby at that age for more than a few seconds (aka to grab something like you said). 20 minutes is actually concerning to me. Different if they were in a cot or something! Although even then I wouldn’t do it if they were awake.

mitogoshigg · 28/09/2024 20:41

I popped mine in their cot at that age for more than a minute or two. Flat so less awkward I suppose

MakingPlans2025 · 28/09/2024 20:37

Lanzarotelady · 28/09/2024 11:02

You're all bloody bonkers, no wonder your kids can't be left alone for 5 mins, taking them into the shower with you in a chair?
No wonder they struggle when they go to school

My child is fine at school thanks. At least he's not as rude as you.

Fudgetheparrot · 28/09/2024 18:38

5 mins, although I would happily go and do a task in the next room for 20 mins or so while popping in and out to check on them.

Incidentally this is how I learn DD had learned to army crawl when she was 5 months- left her on her bedroom floor while I went to the loo and came back and she was in the hall! Lived in a flat so it wasn’t too much of a worry thankfully

Nanny0gg · 28/09/2024 17:56

Captaincalamaris · 26/09/2024 12:02

I already had the washing in a pile at the top of the stairs so just needed to grab it really. I want to know if I WBU to expect DH to come downstairs and talk to me!

You were not.

How often does he have her on his own? And what is he doing when he does?

MakingPlans2025 · 28/09/2024 16:30

@Parker231 I brought him with me and laid him on changing mat on the floor or carried bouncy chair into the bathroom. Maybe doesn't do them harm to cry but I preferred to avoid it when I could. J imagine it's totally different ballgame with twins tho and I'm not being judgy if anyone who did things differently tk me. Just saying what I did.

Parker231 · 28/09/2024 13:35

MakingPlans2025 · 26/09/2024 20:27

@Parker231 I did, just took bouncy chair into bathroom 🤷‍♀️Mine would have cried if left alone long enough for me to shower. But each to their own as long as the baby is safe.

Doesn’t hurt them to cry - no way was I taking DT’s into the bathroom whilst I had a shower when they could go into their cots. What did you do when you went to the toilet?

Parker231 · 28/09/2024 13:32

Mrsttcno1 · 26/09/2024 20:46

For the mums who have said they use play pens, can I ask which one you use/would recommend? My baby is 5 months old now and never considered this rather than her just play on the floor it may be a better option!

We had a huge one which was passed around the extended family. Almost used it from day one to let the babies nap without the dog waking them up. Then used it to give the dog a break from crawling toddlers. Popped them in the playpen or cot whilst I had a shower or sorted the washing, loaded the dishwasher etc

Oblomov24 · 28/09/2024 11:08

Clearly I am at the other end of the spectrum because a 4mth baby I'd leave for a few minutes without even thinking about it / having zero concerns.

KatyaKabanova · 28/09/2024 11:03

Mine never struggled at school, university or in adult life. They were secure.

Lanzarotelady · 28/09/2024 11:02

You're all bloody bonkers, no wonder your kids can't be left alone for 5 mins, taking them into the shower with you in a chair?
No wonder they struggle when they go to school

Mrsttcno1 · 26/09/2024 20:49

Itsmahoneybaloney · 26/09/2024 20:49

This! Bloody brilliant. Look on Facebook marketplace etc because I only had mine for about 6 months then sold it on there.

Amazing thank you! X

Itsmahoneybaloney · 26/09/2024 20:49

Mrsttcno1 · 26/09/2024 20:46

For the mums who have said they use play pens, can I ask which one you use/would recommend? My baby is 5 months old now and never considered this rather than her just play on the floor it may be a better option!

This! Bloody brilliant. Look on Facebook marketplace etc because I only had mine for about 6 months then sold it on there.

Leaving baby alone in another room
SummerSnowstorm · 26/09/2024 20:46

About a minute between popping my head round to check, but as long as they're happy before picking them up.

Mrsttcno1 · 26/09/2024 20:46

For the mums who have said they use play pens, can I ask which one you use/would recommend? My baby is 5 months old now and never considered this rather than her just play on the floor it may be a better option!

DinosaurMunch · 26/09/2024 20:40

5-10minutes if it was a safe environment and they weren't crying. Quick shower for example. Not 20 minutes though

VivaVivaa · 26/09/2024 20:37

Where does one find these placid babies? Both of mine would have protested loudly at 4 months if I left their eyesight for any more than a couple of minutes.

museumum · 26/09/2024 20:34

Getonwitit · 26/09/2024 12:46

I am so sorry OP that you feel you have to even ask this question.
What on earth is going on in our society when perfectly intelligent adults have to ask how long they can leave their baby for or go in to a panic because they fed their baby some mash potato ?
This is not a dig at individuals it is a concern at what is happening. Why is common sense lacking, is there too much information shoved at people these days that they can't think for themselves or is it because we live more isolated lives and don't have family contact like we used too. It really is worrying.

It’s not a lack of common sense but a natural consequence of today’s blame culture. Everything is always somebody’s fault and if something happens to a baby the first question asked of the mother is “why weren’t you watching them properly?”