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Original poster

To leave kids in bed whilst I run

239 replies

Wanttodobetter · 18/06/2025 07:24

I’m a single parent to 4 children, youngest 8 and eldest 14. I want to run for 30 mins locally early morning whilst they’re still asleep. 2 have phones and I’ll leave a number of a neighbour. That’s fine right?!

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 18/06/2025 11:36

Time, not tone.

Mumble12 · 18/06/2025 11:36

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 18/06/2025 11:33

I'm just wondering why you need to do it before they wake up?

I do it so I can make the most of my day and spend more time with my kids. Working full time means that I either cut into our evenings and leave them home alone unsupervised after dinner while I go out (which for my kids would definitely be worse), or I don't do it.

MrsSkylerWhite · 18/06/2025 11:36

Sirzy · 18/06/2025 07:26

Would the 8 year old normally sleep the whole time your out? Is the 14 year old happy to be in charge if they do wake up?

This. If yes, I’d give it a try, see how they feel about the actuality. If they were t happy about it, I’d try to find a different tone.

(Personally, don’t think older siblings should be left responsible for younger ones but appreciate that I had lucky circumstances so never needed to do so.)

Superscientist · 18/06/2025 11:36

Mumble12 · 18/06/2025 11:20

Why would sleeping children be less likely to hear the smoke alarm than sleeping adults

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This is actually a well known phenomenon the tone of fire/smoke alarm are not suitable for waking children and a frighteningly high number of children who die in fires are found in their beds.
A study in 2017 looking at children, I think mostly under 10, 80% of children didn't wake up to a smoke alarm. There were higher rates of children waking when there is an intermittent alarm or where in place of a tone the alarm as a voice

www.dsfire.gov.uk/safety/home/talk-your-children-about-fire-safety

Digdongdoo · 18/06/2025 11:35

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:34

Microscopic risks?

Have you ever watched the news?

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Are you under the impression that the news covers things that happen lots? Of course the risk is microscopic. That's why it makes the news when it happens!

Mumble12 · 18/06/2025 11:35

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:34

Microscopic risks?

Have you ever watched the news?

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The news is a running report of the extreme things that happen around the world every day, if they were regular occurrences...they wouldn't make the news

ZippyBrick · 18/06/2025 11:35

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and suggest the ones with the biggest issues here are the ones who don't exercise, use their kids as justification, and see you as a reason to feel bad that they've got weak/soft since having kids.

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:34

Cherrytree86 · 18/06/2025 11:30

@gloria

yeah not eveyone wants to live their life cowed by microscope risks such as this.

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Microscopic risks?

Have you ever watched the news?

Digdongdoo · 18/06/2025 11:34

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:33

The solution is to get better smoke alarms not to supervise your kids. Right got it.

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You should have good smoke alarms either way.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 18/06/2025 11:33

EllieEllie25 · 18/06/2025 08:45

Re the fire risk, as long as you have working smoke alarms and both the front and back doors can be opened from the inside without needing to find a key I think that’s fine. They’re not teeny tiny and should be able to get out fine if they need to. And the risk is tiny. Maybe don’t put a tumble dryer or washing machine on just before you go to reduce it even further.

Yes they're more likely to do something to start a fire or cause a danger when awake than asleep!

Blueberrypancakebreakfast · 18/06/2025 11:33

Yes, i do with my children regularly - similar ages. I advise all of them the night before that will be out so that if they do wake the younger ones know to go into their older brother and he knows to expect them as well.

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:33

rosemarble · 18/06/2025 11:22

You need better smoke alarms then.

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The solution is to get better smoke alarms not to supervise your kids. Right got it.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 18/06/2025 11:33

I'm just wondering why you need to do it before they wake up?

Cherrytree86 · 18/06/2025 11:30

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:21

Mental health and physical health is of course important, so is the safety amd welfare of those kids.

I would suggest the right time to go for a run is when they're awake. That's me though safety always came before a jog.

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@gloria

yeah not eveyone wants to live their life cowed by microscope risks such as this.

Revisionispointless · 18/06/2025 11:30

Children are known to sleep through smoke alarms - don’t do it

Mine have and you may recall the family of 6 children that died because they didn’t wake up - their father had set the fire .

Digdongdoo · 18/06/2025 11:29

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:25

Kids sleep through anything ime, parents tend to be on alert for such things as smoke alarms as it should be their job go be the ones supervising.

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I'm just not buying that 4 children and teens would sleep through a regulation smoke alarm. They're so loud! If yours aren't loud enough, get some new ones from a reputable place. Not unregulated amazon junk. Not that a fire is remotely likely anyway...

Mumble12 · 18/06/2025 11:28

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:25

Kids sleep through anything ime, parents tend to be on alert for such things as smoke alarms as it should be their job go be the ones supervising.

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Kids can get in far more trouble awake than asleep surely?

If they're fast asleep that time of the morning and are aware of where she is, I genuinely cannot see the issue. Of course there are always dreadful extreme circumstances, but that's always the case in life. They're 8 - 14 not the same as a 2 year old waking up and wandering the house looking for you!

Mumble12 · 18/06/2025 11:25

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:25

Kids sleep through anything ime, parents tend to be on alert for such things as smoke alarms as it should be their job go be the ones supervising.

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Oh, we have very different kids then. Mine sleep through nothing, whereas I'm out like a light.

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:25

Mumble12 · 18/06/2025 11:20

Why would sleeping children be less likely to hear the smoke alarm than sleeping adults

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Kids sleep through anything ime, parents tend to be on alert for such things as smoke alarms as it should be their job go be the ones supervising.

rosemarble · 18/06/2025 11:22

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:18

Exactly. The 14 yr old can watch them while they're all up and awake surely.

Sleeping kids left unattended is not a good idea. I bet none of them would hear the smoke alarm for starters

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You need better smoke alarms then.

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:21

Cherrytree86 · 18/06/2025 11:18

They’ll never be a right time for you to go for a run OP according to some people on here because essentially they don’t view you and your mental health and physical health as important

Mental health and physical health is of course important, so is the safety amd welfare of those kids.

I would suggest the right time to go for a run is when they're awake. That's me though safety always came before a jog.

Mumble12 · 18/06/2025 11:20

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:18

Exactly. The 14 yr old can watch them while they're all up and awake surely.

Sleeping kids left unattended is not a good idea. I bet none of them would hear the smoke alarm for starters

Show quote history

Why would sleeping children be less likely to hear the smoke alarm than sleeping adults

Gloriia · 18/06/2025 11:18

Strawberryfields18 · 18/06/2025 11:10

Personally I'd never leave them alone while they were all sleeping. I would be happy to leave a 14 year old in charge as long as they were up & about & capable of the responsibily.

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Exactly. The 14 yr old can watch them while they're all up and awake surely.

Sleeping kids left unattended is not a good idea. I bet none of them would hear the smoke alarm for starters

Cherrytree86 · 18/06/2025 11:18

They’ll never be a right time for you to go for a run OP according to some people on here because essentially they don’t view you and your mental health and physical health as important

Sunshinegalhere · 18/06/2025 11:17

Ok since you asked for our opinions…

I would personally ensure that the eldest was awake before setting out on my run and I’d do a route which meant I was no more than 10 mins from home, just incase. I’d make sure the eldest had my contact number as well.