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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to leave my 14 month old unsupervised in the bath while I do some jobs?

105 replies

Ilikegreenshoes · 06/03/2011 20:15

Ok, before you all call SS, there was no water in the bath. She'd had her bath, I'd emptied it, but she didn't want to get out and was playing quite happily with her toys.
I could hear her from where I was, there was nothing within reach that could have been dangerous, but I still felt like it was a bad mummy thing to do.
Thoughts?

OP posts:
herbietea · 06/03/2011 20:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BertieBotts · 06/03/2011 20:32

When my sister was about this age (poss a couple of months older) I was in the (empty) bath, in my nightie. I was 4. DSis was in the bathroom, hanging onto the side of the bath giggling at me. Mum was in the bedroom, doing some jobs, could hear DSis giggling and me moving around so thought all was fine. Suddenly heard a thump and a scream and came running in to find blood everywhere - DSis had been teething on the metal handle on the side of the bath, slipped backwards and ripped her two brand-new top teeth out. She had a gap there until she was about 8.

Just because you can hear them it doesn't mean they are safe. If DM had been in the room she would have been able to stop DSis from chewing on the bath rail - but how could she have thought that she might do that? Toddlers are illogical at the best of times!

BertieBotts · 06/03/2011 20:34

But OP, I can see why you did it. I just wouldn't do it again. It was silly but nothing happened, don't beat yourself up over it.

Original poster
Ilikegreenshoes · 06/03/2011 20:35

Thanks everyone for the feedback. She wasn't cold at all as the heating was on and the room was pretty warm (she is quite a warm baby anyway). The taps were turned off very tightly, and anyway, the water is nowhere near scalding temp when it comes out. I do take the point about slipping, which was the one thing I did kind of worry about, but she was sitting really nicely and playing, having a lovely time. Also, she falls over and hurts herself when she's not in the bath anyway (and if she could climb out, which she can't yet, the floor is carpeted) We live in a tiny bungalow, so I was really nearby and kept popping in to check on her.

Having said all of that, it was one of those things that I wasn't sure about, and the comments about chipped teeth are a good point!

Got loads of jobs done though, that I couldn't do with her wandering around! Wink :)

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 06/03/2011 20:35

I always used to use the bath as a playpen when I had a poo when DS was tiny - but I was watching him and the hot tap was really stiff. And the bath wasn't wet.

QuickLookBusy · 06/03/2011 20:36

No a bath has a hard surface with metal taps sticking out of it. Hardley a child friendly enviroment.

I really can't believe anyone would think this was a safe place to leave a baby Confused

ObscureReference · 06/03/2011 20:41

So you thought about the slipping but then decided to ignore the risk anyway and ten you justify that by saying you got loads of housework done? Confused

I think the rule of thumb should be that if you have doubts about it then dont do it?

ObscureReference · 06/03/2011 20:41

then

Original poster
Ilikegreenshoes · 06/03/2011 20:46

Sorry, but surely there are metal bits on radiators and funiture, and wooden corners on chairs and all sorts of hazards in any room that a child is playing in? (In fact earlier today she way playing a saucepan like a drum, turned it over, leaned on it wrong, it hit her in the mouth and made her lip bleed.) I do take the point about chipped teeth on the tap, but I can't see that it's that much more dangerous a place than anywhere else??? And normally I do make her do what I want her to do, regardless of tantrums, but she was having such a nice calm play tonight, I thought I'd relax the rules.

Anyway, thanks again for all the feedback.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 06/03/2011 20:48

We assess risk all the time though. If the OP's DD was sitting down and she didn't think she was likely to stand up then it wasn't a huge risk. She did say she didn't consider the tooth chipping thing and that was an oversight - as she says her DD could fall over when out of the bath, too. If you take the tooth chipping out there isn't much difference in the risk.

Original poster
Ilikegreenshoes · 06/03/2011 20:49

By the way, I wasn't justifying it by saying how much housework I got done, I was just making a light, jokey comment. I did housework because she was playing happily, I didn't leave her in there SO I could get housework done. IYSWIM.

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 06/03/2011 20:50

Why did you even bother asking?

saffy85 · 06/03/2011 20:55

Still disagree OP. IME a toddler can go from playing nicely with their toys to doing something entirely different. I still haven't found my original nectar card after DD went through my purse and posted all my cards down the gap in the sofa a year ago Hmm she'd been having a tea party when I left her to get the washing off the line....

LoveBeingAKnockedUp · 06/03/2011 20:56

Some friends of mine spent sat night at a&e with their dd the same age, as whilst having a bath she slipped and split her eye open. It needed stiches Sad

fivegomadinthelambingshed · 06/03/2011 20:57

Yes you are, but you obviously don't think it is a big deal.

Figgyrolls · 06/03/2011 20:58

I think you have to weigh up the fact that with water you make the surface slippery, where there is the assumption that the rest of the house isn't slippery with water under foot. I know 2 children who have damaged their teeth by knocking them on the side of the bath, it is so easily done with you there.........also both those children ended up in a & e due to blood/knocking themselves so hard, and dentists don't tend to do anything about broken teeth in the first teeth so it would be a very long time before they grow back Wink

Dancergirl · 06/03/2011 21:05

She must have been freezing cold!

PrincessScrumpy · 06/03/2011 21:05

DD slipped in the bath and cut her lip - I know exactly how it happened as I was there and watched it. Nothing I could have done. DD is 3 - must admit I wouldn't be happy doing this now, so wouldn't at 15 months.

Having said that, will probably get flamed, dd has a non slip mat and sits very still as she hates splashing. I have run to answer the door before but I did tell her to sing me a song, so I could hear her the whole time.

We all do things that are a bit dangerous and cannot wrap them in cotton wool.

NorthernGobshite · 06/03/2011 21:07

Seems like an accident waiting to happen.

medicalmayhem · 06/03/2011 21:10

no please dont leave her shes too young, hot taps, trying to get out bath herself, slipping and banging her head, it can all happen in seconds.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 06/03/2011 21:13

Why did you bother asking if you don't like the responses that you've got Hmm

Lakesandsnadders · 06/03/2011 21:17

I'm amazed you need assurance from complete strangers on this. If you have doubts,just don't do it again!

Original poster
Ilikegreenshoes · 06/03/2011 21:18

So sounds as though she's just as likely to hurt herself in the bath with me sitting right next her! Wink

No seriously, I asked because it felt safe to me, I could hear her, and I checked her very frequently, but I still wasn't sure it was an acceptable thing to do, so thought I'd see what the consensus is. You're right, I don't think it's a big deal, but it's certainly not something that's going to happen every night, and having heard all the stories of cuts, teeth knocked out etc, I'm now scared to give her a bath at all! Wink

Thanks again.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ilikegreenshoes · 06/03/2011 21:26

Sorry, too many winks.

And surely the whole point of MN is getting advice/reassurance from strangers?!? Confused

I'm only new, but don't think I'll ask anything again, some pretty judgemental and uptight answers to an innocent question! Sad

OP posts:
VeronicaCake · 06/03/2011 21:34

It probably isn't a great idea but I do understand where you are coming from OP. If I can get DD to stay in one place there is a huge temptation to get as much done as poss whilst she is occupied.

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