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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let DS (15months) play outside..

53 replies

celebmum · 19/07/2011 21:51

Today after work I let DS who is 15 months old, 'play out' in the back garden whilst I got on with a bit of housework..

I had the windows open and the patio door, there are no steps/exits/steep drops that he acess to, no way he could of got out onto the street. he was playing with his sand pit and cars etc and going down the side of the house to put thugs through the catflap. I never left the kitchen or living room, I could hear him at
all times and see him for prob 90%of the
time... WIBU? My Sis who has no Chilean seemed to think this was too relaxed? No I'm beginning to wonder? He is a confident walker (walking 5/6 months) so not crawling about etc..

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 19/07/2011 22:32

Providing he is safe and no cat shits in your garden so he doesnt pick it up and eat it, thats dandy. Know your own child. Independance is good.

Original poster
celebmum · 19/07/2011 22:32

Is what I did any different to him playing in the living room/diner with his toys whilst I run upstairs to loo/take a load of washing etc? Is there not equal chance of him eating a piece of toy as there is a bug? Or the same chance of climbing up and falling off the sofa as there his him falling outside? Confused

OP posts:
Loolah · 19/07/2011 22:34

My DD2 who is now 28mths has been doing that too since about the same age(last summer), when the weather is nice and the door is open she was like lightening out of the door.
we have a secure garden and she could be seen from both the kitchen and lounge. Only danger is she is a climber so did have a few heart attacks when she climbed the slide and stood at the top with no hands Grin

ChristinedePizan · 19/07/2011 22:35

Yep it's fine. Children don't need to be watched 24/7 and aren't going to die if they put a worm into their mouth.

Loolah · 19/07/2011 22:36

eating bugs is good for building up the immune system Grin DD2 has been known to lick slugs and occassionally ate the cat biscuits

Mobly · 19/07/2011 22:36

Mmmm, I leave DS2, 20 mths in garden while I get on with things but I can see him through window and garden pretty safe (as safe as anything can be with toddler).

It's your judgement call really, the main thing i would worry about is choking as they put alot of things in their mouth at that age. I wouldn't worry about dirt. Thought all kids ate a bit of dirt!

worraliberty · 19/07/2011 22:39

I wouldn't do it but only cos my DS at that age, picked up a snail..scooped the snotty insides out of the shell and put it straight in his mouth, before I could get across the garden to him Shock

MerylStrop · 19/07/2011 22:41

So long as there isn't a large selection of random sharp implements and poisons lying about, YANBU.
I've let all of mine grub about on their own within earshot or whilst sitting about reading a book and watching from the window.

Morloth · 19/07/2011 22:41

Sounds fine to me, I can't do it here because of the pool (even with the fence I can't do it) but if it wasn't there then I would let DS2 out. He is sometimes in the playroom while I am doing stuff here and there no difference really.

MerryMarigold · 19/07/2011 22:45

YABU

I did this with my ds too. He was not putting anything in his mouth at this age, and was very happy to play on his own. I don't see what it's so much more 'dangerous' than inside. He had a great time and I could cook whilst watching him, but obviously did not have my eyes on him 100% of the time as I'd be cooking or sorting some stuff out. It IS important not to be too PFB. One of my friends actually wrote in my birthday card that she admires how relaxed I am with my kids (and wishes she could be) and loves to watch it and learn from it.

MerryMarigold · 19/07/2011 22:45

Sorry YANBU!

Original poster
celebmum · 19/07/2011 22:46

Garden is pretty child friendly, enclosed, no tools or anything he could get hold of. He only had access to the patio the lawn area (and most of the bugs) was closed off. He had plenty of toys to entertain him and he was rather busy posting sand through the catflapConfused!

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 19/07/2011 22:47

Are you really a celeb?

libbyssister · 19/07/2011 22:49

Ha ha ha, my DS3 has his first birthday this week and has been crawling out into our secure back garden for about 2 months!! The first month was a nightmare as we have lots of different (small) levels and until he could navigate them and had learned to turn round to get down he needed lots of supervision but for a good long time now he's been popping out there on his own. He goes and gets into the sandpit and visits the guinea pigs in their run, eats their droppings now and then Shock, sits in the flower beds shuffling mud around in his hands, stands at the water play table, plays with balls on the grass and generally has a marvellous time. I can't see him 100% of the time but I can always hear him squealing with pleasure at all the stuff he finds to do and generally chit chatting away.

Looking at these comments it seems a bit slack but then he is my 3rd and I guess I've relaxed somewhat. Don't worry about what your doing celebmum, in my experience they can hurt themselves when you're two feet away. If the garden is secure and not full of obvious dangers then it sounds ok.

MumblingRagDoll · 19/07/2011 22:50

It's never occurred to me not to let mine in the back garden once they can walk well...both mine have. I always made sure there were no water dangers or garden tools around.

Original poster
celebmum · 19/07/2011 22:50

Merrymarigold, shhhhh! Even celebs have normal lives/problems too! Grin

OP posts:
tilly3325 · 19/07/2011 22:51

I think it's fine, we didn't really have a suitable garden at that age, steps etc, but on a couple of occasions what they found to eat inside was sooo gross, one being after my ds about 4 at the time was sick and in the very short time it took to get him to the bathroom his 8 month old sister had crawled to the sick and was eating it, it was so gross, and yep the next day she was sick also.

NellieForbush · 19/07/2011 22:54

On the whole I think YANBU but it depends on your child/garden of course.

I couldn't cos we have a bush with berries on which would be irresistible.

What exactly is your sister worried will happen?

eurochick · 19/07/2011 22:58

worra is your child French?

Bohica · 19/07/2011 22:58

Nah, Op is not a celeb.

If she was she would have "staff" to worry about garden play & the hazards of worms & dirt.

prudaloo · 19/07/2011 22:59

Could HAVE not "could of"
same with "should of, would of, might of" etc.

smelli · 19/07/2011 23:02

You probably need to police what he puts in his mouth. Many common plants are toxic / poisonous eg laurel, laburnum,daffodils, holly, euphorbia. Wouldn't probably do him long term harm but it could make him sick. My 18 month old ate a whole snail, including shell and eats unripe cherries even when we are standing right there.

MerryMarigold · 19/07/2011 23:02

I'm sure slebs come on here with innocuous names like 'merrymarigold' Wink

BimboNo5 · 19/07/2011 23:03

Doesnt sound dangerous to me, however if you allow him to put Chileans through the cat flap THATS when things may get hairy.

snippywoo2 · 19/07/2011 23:16

Get out in the garden with him, play in the sand, play cars with him, interact with him have fun . Do the housework when he's in bed. They grow up so quick, before you know it their at school and they want to play with their friends not you, then you miss it.

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