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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Leaving baby in house?

102 replies

tomkittensmittens · 20/01/2012 23:34

This is probably the wrong place to be asking, and it's really WWYD because I am just not sure and need views from more experienced people!

Due in a few weeks time (our first). DP will have to go back to work (offshore) a few weeks after. We live in a flat across the road from a park where I take the dog last thing at night for a wee. Usually out of the house for 5 minutes.

There are no neighbours who could reliably do this for me and no family nearby and while I know that really, I can't just lock up and go out for 5 minutes (can I?) - the alternative is I have to wake and dress a baby and take her out late at night in all weathers?

Is there some solution I'm not seeing? (or is it just wishful thinking that she won't actually be awake and screaming anyway at 11pm, so no problem)?

OP posts:

lisaro · 20/01/2012 23:36

What if you fell, or god forbid, got mugged? You find that you'll be walking her at that time occasionally anyway.

Sandalwood · 20/01/2012 23:36

Start inching that last walk to an earlier time?

ZuzuandZara · 20/01/2012 23:39

Just take the dog out the front door, she'll wee if she needs to without having to actually have a five minute walk to the park?

AgentZigzag · 20/01/2012 23:40

I would find another routine for your dog rather than trying to fit it's last walk round a baby you haven't even had yet.

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 20/01/2012 23:42

And if worst comes to worst, the dog will have to go. You cannot put a dog ahead of the welfare of a baby. (but it won't come to that, just put the dog out for a wee, and if needs be swill the path with a drop of disinfectant in the water in the morning.)

DaenerysTargaryen · 20/01/2012 23:45

I just let mine out the front door if dp is not here, I would defo not leave baby every night.

baby may not be awake at 11pm, my 4 mnth old has been sleeping from 7pm every night for the last two mnths, I couldn't get her out of bed at 11pm every night. she would completely wake up.

Original poster

tomkittensmittens · 20/01/2012 23:45

Zuzu - the flat's upstairs, I'd have to lock my front door and take him down to open the main door (which opens on to the street).
Sandalwood - probably right, since I guess I'm going to be up earlier to compensate!!

OP posts:

mummymeister · 20/01/2012 23:49

dog or baby? no choice really is there. take up agents suggestion and change the routine. you might not agree with it now but when the baby arrives you will. buy an all in one outdoor suit and a baby carrier so you can feed him, pop him in the suit and the carrier and take him out with you if you have the energy. alternatively get rid of the dog (sorry not sentimental about animals so wait to be flamed by the pro brigade) hope the delivery goes OK.

readyveg · 20/01/2012 23:50

Get a sling, you can all have a walk and baby will sleep if need be. I used to go for a walk at this time with mine and the dogs, his first word was, 'moon'!

readyveg · 20/01/2012 23:51

Wrap sling too, baby close to you so can be in night or bed outfit whilst the sling and your outer coat keeps you both warm.

DaenerysTargaryen · 20/01/2012 23:52

I would say going downstairs is fine its the leaving the building, crossing the street and the risk of something happening and people not realising theres a baby alone in a flat.

LoopyLoopsHootyHoots · 20/01/2012 23:52

Why would you have to dress the baby? Just take it out in its sleeping bag/blanket/a sling / whatever.

AgentZigzag · 20/01/2012 23:54

I'm not sure the dogs night-time piss routine possibly clashing with an unborn baby is reason to suggest getting rid tomkitten.

skybluepearl · 20/01/2012 23:54

She/he will need a feed about 11pm for many many months anyway. You can always feed her and put her in a sling with your coat on top/brolly.

Can you start taking the dog out earliuer and earlier for a wee - or doesn't that work? No idea.

ddubsgirl · 20/01/2012 23:55

you could get the baby in to a routine that he/she isnt asleep when you go for last walk,use a sling,not that much effort to put baby in to coat/snowsuit and into sling and walk dog,you could make the walk abit earlier to fit in bedtime, such as walk-home-bathtime-last feed-bed.

Original poster

tomkittensmittens · 20/01/2012 23:56

Mummy, readyveg - so it's not completely daft to think it would be OK to bundle her up and take her out when I'm on my own. That's good. Agree also changing last walk to a little earlier would be a good plan, though at this time of year even if it was 9pm it'll still be dark and a bit miserable. Thanks all!

OP posts:

AgentZigzag · 20/01/2012 23:57

Sorry, last post wasn't to tomkitten, I meant mummymeister.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 20/01/2012 23:58

What, so when the child is a year old, two years old, you'll be taking it out in a sling?

No, I'd say get the dog used to a shorter opportunity. Going downstairs is fine, let the dog have a wee out there, surely, and take the baby monitor perhaps. Babies drift in and out of sleep at approx 45 minutes intervals, so you'll be able to gauge a few minutes of deep sleep in which you can safely let the dog out of the front door.

People with dogs have children. There must be some way of managing it.

ZuzuandZara · 20/01/2012 23:58

Yes, I assumed an upstairs flat tom. I would feel ok nipping downstairs with a baby monitor and letting dog out front door for a wee. I wouldn't leave a baby in the flat while I crossed the road and went to the park though. I would think that's quicker and simpler than both of you going out. As long as your dog has had enough exercise and time out of the flat during the day that should be fine.

Original poster

tomkittensmittens · 20/01/2012 23:58

Zig zag - sorry don't understand what you're saying I'm suggesting?

OP posts:

Original poster

tomkittensmittens · 21/01/2012 00:00

Zigzag - understand now! Thanks

OP posts:

AgentZigzag · 21/01/2012 00:00

What I said was to mummymeister saying 'alternatively get rid of the dog' OP

I think I was reading your MN name at the time I was posting and accidently typed it out

DaenerysTargaryen · 21/01/2012 00:00

it'll be ok as long as baby doesn't slip into a routine of sleeping early as my dd has done, she literally sleeps from 7pm til around 7/8am, I could never wake her out of a warm bed and take her into the freezing cold to walk the dogs.

at some point in time you are going to be trying to get baby into an earlyish bedtime routine anyway and night air at 11pm isn't going to help, whats wrong with letting him out the front door?

blackeyedsusan · 21/01/2012 00:02

what floor are you on? baby in cot and down to the communal door where you stand with it open while dog weees? taking monitor? I had a " clean" (on inside ) coat for baby to wear when we were just popping out and not wanting to get him changed again for bed. I tended to need 2 anyway as one would get peed in/puked on/pooedin.

tigerdriverII · 21/01/2012 00:03

if you don't think the house will burn down/ you will be mugged/the dog will run off and the walkies are really just a couple of minutes, then do it.

If you have a big garden (for ex) and you have a baby, do you avoid going into the garden if the bab is in the house? Of course you don't. Do what YOU feel right w

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