Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it's wrong to leave a baby/toddler sleeping alone in a hotel room?

765 replies

strawberry34 · 07/07/2013 14:03

When you have a monitor and are still in the premises?my friend says she does it when on holiday, she goes to the bar/restaurant and responds to the monitor if her 2yo dd wakes, I was shocked and said I wouldn't ever want to, I stay in the room and read a book/have a bath. Aibu to think what she's doing is wrong? I don't want to refer to famous cases but to me there's too much risk.

OP posts:
LookingForwardToMarch · 07/07/2013 14:06

Yes she is wrong and may I add a fucking moron.

Has she timed how quickly she can run her selfish ass back to the room?

If it's over 30 seconds she may as well turn off the baby monitor for all the good it is going to do her.

SoupDragon · 07/07/2013 14:07

I don't want to refer to famous cases

And yet you have, with that statement.

SpooMoo · 07/07/2013 14:08

Yanbu - I wouldn't. The example someone always gave to me was what if there's a fire alarm and they won't let you back in the building to collect your child?

NoComet · 07/07/2013 14:11

It takes longer to get from DHs workshop attached to the house, or even his study than to some travel lodge rooms we have had.

Hobbes8 · 07/07/2013 14:13

Would that happen? They wouldn't let you back in to get your stuff out of the room, but to collect a child? I'd like to see them stop me.

That said, I still wouldn't do it. My son would be frightened if he woke up in a strange room without one of us. Once he's asleep he's not bothered by noise so I'd have a glass of wine and watch telly.

ChestyNut · 07/07/2013 14:16

YANBU

These threads normally don't go we'll though

Jan49 · 07/07/2013 14:16

It's wrong. If the toddler wakes s/he could get up to mischief or wander off without the parent knowing. If there's a fire the child may be trapped. If the parent leaves the bedroom door locked, it restricts the number of people who might get in and the toddler from wandering but may mean they're trapped in the case of a fire. If the door is unlocked, the child might wander or a stranger might go in. Locking the door doesn't keep the child safe from strangers anyway as so many staff will have keys.

I think the biggest risks are the child wandering or doing something dangerous in the room and the risk of fire, rather than strangers.

apostropheuse · 07/07/2013 14:19

YANBU It's wrong.

grobagsforever · 07/07/2013 14:20

Idiotic. Apart from anything else DC would terrified if they woke up alone! It's not worth the risk, you can't be sure a room you are unfamiliar with is truly childproof. As for 'I'd like to see them stop me' statement - right you're stronger than several other people combined are you? Don't be foolish.

TigOldBitties · 07/07/2013 14:22

Yabu its dependent on the situation.

She isn't asking you to do it so leave her alone.

And Hmm at the famous cases, ooh like you didn't realise what your implying. Have a little conviction and actually make your point instead of hinting at it.

StealthPolarBear · 07/07/2013 14:24

I think its to prevent the usual post of "two words - madeleine mccann"

We did it once, would never do it again

catgirl1976 · 07/07/2013 14:26

YANBU

I have been trying to explain to my DSis that when later this month we are staying over night in the same hotel as her and her DP for a family event DH and I cannot "leave 19 mo DS sleeping in his room and get pissed in the bar with her"

To be fair she doesn't have DCs so doesn't really get it but honestly Hmm No.

antimatter · 07/07/2013 14:27

ask her if life and safety of her son is more important than money she saves

also this---vvv
It takes longer to get from DHs workshop attached to the house, or even his study than to some travel lodge rooms we have had.
IMHO making that a usual practice doesn't make it right

miffybun73 · 07/07/2013 14:29

YANBU, of course it's wrong.

I just can't imagine anyone of sound mind doing this.

Cornishpasty2 · 07/07/2013 14:32

Anyone remember the Butlins/Pontins child watch scheme from the 60s/70s/80s when you registered your room number and a member of staff listened outside your chalet for babies crying (every 20 mins I think it was)? If they heard anything your room number would be flashed up on a sreens round the camp so you could return to see to your child/children? It seemed 'normal' then and most parents did it - but nowadays...? Has the world changed so much? Sad to say, but it has.

jacks365 · 07/07/2013 14:32

Surely the size of the hotel makes a difference and the location of the room. In some small hotels my dd would be closer than she would at home. I've never done it as I've not had need to but I could see it being done in a small hotel but not a big one.

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 07/07/2013 14:32

Personally I think I would do it, if the monitor reaches you can get therein no time.

Chunderella · 07/07/2013 14:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TigOldBitties · 07/07/2013 14:47

Exactly, its the size and layout of the hotel, the age and temperament as well as sleep patterns of your child, the design of the room and what they're sleeping in, the destination, the place where you are and what you're doing while they're sleeping etc etc etc ....

Forgetfulmog · 07/07/2013 14:54

Um isn't this exactly what happened with Madeleine - left in apartment room (ok apartment not hotel but still), whilst parents went for dinner. No difference surely?

badguider · 07/07/2013 14:54

Too many variables - IMO it can be fine and it can be very irresponsible depending on lots of things - I'd judge each evening on its own. I have friends who've done it with a video monitor in a very small hotel to have dinner with me.

Drhamsterstortoise · 07/07/2013 14:59

Cannot believe people would seriously consider doing this.

curlew · 07/07/2013 14:59

So if you happen to live in a large house, you stay next to your toddler's bedroom all night do you? Just in case?

There is no difference between being on the ground floor of a 3 storey house with the toddler on the 3rd floor than being in the bar of a small hotel.

Euclase · 07/07/2013 15:00

No chance.

monicalewinski · 07/07/2013 15:01

I did it once, back when my eldest was about 1. It was at a small hotel and it was a private party with a group of mums and dads (one of whom's parents owned the hotel). We were in the bar bit and the rooms were just up the stairs, we all had our baby monitors and the kids were in cots so couldn't get out and wander.

This was in 2003 (if my memory is right!) - I never did it again though as I felt very 'not right' about it, and definitely Madelaine McCann has often made me think again with regards to a certain degree of complacency that you can have when things have 'never happened to you'.

I think that there is an awful lot of molly-coddling goes on with regard to older children getting out to play etc, but leaving a child on their own whilst you are on the piss? Something I wouldn't do myself again.