Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

AIBU?

To take my dog toileting in the park while 2yo DS is in bed?

101 replies

MeerkatMerkin · 15/07/2013 20:41

My neighbour just suggested I do and she'd keep an ear/eye out for him (she has my mobile number). His room is on the back and she is always in her garden so would hear him if he cried. The park is a 10 second walk from my house - I can see my house from the park (it's across a road at the end of my road iykwim, my house is towards the end of my road). It's a small city park with a playground and highly populated with summer revellers at this time of year. The dog won't toilet in the garden, normally DH takes her out but he's away with work and will be all next month.

Obviously I pick up after the dog and as soon as the dog has been I'd be straight back. Thoughts?

OP posts:

Report

curlew · 15/07/2013 22:12

Cleaner- fantastic idea- everyone should have one. Including people who clean for a living- nobody should have to do their own cleaning.

Dog walker? Bonkers. Take your neighbour up on her kind offer, and spend the money you would have paid the walker on delicious white wine to drink with said neighbour in the garden when you get back.

QOD · 15/07/2013 22:12

Re reading, if the neighbour KNOWS you are going each time and is right there or hanging round, I would. Sorry I sounded a bit more casual along the lines of "ah she'd hear him I expect"

iloveweetos · 15/07/2013 22:45

I don't see a problem. Thinking of what ifs all the time would stop us doing anything.

MalcolmTuckersMum · 15/07/2013 22:46

But.........but...........if you ask the neighbour to sit in for 10 minutes well - she might spontaneously combust or drop down dead and then you'd get struck by lightning or contract ebola on your way home and then your toddler wouldn't be able to get out of the rat infested bedroom and...........and..............

mrsjay · 15/07/2013 22:46

but you might be abducted by an alien I think if your neighbour is listening out and can get in your house take your dog for a poop

mrsjay · 15/07/2013 22:48

I think I'm getting way too old for MN.
I didn't see danger at every corner when ds was little.
At 18 he's still here.

I think i am past it too LBE or maybe i was just neglectful I even nipped out and sat in the garden when the kids were in bed

mrsjay · 15/07/2013 22:51

this is reminding me of the friends episode when a baby emma gets locked in the apartment and rachel thinks a pigeon will come in and steal her

curlew · 15/07/2013 22:53

It's like the threads where people say you shouldn't leave your child in the car while you pay for petrol because you might be hit by a reversing truck. Because it would be sooooooo much better if you took your child with you so he could be hit by the reversing truck tool

thebody · 15/07/2013 22:56

curlew, at my ore Ofsted meeting with a cm coordinator she told me I should take all the children out if the car to pay for the petrol, that was 2 babies, a two and a three year old!!

as I an not mental I declined and instead wrote a policy in filling my car up with petrol on a Sunday night!!

couldn't make it up really//😃

LimitedEditionLady · 15/07/2013 23:02

Sorry if you think im over protective (for you not me) but I wouldn't do that because Id be too scared to leave him and yes its a "you never know" but hey you never know and you have your doubts thats why youre asking.Id only go if the neighbour just came to my house."Things" can happen,"things"do happen.Not being rude but has your neighbour got supersonic hearing and legs of pure fury?if you thought nothing could happen at all then you wouldnt even need your neighbour.

Maryann1975 · 15/07/2013 23:08

Do any of you sit in your own garden while your children are in bed? I do, frequently. I am as close to my children as my neighbour is when we are both sitting in our own gardens in the evening. So, yes I would take the dog for a quick walk around the park and let my neighbour listen for the sleeping children. I would also listen out for her children if the situation was reversed. Not for the whole evening, but 10 minutes is fine, IMO.

LimitedEditionLady · 15/07/2013 23:15

I dont sit in my garden when theyre in bed to be honest i dont know whether im a crazy mother or not thats just me.I think my concerns come from something that happened in my home town that i cant detail but i have a reason to be like that.

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 15/07/2013 23:24

I wouldn't. What if your neighbour suffers a heart attack and you get hit by a car?

thebody · 15/07/2013 23:25

it's what in your own comfort zones at the end if the day. very individual.

thebody · 15/07/2013 23:25

it's what in your own comfort zones at the end if the day. very individual.

RobotBananas · 15/07/2013 23:31

It would be illegal, wouldn't it?

foreverondiet · 15/07/2013 23:32

I think its fine as your neighbour is babysitting - but do mention to her the doomsday scenario of your being crashed into by speeding car while out and that if you not back in 15 then she should call x y z etc.

MeerkatMerkin · 15/07/2013 23:46

I don't know, is it illegal? I don't think anything was illegal when I was a kid but I'm willing to believe otherwise

Neighbour has a DD (13) so she is quite aware of the responsibility, said DD has also offered to watch DS. They are nice people. Idk. Should I just avoid?

I have been abducted by aliens btw.

OP posts:

VixZenFenchell · 16/07/2013 01:38

It's not illegal in the UK but there are some guidelines (nspcc) which suggest when is appropriate to leave a child and for how long. It is illegal in other countries (eg where I live).

If your neighbour is in your garden, with access to your house if she hears your child cry then I don't see it as any different to you being in your garden in the evening while your child is asleep. Your neighbour is babysitting for 10 mins, seems fine as long as they are prepared to stay there until you get back and recognise that they are responsible for your child for those 10 mins.

libertine73 · 16/07/2013 02:39

as long as neighbour stays in ear shot, yes,I would, but it's not a long term solution is it? why can't the dog shit earlier?

God I need to go to bed, when im pondering strangers dogs toiletting schedules is time to turn in.

Ham69 · 16/07/2013 07:18

at libertine

RobotBananas · 16/07/2013 07:31

It must be illegal to leave a small child alone in the house? Surely?

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Buzzardbird · 16/07/2013 07:33

Neighbours dd could walk the dog for some pocket money. Sorted.

LimitedEditionLady · 16/07/2013 07:34

Robotbananas i thought that too,isnt that part of the reason people dont?

curlew · 16/07/2013 07:49

It"s not illegal. And this child is not being left alone- unless none of you ever go into your gardens while your child is in the house?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.