aibu to think its not acceptable to leave a 3 year old in the bath alone for long stretches of time and out of earshot?

[colourmehappytheresasofainhere]

my husband seems to think its perfectly alright to go to his study and sit on ebay on the other side of our fairly large house when 'doing bathtime'.

i just dont think you leave children alone in the bath and it makes me really uncomfortable - aibu??

dh thinks im being, and i quote 'ridiculous'

What age is it ok?

I was accused of being paranoid when my then 8 year old DD was not allowed to bath alone!

I have popped out while ds1 is in the bath. He is 6 and he is so not quiet in the bath that I always know if he's alive. I do leave dd alone in the bath. She is nearly 10 but have probably been doing it since she was 8. I do still pop in on her as I am usually making sure she isn't using all my posh bath products. Ds2 is 18 months and wouldn't leave him at all unless he was in with my dd and only then to pop next door for a towel.

YANBU. My sons 3 and will whip to kitchen or living room to sort out his stuff for bedtime but our bathroom is downstairs next to them both. Never more than 5 minutes. However wouldn't dream of leaving him in there whilst I sat watching tv or something. I'd feel guilty ,anyway ,as that's usually our one on one time as always have a little play.

No way. Dd is 3 and I'd never leave her alone (or with 6 yo ds).

Mamma 39.

Seriously, I'll probably start giving my 4 year old son more time alone in the bath starting at about 6, but not by being in the other side of the house, but in his room pottering or my room or something.

I like bath time. We have a nice chat.

I'm in NZ and we've had two - two - cases in recent weeks where parents have been charged with manslaughter after their very young children drowned in the bath.

This isn't some small, unlikely to happen thing. It happens.

YANBU. I feel guilty leaving 3 & 2 year old for 15 seconds or so to go into the next room to fetch something. I depend upon them chatting to each other. No way would I go out of earshot.

I'M quite cross at your DH so whatever level of ire you are directing at him, I don't think it's too much TBH.

Sorry decided that I would read the entire thing after all so realise now it's been sorted... but keeping the thread open lets us hear more scenarios from people with real experience, which is helpful (if heartbreaking).

I think part of the problem is people think that someone drowning looks like something in the movies etc - lots of splashing and flailing arms etc- when (so I've been told) it isn't - it is silent...

Correct

YANBU.

There was a lady in my SILs postnatal group who left her toddler in a bath chair and went to answer the phone, and he drowned

Tee, 39 seems reasonable to me!

My dc are 3 and 5. When they're in the bath I will potter around the bedrooms putting clothes away etc.

My house is small though...10 seconds and I could get from anywhere to the bathroom, and they are always in earshot.