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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To stand DD on a chair next to me when I wash the dishes

84 replies

Helgathehairy · 11/02/2015 18:42

We don't have a dishwasher. DD is 18 months. In the morning when I start washing up she used to start screaming and trying to push me away from the sink and scream some more so I stood her on a chair next to me. She dead happy, babbles away and I've given her a sponge to play with.

DH is horrified and thinks she's going to fall and I'm not going to catch her.

Am I being stupid and she's too young or is he worrying a bit much?

I promise to abide by MN Jury rules.

OP posts:

DurhamDurham · 11/02/2015 18:44

My girls are grown up now, 21 and 17, they both remember standing next to me 'helping' me wash and dry dishes. Sometimes I stood them on a chair and they helped wash their own plastic tea sets. They had a great time and never fell off. They got wet, they made a mess, but they never fell off the chair.

It did not have a lasting impact however, they have both grown up to be rather untidy individuals

skylark2 · 11/02/2015 18:45

I'd be a bit worried she'd fall off - but mine were uncoordinated as all heck, some kids never seem to fall off anything.

If you're worried, you could give her a bowl of water on the floor and some spoons or plastic cups to "wash".

MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 11/02/2015 18:46

If you're concerned about her toppling off, you could get one of those Funpods?

gobbin · 11/02/2015 18:46

DH is being a tad overprotective I think.

Sirzy · 11/02/2015 18:46

Personally I wouldn't. If your washing dishes your unlikely to be able to respond quick enough to catch her

GoooRooo · 11/02/2015 18:48

I stand DS on a set of kitchen steps at the sink. He's fine.

If your DH is so worried, he could do the dishes himself.

littlejohnnydory · 11/02/2015 18:48

Mine all stood on a chair to cook and bake with me at that age. There's only one child and you're right next to her, I think DH is being OTT.

deadenddan · 11/02/2015 18:48

Give it a couple of months and she'll be dragging a chair up and getting on the kitchen sides to help herself to stuff if she's anything like DC2

YANBU if you feel she's safe

PandaNot · 11/02/2015 18:49

I wouldn't stand them on a chair but I did used to sit them on the worktop next to me which always felt a bit safer as I could spot easily if they were heading to the floor!

nooka · 11/02/2015 18:55

Sounds totally and completely normal to me!

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 11/02/2015 18:57

YANBU!

Original poster

Helgathehairy · 11/02/2015 18:57

I do think she's safe. She just stands there (for now anyway, it's a novelty at the moment as I just started doing it this week).

DH does the washing up after dinner but I'm a SAHM so I do the breakfast dishes.

I sat her on the counter once. She kept leaning forward and I was convinced she was going to go head first onto the floor so not doing that.

OP posts:

SpaghettiMeatballs · 11/02/2015 18:58

I did this with my first. She loved 'washy up' and standing on a chair to cook with me. I didn't feel she wasn't safe as she was absorbed in the task so not looking to get down and was always right next to me.

She always indicated when she'd had enough and wanted a lift down.

WD41 · 11/02/2015 19:02

I'm with your DH I'm afraid.

Musicaltheatremum · 11/02/2015 19:05

I used to do this too. Don't see the problem.

TipseyTorvey · 11/02/2015 19:06

sounds perfectly sensible to me, she should learn chores early so you can settle down with a cup of coffee and read a nice glossy

feesh · 11/02/2015 19:06

My twins stand on stools in the kitchen to help not help me cook and clean. To be honest one of them did fall off the other day, but hey she bounces just a small cut under her chin but nothing terrible and she was fine. That's how they learn to balance better

snuffykins · 11/02/2015 19:06

I wouldn't. But only because my mam did that with me when I was 2 and I fell off and broke my arm.

Eatsleepwork · 11/02/2015 19:08

I wouldn't be comfortable and I have a dd around the same age. I have a little helper fun pod that keeps her safe while she 'helps'. Not particularly cheap and quite bulky but resale value is pretty good and she loves it.

arethereanyleftatall · 11/02/2015 19:15

Totally normal. I'm fairly sure the vast majority of people do this.

Bonbonbonbon · 11/02/2015 19:26

YANBU but it is safer to use something like a Toddler Tower.

Almostfifty · 11/02/2015 19:28

All of mine did this at a certain age. We used to bake, wash up, and make dinner, and there was always one if not two helping standing on chairs or the small stepladders.

Only way to get dinner ready then!

RoganJosh · 11/02/2015 19:29

My younger two did this perfectly happily and safely from 13 months for one and a bit older for the other. The third kept stepping backwards and nearly falling. I think it depends on the child. I am sure you can gauge whether your child is safe.

Original poster

Helgathehairy · 11/02/2015 19:29

I've seen those towers but we just don't have the space.

If she starts moving too much I'll rethink it but for now I'm going to keep doing it I think.

OP posts:

RumbleMum · 11/02/2015 19:33

I was doing this with DC1 at that age and he was largely fine.

OK, he fell off once or twice and I failed to catch him but I'd put towels on the floor which padded things a bit and he never really hurt himself. And quick learned to watch where his feet where ...

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