To think that kids be left in the bath...

[Flashbangandgone]

... While I go to another room upstairs from the age of 4?

YABU - do not leave them unattended around water until they are at least 7 years old. Drowning is often silent.

Please don't

There's a RoSPA list of drowning accidents - most are under twos, but there are older children. Not worth the risk.

If I ever need to leave the room while DS3 is in the bath (e.g to grab a towel from the airing cupboard) I ask him to sing a song, so that I can always hear him.

However I'd never leave him for more than 10-15 seconds. Drowning is silent and quick.

No one in my house locks the door for a bath until they are 18.

My cousin drowned in the bath at 17

it took less than 30 seconds.

I know it is unusual, and you really can't constantly watch children bathing after the age of 7 or 8, but 4 is WAAAAAAAY to young, and very dangerous.

Depends on child and for how long if they are sitting in 2 inch water and you are walking across landing to get clean towel- no problem. If you can trust the child to sit and play not go climbing when you go loo or whatever personal I would.

From 3.5 I leave them in the bath if I am in the next room, checking on them every few minutes.

YANBU.

I wouldn't leave a child in the bath alone until at least the age of 6, depending how confident they are in the water etc.

I certainly wouldn't risk it with a 4yo, anything can happen in the space of two minuets.

Depends on the situation, my DS is nearly 4 and I potter about upstairs while he's in the bath. Our upstairs is small though and I make sure I don't get distracted - any absence of noise (more than a few seconds) and I immediately check on him. His bath is also very shallow. It wouldn't be everyone's choice but I feel I've fully risk assessed and I'm happy with how I approach it.

My DD is 6 and I potter around upstairs while she is in the bath, but I still only make really shallow baths and I need to be able to hear her. I would never go downstairs and leave her alone.

4 would be ok for me to pop into another upstairs room. IIRC by 4 my two were having showers rather than baths though.

Ds is 3.5 and I potter upstairs too. I can always hear him though and im in there like a flash when he shuts up which is rare!

Is this a reverse? Is your dh/babysitter/mother/whoever leaving your kids alone in the bath and you're wondering if you're being unreasonable to be annoyed about it?

Otherwise, just don't. In a previous life I've worked on two kids that almost drowned on the bath. Both were fine but it isn't worth the risk.

How old were they and how did it happen Purple?

What's different once someone is 18?

I appreciate because of your personal experience you are naturally cautious but surely nobody keeps checking on their teenage sons every 2 minutes?

clare - how did a 17 year old drown in the bath? Was it drink/drugs?

I feel I've fully risk assessed

How have you risk assessed?

clare - how did a 17 year old drown in the bath? Was it drink/drugs?

nothing to do with drink or drugs, she slipped and knocked herself out. It was a flimsy door and it took her parents less than 30 seconds to break it down, but it was too late, she was under the water, totally unconscious, and had been inhaling.

It would have been different if she had been holding her breath.

Wow. My 2 DC are 8 & 9. I potter upstairs sorting laundry when they are in the shower (plug out), but I keep a very close watch when they are bathing.

They can both swim a length, at least, unaided in a pool. But it just takes one slip on too much bubble bath for someone with a banged head to slip under the water.....

I wouldn't leave my nearly 4yo for a second. I sit on the edge of the bath when he's in it - he likes playing 'submarines'.

I will leave my 6yo long enough to dash to her room to grab pyjamas/brush but I trust her to sit still whilst I'm out of the room and not stand or 'swim'. I wouldn't go downstairs. She can swim 25m, but ability to swim is irrelevant if they stand to reach a toy, slip, bump head and slide under.

Sorry my post was in response to clareash99.

I also potter about upstairs while my almost 3-year-old is in the bath, but we live in a tiny 2-bed and I can always hear her playing, and we talk/sing to one another. I'm never more than about fifteen feet away.

X-post with kippersmum!

Both younger than four, both left alone, both slipped trying to get out of the bath/reach toys. Independent incidents. Apologies for vague details since I don't want anyone to recognise themselves.

Mine aren't allowed to stand up in the bath. Plus you'd hear a slip/fall/head bang.