Page 12 | To think that kids be left in the bath...

Flashbangandgone · 2015-12-06T22:32:35+00:00

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

NeedsAsockamnesty · 10/12/2015 13:54

the thing is we have parents of 4yo and under on this thread saying it's acceptable not just people talking about 5yo's and over.

I think everyone on this thread who has a 4yo and under who does this should ring up the NSPCC and talk it over with them and not anonymously. Actually give names and stuff.

I think they would be quite surprised about the resulting occurrences

Gruntfuttock · 10/12/2015 13:57

DixieNormas I lived on my own from 16. The extremes on this thread from KP86 to clareash99 are astonishing.

DixieNormas · 10/12/2015 13:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gruntfuttock · 10/12/2015 13:59

Theoretician "There's a non-zero cost attached to supervision"

"non-zero cost"? Would you explain that, please?

BathtimeFunkster · 10/12/2015 14:03

I also think people who bring children under 5 to swimming lessons should ring the NSPCC and tell them that.

Thurlow · 10/12/2015 14:06

I'll quite happily call the NSPCC, give my name, and explain how I am standing seven feet away in the next room with a clear sightline of the entire bath. I'd have absolutely no problem saying that to anyone.

Mrscog · 10/12/2015 14:12

You can't lump in 0-4s all as the same risk though can you? there is a world of difference in cognition, balance, dexterity between even a 2 year old and a 3 year old. For me, under 3s - require constant supervision. 3-5 (depending very much on the child, layout of house, your own awareness of what's going on) it is probably possible and safe to start pottering in and out very close by. I would expect a child from about 6 age to be able to bath more or less independently just with the odd check here and there. I might review this if I had a particularly wild one! Other people will interpret differently, but having checked with friends following this thread, they all said the same as me, which suggests that it's quite normal interpretation, and drowning in the bath for children 4 and over is a hugely rare occurrence. After 50 the risk increases again, so I hope everyone will be offering to supervise their elderly parents, or relatives in the bath.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 10/12/2015 14:14

Bathtime, would those be swimming lessons where there are adults actively supervising and staff who are being paid and are appropreatly trained to be actual life guards?

I'm not entirely sure they would be much interested in that given the huge difference between that and a toddler being in the bath without direct supervision.

Thurlow, you have now clarified that you are at all times no more than 7 ft away and actually using direct line of sight supervision that's not quite the same thing as unsupervised really is it?

Thurlow · 10/12/2015 14:21

It's still in another room - just like many of the posters on here who say they are in the next room. It's not sitting on the side supervising. Because I might turn around to put something in a cupboard, or bend down to empty the washing machine. Because as Mrscog says, all kids are different and I know that my particular nearly 4yo does not need watching like a hawk every second.

BathtimeFunkster · 10/12/2015 14:22

They would be swimming lessons where non-swimming children are out of their depth and could easily get into trouble while the teacher's attention is elsewhere.

Every bit as dangerous, if not more, than being in the bath with an adult nearby.

Children don't suddenly get really good at standing up when they are 5.

Original poster

Flashbangandgone · 10/12/2015 14:43

Bloody hell, is that the MN standard?? We moved our DCs into their own rooms after 13 weeks...

You'd sometimes be forgiven for thinking some believe the umbilical cord should be left in place until they're 12!

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Clarella · 10/12/2015 15:06

Thankyou fit this discussion. I had begun to wonder this myself with a ds who loves long baths aged 3.

Original poster

Flashbangandgone · 10/12/2015 15:48

Or I could just supervise them to make sure they don't hit their heads or slip under. What an amazing idea that would be.

I was referring to a swimming pool rather than a bath in the comment you responded to... Are you seriously suggesting that for under 8s (which I believe is your threshold for close supervision) an adult should remain so close to a child in a pool that they prevent them from slipping under.

As for the 1 second issue. I believe you stated that being under for more than 1 second was potentially life-threatening due to dry-drowning, which is why you chose to be right beside the bath when your child was in, to scoop him up immediately should he fall.

At children's swimming lessons, the delay will be longer than a second unless th child happens to be right beside the teacher... 10 seconds from occurrence to rescue would seem reasonable... The same, if not more, time it would take me to pop from the next room.

Why is the pool scenario safe, and the bath scenario not?

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Original poster

Flashbangandgone · 10/12/2015 20:25

*the thing is we have parents of 4yo and under on this thread saying it's acceptable not just people talking about 5yo's and over.

I think everyone on this thread who has a 4yo and under who does this should ring up the NSPCC and talk it over with them and not anonymously. Actually give names and stuff. I think they would be quite surprised about the resulting occurrences*

Sockamnesty: I'm interested to hear what you think the resulting occurrences would be? Social Services referral??

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Snossidge · 10/12/2015 20:31

My 4 year old has gone under the water more in a swimming lesson with 8 3-4 year olds out of their depth in a pool with one teacher then he ever did alone in the bath.

Original poster

Flashbangandgone · 10/12/2015 20:41

My 4 year old has gone under the water more in a swimming lesson with 8 3-4 year olds out of their depth in a pool with one teacher then he ever did alone in the bath.

Perhaps the NSPCC should campaign to ban swimming lessons!

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NeedsAsockamnesty · 10/12/2015 23:23

Yes flash

differentnameforthis · 10/12/2015 23:41

I call to her every thirty seconds or so A lot of lasting damage can be done in 30 seconds.

Original poster

Flashbangandgone · 10/12/2015 23:44

A majority who've posted on here seem to think it is ok to be next door listening to a 4yo in the bath... So we all need reporting to social services? Crazy over-reaction... You really need some perspective on this!

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Original poster

Flashbangandgone · 10/12/2015 23:50

I call to her every thirty seconds or so A lot of lasting damage can be done in 30 seconds. at any age...do you get someone to call on you in the bath every 10 seconds, or hover by the door? Anyone can slip or have a seizure!

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Senpai · 11/12/2015 05:08

As for the 1 second issue. I believe you stated that being under for more than 1 second was potentially life-threatening due to dry-drowning, which is why you chose to be right beside the bath when your child was in, to scoop him up immediately should he fall.

That is correct.

If I saw my child gasping under water at a pool, I'd quickly grab her then too.

The key thing is, I would see them gasping because they would be in my line of sight.

I know you really, really desperately want to paint me as some panicky mother that just implodes the second her child blows bubbles in the bath. But I'm afraid that simply isn't the case.

I watch her because it only takes a second to be in a fatal situation, not because a second with her face in the water is automatically fatal. I know you understand this by now, and I'm exhausting my patience explaining this over and over.

At children's swimming lessons, the delay will be longer than a second unless th child happens to be right beside the teacher... 10 seconds from occurrence to rescue would seem reasonable... The same, if not more, time it would take me to pop from the next room.

Incorrect. You cannot see your child, therefore it is not the same. I cannot understate the enormous difference in not knowing your child is even in danger for 10 seconds, to seeing a child in distress and taking 10 seconds to get to them. Huge difference, and the fact that you think they are the same thing is a bit worrying.

Why is the pool scenario safe, and the bath scenario not?

Neither scenario is safe. Water is not safe. It never will be. But exercise precautions and follow safety measures and it can a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

To flip this question on it's head, you'd never in a million years walk away while your child is swimming in the pool and leave them completely alone. Why would you in a bath?