Would you leave a 3 yr old asleep inside whilst you popped out to the shop for 5mins

[ThomasMillsandCodeinePills]

Name Changed in view of possible flaming

Would you do it? She sodding well fell asleep during Peter Rabbit (shes not being unreasonable, it's the same fucking storyline in every episode. A fox or a badger chase them) and I don't want to risk waking her up to go to the shops but I have to get something.^^ It's just us here and I can't see the harm if I'm back in five. Am I being stupid even thinking about it or....

She's asleep. Go first thing..she'll be awake at 4 😂

Of course it's not a wind up! It's not like I'm contemplating going down the pub for the night.

Fire.

Depends how close the shop is really. Right next door? Then I'd do it, I've ran next door to collect parcels before when DC has been asleep on the sofa. Any further than that? Then no, wait until she wakes up or get your DH to pick some up on their way home.

No, I wouldn't.

No love never, I did just that 30 years ago and came back to find my small toddler had gone upstairs and was trying to get out of the first floor window and crying for mummy with a group of neighbours in a ring below. Anything can happen, you just don't know and it just isn't worth it.

I'm trying to think what could possibly be so urgently required that anyone would even consider this

If the shop was right next door I would, or across the road but not if it's further away.

I also would if they were a baby in their crib with a shut door and sleeping soundly but not with an older child free to move about the house.

I wouldn't be concerned about things like fire/burglars/you getting hit by a car (infinitesimally small) but more the risks from within the house on her own: knives, scissors, plugs, getting out the front door etc.

Absolutely not.

(I would not be happy at all if DH ever left our 3 yo home sleeping while popping out to the shops. In saying that, if I heard my DH was in a traffic accident and had been taken by ambulance to hospital, I would be relieved to hear that he had left the 3yo at home. Waking up alone in our bedroom would be a lot less traumatic than a car accident. )

I used to leave mine for 5 mins when they were asleep on cots but not when they could wake up and wander about.

Well this is embarrassing. Glad I name changed.

I wouldn't.

Sure, it'd probably turn out okay - but it's the what ifs that would get me.

What if she woke up while you were gone? And got upset because she was alone, or did some dangerous thing while there was no one to stop her?

What if you were in some sort of accident? If you were unconscious (or worse) and no one knew she was home alone?

And also, the regular staff at my local shop know me and know I have 2 small DC. It's not unusual for them to ask after the DC and even to ask where the DC are if I go in without them. It wouldn't go down well if they realised I'd left DC napping alone at home in this kind of scenario.

I wouldn't. At that age they can wake up and get up to all sorts in seconds (she says with bitter experience having nipped to the loo only to come back and find an armchair covered in sudocreme).

I wouldn't do it, not because I think the chances of anything going wrong are very great on this occasion, but because I know next time it might be 7 mins, then 10... Line in the sand time.

This used to be the done thing back in the day. So I can see why you're asking OP.

You haven't exactly gone, done it. Then decided to ask Mumsnet afterwards.

It's obviously not the done thing anymore but I think even for a 3 year old, I couldn't imagine leaving my little girl in the car. Scares me to think she would go into a panic when realising that I'm not there.

No, I wouldn't. The consequences if something went wrong could be dreadful.

Just no op.

I think if I was to ask my parents (60's) the same question they'd be about me even asking. Actually my whole family seem to have a laissez faire attitude to parenting!

Across our road to post a letter, with my front door open, yes.
Shop no way.
DH once left DCs sleeping (both under five) to pick me up from a bus stop at night when I could have easily taken a cab, a 15 min round trip minimum for him, he is still not forgiven.

"This used to be the done thing back in the day. "

Did it?

Leaving a kid sleeping alone with the chance that they might wake & panic?

This is something that many many parents consider as a fleeting thought but very few would actually do it.

It's not unreasonable to think "it would be so much easier if I quickly nip to the shop whilst she is asleep..." but it would be unreasonable to actually risk it.

I've walked, well run, up the road and back (no crossing and it was a quiet side road) in the past to catch the last post but I was never out of sight of the house and was gone for under a minute. I wouldn't have done anything with plenty of potential for hold ups.

My parents are that age and didn't do it....

I'm with soupdragon it's something I've considered a fair few times. I can literally see the shop from my doorstep and would be literally two minutes if there wasn't a queue.

I've never been able to bring myself to do it though. I'm 99% certain everything would be fine, but that 1% chance could be catastrophic.

I'm 50 and nobody did it when I was 3 neither.
They were a bit more laid back and when older we had latch key kids, home alone for a couple of hours after school, but never at 3.
You went out with your mum though and at 3 were probably taken out in buggy, mum trying not to wake you as she picked you up.