Can I use the bath as a playpen!

[KittyVonCatsworth]

Crap aunty-ing part 2! Looking after my other DN this morning. I’ve got an interview at 10 this morning, doing the handover at about 9 but I need to shower and get ready to go. She’s 10 months, not walking yet. The bath is right opposite the bath (reaching distance I suppose). If I put the duvet in the bath (dry) can I pop her in it while I take a shower 😂

I wouldn’t. What if she drags herself across and turns the tap on?

If you can see her and she can’t reach taps/bottles/razors etc then I don’t see why not...

I'm pretty sure you'd notice if she turned the tap on if you're within reaching distance!

have you got her buggy? Could you pop her in there and push her in to the bathroom?

I plonk my 18mo DS in the dry bath whilst I do my hair and makeup. Can you shower with the glass door open so you can see what she's doing at all times? If so I would do it.

Have you been left a chair or car seat for her? Or even the pram? Strap her in then you can always open the shower door if you need to atop her doing something.

In the buggy or on the floor on a cloth with some toys. Singing/chatting while you shower so she knows where you are

Yes, be quick and cover the taps with the duvet. If you chat to her she'll probably just be fascinated. Dont leave the room though in case she slips or anything.

I sit mine on the bathroom floor with some toys. Get the bin out of reach, mine has a fine line in emptying nappies out over the floor (boak).

At 10 months in the bath mine could pull herself up and stand. Then possibly up and over the edge!

I hadn’t thought about the taps...I have her car seat but she doesn’t like being put in it but it’s for 4-5 minutes max so I think I’ll go with that. She’s like a bolt of lightening and into EVERYTHING! Car seat it is. Thanks MN once again! I should be a pro by the time my next DN comes along!

Floor with toys. Bath not so safe - thinking banged face on taps, falling over edge etc. Used to strap mine in the buggy or leave on floor with toys and chat as others have said.Good luck with interview.

It'd be unusual for her not to be able to crawl around and pull herself up at 10 months. So she could potentially fall backwards banging her head on the taps (which are hard and knobbly..). You will have to judge how likely it is that she'd injure herself...

but generally, don't agree to look after a mobile baby without suitable equipment (e.g. playpen), unless you're free to supervise the DC. I assume this is some family emergency, for you to end up on this situation, but it's not really fair on your the baby

I put mine in a dry bath occasionally. She’s 11m and can stand. I can watch her the whole time from the shower. It’s fine.

Floor with toys.
I see you've got your plan, but please don't do this in a bathroom! She'd have her hands all over the toilet, probably an arm inside, she could even pull herself head first into the bowl. Even if she didn't, it's a pretty unhygienic place for her to be exploring then sucking on her hands. You'd also HAVE to move all cleaning products and anything else off the floor first.

I wonder if the people suggesting this have actually had a 10 month old???

@another. Yes, a bit of an emergency and last minute. Her DD dropped her off in a bit of a rush. I don’t mind at all, it’s lovely to have 1-2-1 time with her and she seems to be enjoying herself (currently splashing her water all over her toast and we’re singing nursery rhymes).

Right, off for the fastest shower ever! Thanks again x

Good luck with the interview! Just check you have everything you need.. babies are distracting!

I have a 9.5 month old. When I shower she goes into her bouncy chair at the bathroom door (strapped in) or will sit on the bathroom floor on a towel with a toy, and a pillow behind her in case she falls back. Nowhere near crawling/pulling up - you know best whether yours is.