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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave a baby?

184 replies

newmun · 13/12/2018 21:21

Theres a coop 2 min walk away from my house. Would you leave the baby at home and lock the door etc instead of taking buggy/carrier etc? Shop is literally 5 doors away.

Ps: I didnt do this as I was too chicken but wondered if anyone had?

OP posts:
Wannabeyorkshirelass · 13/12/2018 23:54

No. Fucking. Way.

Nothininmenoggin · 14/12/2018 00:08

Never ever do this anything can happen in that 2 minutes. Just wrong.

StoppinBy · 14/12/2018 00:18

Two minutes is less time than it takes to hang out the washing, some people are being a bit silly about this.

It takes me 5 - 10 minutes to go out to feed my chickens, check my vegie garden to see which batch of seedlings some bastard snail/mouse has eaten this time, hand pollinate my pumpkins etc so I am gone for that amount of time rather than do it when my baby is awake and in the house by himself eating paper .

In fact I put my child down an hour ago for a nap and haven't laid eyes on him since, we have an audible monitor but not a visual one so until I hear him stir I assume he napping peacefully like every other time I put him down and he actually goes to sleep rather than insisting I get him right back up .

You can't realistically not ever take your eyes of them for two minutes.

Thankfuckitsfriday1 · 14/12/2018 00:28

Absolutely no fucking way. I’d definitely judge someone who did.

What if you get hit by a car knocked unconscious and no one knows there’s a baby in your house? Because who would assume there is. Obviously not overly likely but not impossible. Or tripping over knocking yourself out etc. Or being delayed for some reason.. it’s just not worth it.

My electric went the other day with baby asleep after fighting it ALL day and teething. Shop is a 2 min walk... it never even crossed my mind to leave her. I bundled her up warm and chucked her in the pram

Seeingadistance · 14/12/2018 00:47

I wouldn't and I didn't. When my DS was a baby, there was a corner shop at the end of our very short street. If I needed anything from the shop I either took him with me, or waited till someone else was there to watch the baby while I nipped out.

Surfskatefamily · 14/12/2018 06:37

No. Absolutely dont leave the baby

AndItStillSaidFourOfTwo · 14/12/2018 07:23

'Isn't the issue that if you both get run over by a car mounting the pavement, you haven't exposed yourself to accusations of neglect, and a lifetime of unbearable regret and shame, as you would if you left the baby alone and something went wrong?'

This. Also, things may happen at home that you can respond to if you are there (of course, things may also happen that you can't, but this isn't about excluding all risk, it's about excluding the ones you can).

BeanBagLady · 14/12/2018 07:43

“You could get hit by a bus”

Exactly.

Always best to take your baby out in traffic in a sling, rather than leave it sleeping in it’s cot....

masterandmargarita · 14/12/2018 07:48

I have done on ocassion with all my kids. Fast asleep, shop v close. It's all about risk assessment.

masterandmargarita · 14/12/2018 07:51

I am a v bad parent though. I'm drinking vodka and smoking a fag as I write when I should be getting the kids ready for school.

PatchworkElmer · 14/12/2018 07:53

No, I wouldn’t.

YouSmellOfBeefAndCheese · 14/12/2018 07:59

My friend used to do this with her baby, it was about 23 years ago but she said ‘oh it’s fine I write a note in my pocket with my address on so they will find her if I get hit by a bus’ Shock she would leave for an hour Shock

buddy79 · 14/12/2018 08:16

Never. It’s a risk not worth taking.

Stumpted88 · 14/12/2018 08:22

I have, but the shop if literally the same distance from DS room than the bottom of my garden or my utility room (house is over 4 floors).

Would always take the baby monitor with me though.

TwistedChristmas · 14/12/2018 09:13

Is Christmas time always a batshit thread party? I've not been on mn a full year yet but this week has been full of crazy threads such as this so figure it's a Christmas thing. Too much eggnog.

Butteredghost · 14/12/2018 09:21

'Isn't the issue that if you both get run over by a car mounting the pavement, you haven't exposed yourself to accusations of neglect, and a lifetime of unbearable regret and shame, as you would if you left the baby alone and something went wrong?'

Hang on, so if you and baby were hit by a bus, killing the baby, you'd be fine with it because at least no one could accuse you of neglect? You would prefer your baby die, rather than be completely unharmed but someone potentially accusing you of neglect? Seems like messed up priorities there honestly.

ibblebibbledibble · 14/12/2018 09:23

Never

Camomila · 14/12/2018 09:33

I wouldnt. I wouldn’t bother with the pram or carrier though I would just carry the baby on my hip to save time.

Cheby · 14/12/2018 09:43

How anxious the world has become! Does anyone dare go to the end of their garden while their baby is asleep?

Yep, sure, I do. But I have a video monitor and breathing sensor on the cot. But I didnt do it with a baby under 6 months, SIDs guidance says all sleeps should be in the same room as an adult.

The world might be more anxious. But child mortality has reduced drastically so I’m happy to accept the restrictions that come with that anxiety in return for greater safety and security for my DC.

masterandmargarita · 14/12/2018 09:52

I'm not sure lower child mortality rates are down to breathing monitors!

masterandmargarita · 14/12/2018 09:52

And a more anxious world is not a good thing

Batteriesallgone · 14/12/2018 12:30

Consider that the official advice if your baby has colic, ie, extreme levels of crying, is that it's OK to put them down in the cot and leave them for a few minutes while you regain sanity in another room. And thats when they are already screaming out of control!

Indeed it is. But if the baby suddenly stopped I would hope you would check on them!!

Ladygaladriel · 14/12/2018 12:38

If the shop is 5 doors down I wouldn’t bother with a sling or a buggy. Just put the baby on your hip, not much effort to just pick the baby up and hold with one arm is it?

QueenEnid · 14/12/2018 15:49

2 mins walk away? No. Because i could walk a fair way in 2 mins plus then time in the shop and back again.

I do think it depends on where you live though. A house I used to live in (row of terraces) had a shop about 6 doors up on the opposite side. If I lived there I probably would run across the road and grab a pint of milk. If I had to go any further than where I couldn't see my house then no, I wouldn't be happy with the risk.

If I lived in a flat and the shop was downstairs I would go downstairs quickly if baby was asleep and I needed something.

You'll get all sorts of replies on here tho. Ultimately you are responsible for your children so you need to be happy with any decisions you make

Whataboutbobbo · 14/12/2018 18:14

Never.

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