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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave a 2 year old for 10 mins

726 replies

BlueSuedeStiletto · 27/04/2019 03:30

2 year old asleep in a cot they can't get out of. Needed to pop to the shops. 10 minutes away if that, child asleep the whole time, doors locked etc. Friend is horrified. WIBU?

OP posts:
luckylorca · 28/04/2019 18:22

Errrr.... you are CRAZY! (And very lucky if your friend doesn’t report you to social services!)

The fire engine has just left our house. The idiot young guy downstairs drunkenly threw a cigarette in the garden then went to the shop to get more booze. I was dozing on the sofa watching tv when my little son suddenly screamed that the house was on fire. The dividing fence between our flats (that links directly to our house wall) and the idiot’s bikes are now absolute toast. Total devastation!

If we hadn’t been here to call the fire brigade - and my other neighbours hadn’t been so amazing - our houses (and anyone inside) would all be ashes now! I saw the fire go from a small bonfire-sized fire by our fence to a huge raging blaze that was licking our house and the neighbours’ roof within about 45 seconds! It was unbelievable!

So... don’t leave your child for a minute! Even if you think your flat/child is safe, you can’t control what nature/your neighbours decide to do...

NOT. WORTH. THE. RISK!!!!!

speakout · 28/04/2019 18:23

Totally irresponsible.

Liketoshop · 28/04/2019 18:24

No. No. No. Never.

bubblegumunicorn · 28/04/2019 18:24

It sounds like it’s more than 10 minutes too 🤔 my local shop is 10 minutes away that’s 10 minutes there 10 minutes back and how ever long I’m in the shop for that could easily turn in to 30 minutes this can’t be real surely 😳

luckylorca · 28/04/2019 18:25

Carnage!

To leave a 2 year old for 10 mins
Moys · 28/04/2019 18:25

Never take risks with your children’s safety in this way.

If anything happened, fire, choking, you have an accident and are delayed returning, you would have to live with the consequences for the rest of your life.

linsey2581 · 28/04/2019 18:26

I did it when my kids were aged 2 and 1. I had come off the bus after being in town and went into shop which is about 5 mins away from house. I bought bits and bobs went home and realised that I had left the shopping on the shop floor! Well both kids were sleeping and I had already bumped the double pram (one of those front and back ones) down 20 steps that go between house and shop. So I left them in the house still strapped in pram all locked up ran like the wind to the shops picked up shopping and ran home. They were fine I was 5 mins max.

Loopyloular · 28/04/2019 18:26

Please god no!!!

ChiaraRimini · 28/04/2019 18:27

Get a taxi to deliver what you need from the shop or use an app like Beelivery. Will cost you a couple of quid extra but if it is that desperate you would consider leaving a sleeping toddler then it's got to be worth it. Or if not then do without/take the toddler with you.

bubblegumunicorn · 28/04/2019 18:27

@luckylorca Jesus that’s awful! Glad you’re both okay!

SteveTheSpiderPlant · 28/04/2019 18:29

It is not ok at all. I highky doubt anything would happen this time but once you have done something once it then becomes easy to do it again. Then for a bit longer. Then maybe while they are awake but playing happily.

It will not just be a one off.

BenjiB · 28/04/2019 18:34

Agree what if you got in an accident. 30 years ago my mum left my brother asleep in his cot whilst she picked the other one up from playschool. She was gone 15 mins max. When she got back there was a burglar in the house, he had licked the front door so she couldn’t get back in and she saw him run out the back. Anything could have happened. Don’t be negligent.

Sice · 28/04/2019 18:34

Totally unacceptable

shirleybanister · 28/04/2019 18:37

Irresponsible and illegal!

2welshboys · 28/04/2019 18:38

YABVU

smallereveryday · 28/04/2019 18:40

No problem. The chances of anything happening are minuscule. What would happen if you got hit by a bus ? More chance of you choking on something downstairs whilst still in the house ! .. MN will always tell you that you are one step from ss taking your kids away - but the reality is , it's a % game.

You best chance of no problem is not to do it and to watch your child whilst he sleeps. Back in the real world this is probably your best less stress free way to the shop

smallereveryday · 28/04/2019 18:43

Shirleybanister not illegal ! There is no minimum age in this Country . The law states that you. An be prosecuted for child abandonment or neglect is the child comes to harm. If they done then no charge !

Dra1972 · 28/04/2019 18:44

I did this loads when mine were little. Nothing bad ever happened. The other posters are totally over reacting.

Motherontheedge1 · 28/04/2019 18:45

I locked my young son (3) in just while I put bins outside garden gate. Locked him in because we have two gates and two paths into our garden and couldn’t watch one whilst using other. He was fast asleep upstairs. I know because I checked before I went out. Was only out in garden a couple of minutes but when I got in he was up and crying because he couldn’t find me. No real harm done but imagine how upset he’d have been if I’d been gone longer as well as other things that might possibly happen if you’re not close by. I don’t call a shop ten minutes away close by. Don’t do it. The consequences don’t bear thinking about.

Earthakitty · 28/04/2019 18:46

I cannot even believe you're asking this.
What if a fire broke out ?
What if child woke up put something in their mouth and started choking ?
You cannot leave a child of that age alone in the house....EVER.
Jesus wept.

drunkenflamingo2 · 28/04/2019 18:55

I am a very chilled parent and would never, ever consider doing this. Pop child in buggy/carrier and take them with you.

jessebuni · 28/04/2019 18:58

It’s probably fine. Like 90% of the time. But that remaining percentage has to come from somewhere and is it worth the risk that it’ll be you it happens to. Whether that be something happening to you while out or something happening to your child while you aren’t there. Yes all these things are extremes and very unlikely but they do happen and it’s really just not worth it.

My eldest is 10 and we have just now reached the point where we are considering leaving him alone for the 10-15 minutes it takes me to take his sister to clubs.

Carriecakes80 · 28/04/2019 18:59

Parents that NEED to ask this question make me worried sick. Seriously, if this is real and not just some troll (please be a troll!) get some parenting lessons, because if you don't know the answer to this, then you are probably doing a lot of other things wrong too. If you love your kid, I mean, really love them, get some parenting classes.

Myusername122 · 28/04/2019 18:59

There is something wrong with your head if you think this is ok .

VoteJadot · 28/04/2019 18:59

The chances of anything happening are minuscule

No. The chances of a specific thing like a fire happening are miniscule. The chances of any undefined adverse event happening to you or anyone you interact with while out are considerably higher. You could see someone being mugged, or coming off their bike and banging their head badly, or having a nasty asthma attack, or falling over and spraining their ankle, any of which would delay you considerably.