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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:
PompeyBez · 27/04/2019 07:10

No, for all the reasons listed above, but ask yourself this. If you'd have bumped into someone you knew, and they had asked where your child was, would you have told them the truth, or would you have lied?

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 27/04/2019 07:11

No way! Are you serious?

It’s illegal if anything else.

There could be a fire/break in/ she could start to climb our.

legolimb · 27/04/2019 07:12

No. Its not alright and I'm a very relaxed parent.

sawyersfishbiscuits · 27/04/2019 07:13

Is this a wind up? No it is never ok and is neglectful.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 27/04/2019 07:20

Not saying I would do this or that OP should, but what's the difference between that and say hanging the washing out of you live in a large house with a big garden? If you can't hear them, you can't hear them

Ullupullu · 27/04/2019 07:23

It's not about the baby, it's about what might happen to YOU. If you're hit unconscious by a car or similar, no one will know there is a baby at home alone.

SleepDeprivedCabbageBrain · 27/04/2019 07:24

No sorry I wouldn't

InTheHeatofLisbon · 27/04/2019 07:24

MolyHolyGuacamole presumably it doesn't take 10 minutes to get back to them if you're hanging washing out?

A child with a parent that distance away is a neglected child. It's that simple. Being in the garden and buggering off to the shops are not comparable. Or they shouldn't be.

MabelMoo23 · 27/04/2019 07:28

Absolutely not. Never ever.

It’s about risk vs impact. Yes the risk of something happening is pretty low, but the potential impact is devastating.

What if you were hit by a car, and unconscious? Nobody would ever know you had a 2 year old home alone?

And before you say don’t be so ridiculous- nobody ever plans to get hit by a car, by the annual statistics regarding road traffic accidents paint a different picture.

Basically don’t be so bloody irresponsible

knotsandcrosses · 27/04/2019 07:28

Why would you even consider doing this? Nothing is so desperately needed in the early hours of the morning that would make this ok.

Pigsinduvets · 27/04/2019 07:28

It’s not a good idea, as Kate McGann found out.

3in4years · 27/04/2019 07:29

A 2 year old can climb out of a cot.

caughtinanet · 27/04/2019 07:30

Not a surprise to see that it only took 4 posts for me to tick off “the house might go on fire” on the list of predictable responses.

Got to worry about all those houses you see every day just bursting into flames.

AndItStillSaidFourOfTwo · 27/04/2019 07:31

You were BVU. I don't share the MN view that children mustn't be left alone until they are about 13, but toddlers (and early primary) are always a big no. 8 is about the age I find it gets countenanceable. Perhaps 7 in some circs.

DonPablo · 27/04/2019 07:32

Have you already done this? I know it's tempting and I know you've had a unanimous don't do it, so if you're posting after you've done it, you must feel pretty shit.

We all make mistakes. The important thing now is not to do it again.

Do you have any IRL support?

NotMyUsualTopBilling · 27/04/2019 07:32

YABU

The only legal requirement for leaving a child alone is that they are able to take responsibility to care for themselves and deal with an emergency. A 2 year old is not capable of doing this.

I had a "friend" who did this and thought nothing of it. Her children now live with their Grandmother.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 27/04/2019 07:32

And if a fire break's out?

And if yourwe in an accident?
Ifyour car gets blocked in?

Of any harm came you would be likely and rightly prosecuted. ..

It's never ok to leave a toddler alone

FookMeFookYou · 27/04/2019 07:33

Are you serious? Even if nothing happened to the child what if something happened to you... then what! FFS

DerelictWreck · 27/04/2019 07:33

The contrast of responses between this and the 'a mother at my child's nursery leaves their baby in the car' thread are interesting! On there everyone leaves their 8 month old baby in the car for 20 minutes out of sight.

BillywigSting · 27/04/2019 07:34

Yabvvvvu.

Leaving a two year old alone in a house is a hard no, and for bloody good reason.

yoursworried · 27/04/2019 07:35

I really hope you decided not to do this. It's crazy. My 3 year old got up at 1am last night as he had a bad dream. This is the first time this has ever happened and I would never have imagined him getting up - it is a very unlikely thing. But it happened and if hadn't been there I can't imagine his distress.

InTheHeatofLisbon · 27/04/2019 07:35

On there everyone leaves their 8 month old baby in the car for 20 minutes out of sight.

I haven't seen the thread, but if I had my answer would be the same as on this one. It's just not worth the risk.
Leaving kids in the car is a whole extra risk, especially on hot days!

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 27/04/2019 07:35

Completely unacceptable. If one of the parents I work with told me they had done this I would have no choice but to report to Children's Services. It's neglect.

lulabaloo · 27/04/2019 07:36

Definitely not. What if you get run over or have a car crash and your little one is left in the cot.

TowerRingInferno · 27/04/2019 07:39

Is this a reverse thread? You did not have any children back in January but did have a 2yo niece (paying for a big family holiday thread)