Child playing alone in garden

[Bitchfeatures]

AIBU, 2.5yr old playing in the garden alone. I think he's too young, DP says he will be ok and I'm been overprotective.
The garden has a 6ft fence and a locked gate, can see less than half of the garden via kitchen window, can't see at all via living room window, the back doors open so can hear but not necessarily see.
DS wants to be in the garden allll day, I sit out/play with him but it's a pain not been able to get housework etc done on the days we are home.
Who's BU?

As song as there are no poisonous plants or ones with thorns out there, and no small stones/gravel to be swallowed or a trellis up the fence that could be climbed then it should be fine. Will sleep a lot better from being in the fresh air all day too.

I don’t think it would be a problem in a safe garden with no hazards if you can pop your head round and check on him every now and then. I would but my garden has big steps down to the grass and I’d worry my son will trip on them

Used to let mine play out at this age. It sounds like the garden is secure.
How do you know the child isn't supervised. I used to watch through kitchen window.

@Drabarni because the child she’s talking about is hers?

My solution is to cordon off an area that's as hazard free as possible.

I use the plastic baby gate room dividers and make a big area and just put some garden toys inside. My daughter is a bit younger so I still supervise her more but it lets me pop in and out without dragging her inside with me every time.

Can you do something similar, cordon off a safe area that he can't escape from and get into mischief?

My dd has played in garden since 2.5 on own. Im in kitchen doing jobs, shes in courtyard garden which is fenced no pond and can see all of garden from window. Depends on garden and child. My dsis had hers out too from that age.

How do you know the child isn't supervised.

Because the OP has described her garden and says she 'can see less than half of the garden via kitchen window, can't see at all via living room window'.

I didn’t leave mine alone until they were out of the everything-in-the-mouth stage. (Poisoning/ choking hazards)

cordon off a safe area that he can't escape from and get into mischief?

It's a good idea in theory; the hitch is that small children can be quite ingenious and determined climbers.

Two and a half is too young to be left alone in a garden, IMHO.

I also wonder, do you know what the plants are in your garden, are any poisonous? Or could any be hazardous to kids?

blog.fantasticgardeners.co.uk/17-toxic-plants-in-your-garden/

and

www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?pid=524

So I'd not leave a very young child alone out of doors.

Having said this I ate rose petals at age 11 (a lot older than 2.5!), but they are not poisonous (apart from Desert rose (Adenium).

Anyway, I'd be worried about insects and plants etc.

Plus chocking on stones, eating mud etc, and too much sun (adequate sun block etc).

I wouldn’t let my 2.5yo play in the garden alone, ours is really uneven, has pebbles and he never shuts the trampoline on himself though.

Play with him! Housework can wait ☺️.

Definitely have some in door time too, not realistic to be outside all day.

Plus chocking on stones, eating mud etc, and too much sun (adequate sun block etc)

I don't think the OP is planning on leaving her kid outside on the blazing sun for hours on end without proper sun protection

I am surprised people are so concerned about this. At that age, and for much longer actually, I did prefer the kids to be within ear shot - I wanted to be able to hear if they yelled or cried or whatever - and I'd certainly have checked on them regularly. But I wouldn't have thought anything of letting them play outside while I was doing a few chores in the kitchen or the bedrooms. I wouldn't have hoovered or gone to sit and watch the telly on the other side of the house, but letting them out of my sight for a few minutes at a time and just glancing out wndow now and again wouldn't have crossed my mind as an issue.

Also this

‘DS wants to be in the garden allll day, I sit out/play with him but it's a pain not been able to get housework etc done on the days we are home.’

It doesn’t matter what your DS wants, you’re the parent and have jobs to do, he can’t have what he wants all the time and needs to learn that sometimes you have to be inside.

Make sure none of the plants/berries in your borders could be poisonous. I would let them out for 1 hour in morning and another in afternoon if not raining or wet and go out with him.

If the garden is safe I think it's OK but I'd have doors and windows open so I can hear and would pop my head out very regularly.

Mine weren't still stuffing random shit in their mouth at 2.5 so I wouldn't have worried too much about that.

Sounds a safe garden, if you’re within earshot I think that’s fine. All the PP say oh he’s unsupervised, do you stay in the same room 24/7 with your child? The garden is an extension of your home.
Mind you half of MN never let their kids out even at 10 because of imagined dangers or because it’s only feral kids who play out.

One of mine would have pottered about fine.

One would have eaten the contents of the garden from grass to trees and everything else in between.

I have others in between but you get the picture.

I have a 1.5 yr old and a 3 yr old and they play outside alone while I wander in and out, do jobs etc. I periodically check on them and can hear them. I know the garden is safe and I know their temperaments (eg. I keep an eye on the trampoline because they’re prone to climbing/pushing etc) but if they both happily playing then I crack on.

I don't but that's only because my garden cannot be properly secured. I have a drive way and garden starts After that - small gate at side. Someone could easily wander down there. Which is a shame. But I sit out there with them.

Set up video babycam in upstairs window so you can see him while doing housework

Depends on the garden and the child. Use your instinct. I don't think it's an obviously bad idea, unlike some others on here!

DD is nearly three, I leave her in garden for ten mins or so at a time. No poison plants, not escapable.

I can tell when she starts to play whether she's just going to do pretend play or be a monkey and start climbing, picking things etc.

Tbh if they're determined to eat stones they'll do it even if you're there. They learn pretty quick what's gross in the mouth. Even when plants are toxic it's rare for it to be harmful when it's just one leaf. They have to learn to be responsible for themselves at some point.

Would you leave your child in a bath, the answer is no.
At under 3 too young to be alone.
Better safe than sorry