To leave the children at home while they’re napping?

[ParkLife123]

Please hear me out.

House has a driveway outside, and then the street. On the other side of the street is a playground which my DS aged 4 loves. We go out there to play as often as we can but usually all four of us (me, DS, his younger brother aged 2, and newest addition our 5 month old baby).

I’m considering, in order to be able to spend a little quality 1:1 time with DS, taking him occasionally across the street while the other two nap. House is alarmed. I have baby monitors looking into their cots - the two year old cannot get out of his cot yet and in any case there’s also a baby gate at the door.

But really any sign of movement or noise from either of them and I get an alert on my phone.

The time it takes to get back home from the playground realistically is around 1 minute.

Is this a terrible idea? I’ve thought about the risks of them choking or something but also think that I would be able to get back home in the same time as it would take me to get to them if I was for example in the shower!

Does it sound fine or is it a risk no one else would take?

@IncrediblySadToo
Kid left unattended, got reported, social services where all over the mum like a rash, she was only gone 20 mins apparently. Still doesn't look good no matter what age they are.

@Passthewipes no double buggy I’m afraid - haven’t felt the need for one as DS2 loves walking. But I do enjoy our days out at the playground so will stick to the family days out or when DH is at home. Never asked a neighbour to watch the kids before but I guess I could do that too as I know them all well enough.

I couldn’t / wouldn’t.

Our washing line is over a hedge and in a field. I put my washing out during the morning nap and pulled it in at the afternoon nap. She's survived to the ripe old age of 11!

that never gets old

I would, it’s the equivalent to me going into our field to feed & clean out our chickens. Or sort out the garden etc, I often do that when my DD naps.

If they are both asleep, you have an app then I’m sure it’s fine.

Absolutely nuts

never gets old indeed @ThatMuppetShow

That clip is MNers v the real world!

Logically and physically it’s ok, your a stones throw away, I can see why the idea may have entered your head as you will be so close by and they will be asleep and you have a alarm, so I can see why it was considered.

Realistically though, it’s a big no. Way to many what ifs...some serious ones too...I wouldn’t do it, what If you died crossing the road, who would know to go look for the babies? Plus a million over reasons already mentioned

Also, saying to a police officer
‘ I was at the bottom of the big garden cleaning the chickens when it happened’

Doesn’t sound nowhere near as bad as
‘ I went over to the local play park that’s across the road’

As you’ve left the property, even ifs further away it just sounds so much more awful!?

It’s basically this, except mine is a cul-de-sac. And we’ve fewer swings.

I'd do it. Not much difference to having a large garden. But then I leave my kids in the car while I pay at the petrol station which is another mumsnet crime apparently.

All those people who say they would report someone who did this, really? You would really waste overstretched social services time on an otherwise competent parent taking a child to a playground within spitting distance of a house where 2 other children are safely sleeping?? They would laugh at you. If I were you I might even consider letting the 4 year old go to the park on their own for a few minutes while I sat on the doorstep with a cuppa watching him. My 4 year old would love that.

I know op has said she will not do it but there are too many scenarios you don’t think of. I got locked out in my back garden once and I had chips in the oven on gas mark 8.

Thank you Supermum!

Not rtft but my washing line is more than a minute away from DC bedroom. Yes if it is close as you say I would.

Op have you got a pic of how close the playground is?

I wouldn't do it because it sounds worse, if anything were to happen, that you've gone to the park. Logistically depending on exactly how close the park is, it could be no different to being in the garden.

I'm of the mindset of a po, you'd do it, all would be fine, then the day something went wrong it would all go wrong, I.e the day your 4 year old falls and gets hurt would be the day your key snaps in the door and the day your toddler first climbs out of the cot.

Terrible idea and I can tell you social services wouldn’t care about your defence it’s a minute away. Neither would a fire.

Do fun stuff with your 4 year old, stickers, cutting and gluing, games. Not this.

Yes I absolutely would report someone who leaves their house/grounds and goes over the road leaving their babies unattended
Why would you not?

No social services wouldn't laugh about it @SuperMumTum- I can assure you

I’ve posted a photo of a very similar set up in my previous post.

That is because it doesnt'! it is 2-3 or 2-4 months not 4-5!

I stand corrected. Thank you Raspberry. Sorry for posting incorrect information. I misremembered but clearly I should have checked before mentioning it at all!

Sadly, I think social services have more pressing matters to deal with.

It’s no longer the threat of police or being reported that would stop me from taking DS on our own. It’s purely the thought that if my app or WiFi fails, I may not hear baby or toddler waking/crying. That’s it.

After looking at the photo you've put up...it really is close. I can totally see why you thought it...
Are you in a city, town or village? I'm thinking cul de sac is hardly "traffic".
Could you get a baby monitor with a bug range as a back up for WiFi? Would that make it different/safer?

(I've read the whole thread - I think op is the only one who would truly know.)

Bug range, tut. I mean big range 😆