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?

Guidelines change all the time, and vary from country to country.

None of the bonkers arguments on here have anything to do with NHS guidelines anyway.

Don’t be so bloody stupid.
If the other children are asleep anyway you have the 1:2:1 time you want. Do something else.
Ffs I can’t believe you think this is a consideration.

Yeah that's ridiculous.

The not going to the loo while they are asleep is ridiculous.

The not going to the loo while they are asleep is ridiculous

Totally agree...and surely would put many women on the path to PND.

Or a UTI at least!

I know I'm late to the thread here but OP I am amazed that you didn't realise you weren't supposed to leave a baby under 6 months sleeping by them self. I have a nearly 3 year old and I read this repeatedly while pregnant.

*Yesterday 22:35 WTFdidwedo

a crispysausagerolls very common around here for 6 year olds to play in a cul de sac park or on the street outside the house. I'm not sure why you're being so dramatic*

Honestly, when I read about children getting abducted and it’s like “little Jane, aged 5, was out playing on the street” I’m always like “who is letting their child do that?!?”

Now I know! I really didn’t know that’s something that people did at such a young age. the risks people are prepared to take are just mental. Yes you have to put your life on hold in many ways; that’s being a parent. Yes it’s inconvenient temporarily to have your napping baby with you for 6 months but in the scheme of your life it’s not huge, is it?

I also think OP should have started the thread with the photo (and in fact would be nice to see an actual photo and not an Internet one as I’m not convinced that this is the actual proximity but anyway) - it’s LESS unreasonable when you see the distance. Still not a good idea though for all the mentioned reasons. But not as bad as originally pictured.

@Biancadelrioisback
Two kids and have never heard that .. so you have to constantly be in the same room with them if they’re asleep?
Ridiculous

How is that ridiculous?

NOT sanctimonious OR overly anxious on that issue at all, simply following the guidelines correctly that many of us managed to do.

Dd and others never napped for more than about 20 mins anyway if you can't manage 20 mins staying in safe room I'd say it's not me with issues!

Gosh it's clear why childhood mental health issues are on the rise when children are being raised by mothers with such extreme anxiety...

Yes, that's clearly the problem

crispysausagerolls it's not because people on the street don't want to put their life on hold, it's because the children like socialising and playing outside together. We live in rural Wales and that's just how life is here.

Also, unfortunately children are far more likely to be abused by a family member than abducted by a random man in the street. I don't keep them away from all of their family because of that risk. It's all about personal risk assessing.

@FizzyIce grow up, why would it be ridiculous to follow guidelines to reduce SIDS.
It’s insanity to know you can do a simple thing to help reduce the risk of your baby dying, and think nah that’s ridiculous I will ignore the research and not bother.

I used to class 20 mins as a failed nap by my standards so no wonder you managed it.

I am amazed that you didn't realise you weren't supposed to leave a baby under 6 months sleeping by them self.

4 kids, never heard that either. I am guessing for a very good reason!

Wonder what Gransnet would make of all this?

Do you have a garden OP?
Do you think you could get a little slide or something and the 4 year old can go play in it? Or you can play in it together?

Ah well having only one child who naps for just 20 minutes is not the same as having multiple children who take long naps. Surely you can see your experience is not universal?

My children slept for hours at a time (2-3+) my post partum bladder would never have lasted that long! Nor would my active toddler have stayed put in one spot. It's very different when you have more than one.

I used to go into the paddocks when my DD was sleeping. I’d just take a baby monitor.
It’s the only way half of the stuff that needed doing could get done.
I must be very relaxed!

Since OP hasn't bothered to return, troll?

Op has posted numerous times, including today

Ignore me. I've just spotted she did return. I was distracted from my Mumsnet scrolling with Minecraft conversations.

@highheelsandbobblehats

Her last post was 4 hours ago....

And anyway, she asked a question, was told it was a bad idea and she accepted that answer. What more is there to say?

I guess it’s no different to being in your garden.