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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

453 replies

ParkLife123 · 17/10/2019 16:43

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
HairyToity · 17/10/2019 17:43

Sounds fine to me. I'm quite a laid back parent though.

Derbee · 17/10/2019 17:43

I’m gobsmacked that anyone would even ask if this is ok Confused it’s such a ridiculously bad idea for so many reasons. I’d seriously question your judgement in other things, based on this.

CAG12 · 17/10/2019 17:43

This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen

Beautiful3 · 17/10/2019 17:45

No its not the same as being in the garden at all. If something happened to you at the park and an ambulance called, noone would know you had a 2 year old at home alone. Take them both with you.

SugarHockeyIcedTea · 17/10/2019 17:45

Are you out of your bloody gourd?!

Also this isn't laid back parenting, this is negligent which is a completely different thing.

SoupDragon · 17/10/2019 17:46

that's the point of baby monitor, so you can see what's going on!

And you won't see anything until it's too late unless you are watching it all the time. And not watching the 4 year old at all.

It is a spectacularly dumb idea IMO.

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:46

In the unlikely event that an ambulance needs to be called, wouldn't the children be safer in their own bed than unattended in the park because their mum collapsed or was run over?
If you really must over-react, at least be logical....

Nomorepies · 17/10/2019 17:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

Birdgirl67 · 17/10/2019 17:47

What if there was a fire ? Is your 1 minute back quick enough to get to the kids and get them out ....

NerrSnerr · 17/10/2019 17:47

that's the point of baby monitor, so you can see what's going on!

If you're watching a 4 year old in the park you're not going to be watching two children on monitors all the time as well.

Bluntness100 · 17/10/2019 17:47

Of course it's not the same as being in your garden, they won't absolutely remove your kids from you due to neglect for one if something happens to your children when you're over at the park.

The law states you can't leave a child at this age. End of. And yes that means going to the park across the road. It doesn't mean standing in your garden with s child monitor unless you've got acres of garden.

FoggyHazeyMaybe · 17/10/2019 17:47

Im on the fence with this one, i cant quite decide,

I can see the temptation & is it that different from when i leave DS napping in the front room and play with DD in the garden? My garden is a good 50ft maybe longer

nottodaysatanlucifer · 17/10/2019 17:48

the two year old cannot get out of his cot yet

You'd be surprised.

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:49

And you won't see anything until it's too late unless you are watching it all the time.

too late for what? What's so dangerous in a toddler's bedroom that he would be in so much danger in it?
Don't you sleep at night, or take a shower, or go in the garden whilst your toddler is asleep?

Usual nonsense coming in force tonight.

Namechangeymcnamechange11 · 17/10/2019 17:49

Not even slightly okay.

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:49

The law states you can't leave a child at this age.

What law? Please clarify if you find one....

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:50

and popping outside is not "leaving the children" anyway - the OP is not planning on going clubbing...

SoupDragon · 17/10/2019 17:50

MN is funny, on one side posters are happy to leave a baby sleeping in the garden, but it's deemed unsafe in their own cot safely in their bedroom

They aren't leaving the house whilst the baby is in the garden though. It is not the same at all.

FairyJuice · 17/10/2019 17:50

Our park is nearer than yours (about a 30 second walk) and it's never even crossed my mind to do what you are suggesting. Nope nope nope.

SoupDragon · 17/10/2019 17:52

The law states you can't leave a child at this age.

What law? Please clarify if you find one....

There is no actual age at which is it unlawful but you can be persecuted for leaving the child "at risk" should anything happen. No one (NSPCC etc) recommends leaving children home alone at the ages of the OP's younger children

Bluntness100 · 17/10/2019 17:52

The law states you can't leave a child at this age

Why don't you google? Seriously if you have a secretary in real,life I can assure you, I ain't it.

Beveren · 17/10/2019 17:53

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

Not by the time you've persuaded no. 1 child to come off whatever he is playing on or physically pulled him away, then had to drag him complaining back across the road.

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:53

They aren't leaving the house whilst the baby is in the garden though. It is not the same at all.

Of course it's not, the baby is not safe in the garden, whilst he's safe in his own cot.

No difference whatsoever between being in a park opposite, and in your garden. You could even argue that if you collapse in a park, there's more chance of being found quicker than if you collapse in your garden... you know, if you really want to go there.

It all depends on where the park is!
How many estates have a playground literally in front of the houses - really no difference with own garden, the fact that a small road is in between makes no difference.

If it's a park a few minutes away, yes yabu.

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:54

Bluntness100
I am not wasting my time googling something that doesn't exist.

vikkimoog · 17/10/2019 17:54

In the unlikely event that an ambulance needs to be called, wouldn't the children be safer in their own bed than unattended in the park because their mum collapsed or was run over?
If you really must over-react, at least be logical
but if she collapsed in the park her children would be with her?
If the children are at home then the services would have no idea there was a 5 month old and 2 year old at home alone. They could be there for hours

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