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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:
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8
Beveren · 17/10/2019 17:55

And what happens when no. 1 child has just fallen off the climbing frame and you can tell from the monitor that no. 2 child has got out of his cot and no. 3 child is screaming?

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:57

but if she collapsed in the park her children would be with her?
free to run away, free to run in front of a car, free to be snatched by some weirdo. Yes, sounds ideal.

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
same if the OP collapses in her bath or in her bed.

How likely is that.

OldEvilOwl · 17/10/2019 17:57

No way

snowballer · 17/10/2019 17:57

This is absolute madness. Would you happily tell other people you met in the playground that you'd left your 2 year old and 5 month old at home alone?? If the answer is no (and I bet it is) then you know you're being unreasonable.

PumpkinP · 17/10/2019 17:58

I would report someone if I knew they did this.

SoupDragon · 17/10/2019 17:58

No difference whatsoever between being in a park opposite, and in your garden.

Rubbish. Unless your garden is out the front, through a locked door and over the road of course. 🙄

SoupDragon · 17/10/2019 17:58

From gov.uk

To leave the children at home while they’re napping?
QueenAnneBoleyn · 17/10/2019 17:59

No, no, no.
If something happened you’d never forgive yourself.

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:59

I know a parent who leaves her baby at home when she does the school pick up, her house is literally opposite the school. No one is outraged.

RedskyLastNight · 17/10/2019 17:59

Why can't the younger children just nap in the pram?

My DD fell off a climbing frame when she was 3 and broke her leg (other playground accidents can happen). In your scenario I'd have to have left her alone in agony while I rushed home to get my other children (which I probably wouldn't have been able to do quickly) or left my other children crying while I carried her very slowly across the road so as not to hurt her. Neither appeals really.

ThatMuppetShow · 17/10/2019 17:59

thank you SoupDragon for educating Bluntness.

Tweetingmagpie · 17/10/2019 18:00

It’s a bad idea and totally unnecessary, there’s plenty of other ways you could get quality time with your eldest.

Sallyseagull · 17/10/2019 18:00

Absolutely not. If a fire broke out in the house you wouldnt know till it was too late.

MinTheMinx · 17/10/2019 18:00

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

As a precaution when you're in the house, surely? Not for watching remotely while you're at the park!

Also OP, what is this teaching your child about parental responsibility? It was definitely a thought that should've been instantly dismissed as a terrible idea.

vikkimoog · 17/10/2019 18:01

free to run away, free to run in front of a car, free to be snatched by some weirdo. Yes, sounds ideal
but chances are somebody else would be in the park as well and would make sure the children stayed where they were

stucknoue · 17/10/2019 18:01

Double buggy! Though my garden is longer than what you describe

chemicalelephant · 17/10/2019 18:02

It's too far with too many barriers between you and your children if something happened to them (road, locked door, small child who can't move as quickly as an adult in a panic).

I worry about leaving my 6 month old alone while I put the bins out Blush I have to check I definitely have my keys about 6 times!

byefeliciabye · 17/10/2019 18:02

If in doubt, go without. You're not sure, don't do it.

clarehhh · 17/10/2019 18:02

Madeline McCann was left like that would you be able to forgive yourself? What if you were taken I’ll and an ambulance came taking you and 4 year old.Would you want to risk children being put on at risk register or worse? 3 children are a joy use your garden, do puzzles , play dough etc

vikkimoog · 17/10/2019 18:03

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
same if the OP collapses in her bath or in her bed

That's true but if you unfortunately collapse at home you're not going to have a police / social services investigation as you would if it came to light that you'd left a very young baby and a toddler alone whilst you're at the park

Disfordarkchocolate · 17/10/2019 18:03

This would never even occur to me. The 2-year-old could get out of the cot tomorrow. There is no way it will actually take 1 minute to get your eldest out of the park and home.

Newtothis2017 · 17/10/2019 18:03

I agree with PumpkinP I would report you immediately. I really hope you are a troll

AnyFucker · 17/10/2019 18:04

Not a good idea

PumpkinP · 17/10/2019 18:04

I was reported to ss for leaving my 8 year old home alone once whilst I took her brothers to school. So it certainly isn’t acceptable leaving a 5 month old and 2 year old.

whydoesitalwaysrainonmee · 17/10/2019 18:06

@AliceAbsolum "sounds sensible to me"

Really!! 😵 leaving a newborn and 2 year old home alone sounds sensible to you...what planet are you one. If you did this and i knew you and found out, I would report you