To expect a 4 year old to be able to do this?

[CandyCaneDane]

I have had particularly food poisoning over the past couple of days, needless to say it's been pretty miserable. I'm at home with DD (4) and DH is working full time. My parents live at the opposite end of the country and MIL nearby.

MIL wasn't available to help and DH couldn't take time off work without it being hassle so I parked DD in front of the TV with snacks and checked on her (when I crawled out of bed from time to time) but essentially left her to her own devices for most of the day.

I just told a friend this and they were horrified and said I absolutely needed to arrange childcare. At what age would you think your child could kind of fend for themselves for the day if you were ill? WIBU to leave her on the sofa for most of the day?

A game? Really? Can you explain how to turn vomiting into a game?

A friend of mine, after chemotherapy, often vomited and didn’t want to miss out spending time with her child (her cancer was terminal) and they called it splurgy time and the child was fine about it all. Personally I would rather a child witnessed someone being sick when they weren’t making a fuss or turning it into anything frightening, than my child choked or got into a dangerous situation. You don’t need to constantly be in the same room as a four year old, they are relatively capable of entertaining themselves for a few hours, but I think you need to try to make an effort as otherwise an entire day of being shut away from anyone is probably something they won’t understand.

I am a single mum and would totally do that and I have done. Your friend is ridiculous.

Some of these answers are, shall we say, interesting. Goes to show every child is different and clearly your friend's chidlren would need more.

Knowing mummy is sick and asking 4 year old to enjoy some telly whilst mummy gets better and checking on them periodically is fine.
I would do this.

People are acting as though you led said 4 year old into a room withd rinks and snacks and left them there without saying a word. There is nothig to be confused about. Mummy is laying down resting as she doesn't feel well. Just like 4 year old will when they are unwell.

With no options I absolutely would have done this. Maybe dragged myself to the sofa tho... my two are very sensible generally so would have been fine

Short of attaching them to a chair, I don't think I could have even made my 4 year old stay in the same room as me all day!

I would be another who would have dragged herself to the sofa (and have had to do just that in the past). Checking once an hour for a whole day is just not taking into account the mischief an average four year old is capable of.