Meeting another person with small child in tow

[longdistanceclaraaa]

Likely a silly question, but if we can now meet one other person from another household, are very small children included in the definition? I have a two year old and six month old. Can I meet a parent of mine in a park with the children?

I'm pretty sure the answer is no, but I'd love it to be yes.

Thanks

Eh?? Why are you not equating risk and rules? You know the answer- why would you push this? Seriously struggling to understand

Can you not conduct your own risk assessment and make your own decision?

This.

You know the rules, half the answers possibly won't even have noticed you're in Scotland. Posters really should put their country in the OP now that everywhere has differing rules otherwise the answers are going to be even less useful than ever.

This has just been discussed on the coronavirus itv programme - the answer was no, it becomes a gathering so isn't allowed

@iano I had started to go to the gym a few weeks before lockdown. So I’d go for an hour on my own on the weekend. I couldn’t really do much else as DC won’t take a bottle, so no girls nights out unfortunately! I gave up trying to be honest, didn’t seem much point when there’s no chance of going out! I could go for a walk on my own at the weekend I guess but to be honest I think it’s more important at the moment that DH spends as much time as possible playing with our eldest at the weekend, without the restrictions that a small baby would bring if I left him to look after the two of them.

I know we are storing up trouble for the future. The baby really doesn’t like being apart from me, even if I just pop for a shower. I’m fine with it for the moment but I know the separation anxiety will be tough when I do finally get the opportunity to go out.

I’m on mat leave with a 10 month old and I’ve been meeting up with other mums and their babies. (One mum and baby at a time, obvs).

Can you not conduct your own risk assessment and make your own decision?

I think it's fine. Lots of toys or make-shift water play (tupperware filled with water) to keep the two-year-old from running off, shrieking, "I'm frrrreeeeee!"

Monkeynuts - And how many people are those new mums with a baby meeting up with beside you?? Parents, grandparents, siblings, naice NCT members? FFS!!

It’s such a load of nonsense. My dad lives alone and hasn’t seen a single person he knows since before lockdown started (he was self isolating for almost 2 weeks before). I met him, with my baby, last week. He stayed 2m away. What was I going to do, leave my child in the car? Then strap her in her buggy and shut myself in the car so he could see her? If we’d been stopped I’m sure we could have said we were a household anyway. The craziest thing is that technically I didn’t break any rules but he did.

Green leaves - it doesn’t matter, as long as it’s only one person at a time!

That sounds tough @Lenny
I'm also very concerned about how DS2 will manage when we are separated
I've been out without the baby and toddler. I defo recommend it! I feel a tad bad for saying it but at times it's been a relief

If you are sticking to the rules no. But I think few people would judge you if you had no childcare. Single parents in particular need adult contact more than most.

I met a friend today with our 6 year olds, tbh the kids kept better social distance than most adults I encounter.

Of course it matters - I could go and see 12 relatives or friends a day separately if I was to adhere to “the rules” but I’m not going to - the ambiguities are too vast to believe this is sensible

Me and dh +4 dc stopped and spoke 2m from 2 complete strangers. Why can't it be 2 people we know?
Surely op +2 dc and 1 person is no worse?

I've taken my 6yo to meet my mum for a walk.

I took my 2 year old on a walk with my dad and step mum. Shoot me now. We kept our distance but did my 2 year old? Not all the time. Did I break the rules? Yes. Do I feel the risk was hugely increased? No.

How would you explain to the 2 year old that they must stay 2m away from their grandparent? I think that would be the main complication. I dont know whether it's within rules or not, but I can't see any issue with having a newborn (who is therefore entirely within your control as to where they go) in tow.

Thanks all

Yes it's the 2 year old who'd be the trickiest for sure, although I'm sure in a contest between him and me it's him his grandparents would (separately!) choose to see!

Within the rules, you could individually go and see 12 people a day. But you can’t meet up with both your parents at once. And presumably, single parents cannot meet anyone at all. That’s why it’s all such nonsense.

I’ve taken DD (3) out to see my parents. She is very good at following instructions and fully understood not to go near them. She’s not massive on cuddles anyway so that didn’t phase her. She was happy just to see them and talk.

My mum will be looking after her when I have DD2 in a couple of months, so I feel it is really important that I keep up their relationship and familiarity. It’s not fair on DD to be away from me & DH for days and left with my parents if she hasn’t seen them for months.

My cleaner is allowed in my house, after visiting 3 other homes that day, so I am quite happy to see my (retired, never leave their garden) parents. DH is wfh and I am on paid leave as pregnant frontline NHS.

Well I have seen children with adults in the park recently meeting with their friends!Surely if 2 mums meet up then socially distance with each
child in their buggy what is the harm?

Always best to check on the relevant government's websites. There is lots of information on there about the exact requirements and why we must keep to them. I'd go straight there rather than asking on Mumsnet.

Pretty sure that's against the rules. Perhaps better to ask gp though just to check.

Some people are so crazy about THE RULES that they lose sight of common sense!! Of course you take take a baby with you to meet someone. The baby can't exactly run away or go and meet anyone itself. Babes in arms certainly do not count towards the two person rule.
Toddlers maybe trickier as they can't keep their distance but I'd still do it personally.
If a child is able to understand social distancing they count as one person imo. Otherwise, they stay with their parent and count as one person together.

Well the rules are technically no.