DS coming downstairs on his own?

[chihuahualady]

Not really an aibu but interested in what other parents think.

DS 3 has been coming downstairs on his for the past two weeks and putting the tele on usually helps him self to a piece of fruit as well.He comes down about 6:30 me and OH and DD usually wake up around 8-:8:30.

I'm fine with it but just wondering what other parents do, would you wake up with him and go down? I'm just no good when I'm tired so that extra 2 hours is needed.

No too young my 5 year old has learnt to turn his telly on I'm his bedroom so he just watches that. I'd still feel uneasy at 5 so definitely not 3

If you are too tired to get up to look after your young child in the morning you need go to bed earlier.

Louiselouise0890

You put a TV in a five year olds bedroom?

Why?!

Main thought is what if he choked? What if he spontaneously decided to mess with something dangerous? You might think they wouldn’t but how can you be certain?
Probably sounds harsh but I’ve accepted getting up early is part of parenting and I feel tired!

I agree with this

@Doilooklikeatourist

Goodness. My DS , at that age ( and younger ) used to go downstairs, I did go with him , put CBBC on , give him some squash and a couple of custard creams , then go back upstairs We all survived

If yo u were leaving a child of 3 and under unsupervised for several hours, then that's more by luck than judgement. More than one person making bad decisions and getting away with it doesn't make it a good decision.

@chihuahualady I've just reread the op and had assumed yo u were single as you were saying you were up with the baby l night and then couldn't get up with DS too but realise I'm wrong. Why can't you oh get up with him?

Whoah did not expect all this! I'm definitely not lazy as I said I'm having a tough time at the moment and I'm struggling to fall asleep.

Just no. You’ve been lucky to date nothing has happened. Don’t take unnecessary risks.

Some of the answers are hysterical - 8 and 10yo can do it. The 10yo will probably be eating sweets while waking to and from school once they start secondary in autumn 2021

I'm a slack parent but would get up and doze on the sofa while he watched tv. If you take turns with your h then you can both have one lie in and one early shift. I had a bell on the stair gate as my son tries to creep down undetected

I must be the only poster who isn't worried about choking. None of my ds's have ever choked and I know no one that has.

Ds's were always welcomed to come downstairs before us if they wanted to.

And they always played happily unsupervised.

I just can't remember how old they were. Or how long for.
Maybe they were older. I can't recall.

But some of the comparisons are wierd. The 'would you like it if they were left at nursery unsupervised? Is wierd. Because no they would never be left unsupervised at any nursery? Would they?

"Anything can happen to a small child in a few seconds, never mind a few minutes "

FFS what a load of rubbish.
That would mean you never left any child unsupervised. Ever. Never went to have a shower. Or a piss. In peace. FFS.

I can't believe I'm reading this shite on MN.

Both of my young ds's played happily in the lounge whilst I prepared dinner. All the time. Years and years ago. When they were toddlers, young children. They are now old teens.

I must be the only one on MN. Who never spent every waking second with their children.
FFS

@Oblomov20

"Anything can happen to a small child in a few seconds, never mind a few minutes "

FFS what a load of rubbish.
That would mean you never left any child unsupervised. Ever. Never went to have a shower. Or a piss. In peace. FFS.

I can't believe I'm reading this shite on MN.

Well I certainly wouldn't go for a shower and leave a 3 year old down stairs feeding thselves

@chihuahualady

Whoah did not expect all this! I'm definitely not lazy as I said I'm having a tough time at the moment and I'm struggling to fall asleep.

Read my post if you can. In the same circumstances I put a tv/dvd in DS's room. Stick it on a timer plug and leave a drink in his room when you go to bed. It'll keep him in the safety of his own room.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

Louiselouise0890

You put a TV in a five year olds bedroom?

Why?!

none of your business

He’s by himself for 2.5 hours??? You say you can see him on your cam setup, so you’re not asleep anyway, why not just get up instead of leaving him alone for so long? And he’s going to the fridge and feeding himself etc? There’s a big difference between a child learning independence and having to be independent at such a young age because they have no other option. It’s actually quite sad.

Without sounding harsh, it makes me wonder what else is lax. It’s universal that parents don’t get enough sleep; maybe if you’d said you leave him alone for 30 mins max then people wouldn’t be having such strong reactions to OP being so blasé about thinking over 2 hours is acceptable behaviour.

Have you ever seen anyone choking @Oblomov20. It's bloody awful- really scary for the observer (let alone the person who can't breathe).

I will leave my 3 year old to go for a wee, to cook a meal etc (where I can hear him in the next room). I wouldn't leave him for 2-3 hours when I was asleep though, that's bonkers.

its not a few minutes or even half an hour tho is it ?
its a couple of hours ish alone, would you shut them in the garden alone for 2 hours?

In your situation I would go downstairs with him and kip on the sofa. I have a DD 3y 7m and no way would I leave her downstairs for that long by herself. The only time she is left for any length of time is when I'm getting the baby down for a nap and I don't let her eat (maybe a dry biscuit or something) while I do so.

Chocking is silent so saying a loud noise would alert you doesn't work in that instance.

There are 2 adults in your house and neither of you can be bothered to get up with him? Lazy. Take it in turns if you have to. Have an afternoon nap. Don’t leave a 3 year old for that length of time.

To clarify, I wouldn't do this with my 10 year old because I just dont think it's very nice for her to be on her own for 2 hours while I'm asleep. She is perfectly capable of making her own breakfast, and does every morning, but I just dont like the idea of her being alone for that long. Maybe half an hour, or an hour tops, but not 2 hours.

Wow! Hard not to judge but seriously ....

Wow that’s actually quite sad. Also about choking- choking is silent, you cannot make a noise when you’re choking.

2 adults in your house and no me can be bothered to get up with your child!!

I’m very sorry your so tired, tough! That’s called being a parent- put your big girl pants on and get on with it. We’ve all had to.

Sorry but your pathetic excuses are fucking disgusting. I’m appalled.

My 2 year old is currently waking at 5am- oh how I’d love to lie in till 8- shall I just leave her to it then?!

Absolutely pathetic @chihuahualady