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, it is entirely unacceptable to allow a 3yo to be downstairs on their own, for over 2 hours, doing god knows what and eating unsupervised. I really worry about your DS.
You need to get up with DS. You need to go to bed earlier - 2am is ridiculous when you've got yound DC to look after. Get up earlier, you'll be tired earlier in the evening.
Also, you say DS has a tablet - could you get him to come into bed with you with his tablet and some headphones? Then he can watch whatever he's watching, but he'll be with you. No eating though, if you're not awake and supervising properly.
Please OP - blood issues or not, as a parent with responsibilities you need to adjust your sleeping pattern and also really consider the many dangers that can befall unsupervised young children.

Too young. He could clamber up on top of something and fall. Or accidentally pull something down on top of him. Or choke, or electrocute himself in some way. Small children can do all sorts of things that can be dangerous. He is still a baby even if he seems self sufficient. Give him a tablet to use in his bed.

Following on from the fake thread alert, is the mention of sickle cell and attempt to troll ?

If you think your DS is self-sufficient watch this video of a little girl cooking (and lighting a fire) for her brothers. I do wonder sometimes if we mollycoddle our kids too much.

A 3 year old child shoud NOT be left unsupervised for ANY amount of time!!!!

OP sickle cell is an awful condition and apparently totally overlooked by many posters on here.

I’m not going to add to the pile on, I think it’s been made pretty clear he’s a little young. Maybe leave his tablet in his room when you go to bed with a juice. I think DD was doing this from 5 for sure, but we’re in a flat so it’s essentially the next room.

My friend once received a phone call at 4am on her mobile from ‘home’. Her 4 year old was in the habit of waking up at the crack of dawn and having a house wander, he called her up to wake her

I don’t allow my 6 and 8 year old downstairs alone let alone to eat.

Because you are his parent and he is a child. You are letting him rule over you! Set some boundaries and rules, and follow through.

I'm sure others have said this and I haven't rtft .... choking is SILENT. 100% at 3yo they should not be left alone.

Jesus - I don’t even let my 3 year old walk down the stairs alone, let alone spend hours alone unsupervised!

Way too young to be unsupervised for so long. At that age DS decided to iron...the carpet. Then there was the time he rang an ambulance...hate to say it but you need to get up.

3 is far far too young. My eldest probably didn’t come downstairs on her own in the morning until about 7 - but she loved company so wouldnt have wanted to. Now 9, and I let my 5 year old come down with her because she is super sensible and will supervise him.
There’s absolutely no way 3 is old enough - what you are doing is dangerous

@chihuahualady I hope you are doing ok 💐💐

Sounds like you've got in a little rut in lockdown and very tired, sounds tough.

It's hard when you have such an independent child, my DS is nearing 3 and is very capable and likes to do everything for himself or at least have a good go trying.

He gets his own drink and breakfast out of a morning, I think the one thing is the length of time they are left. My DS isn't supervised with every mouthful he takes but I would Get a blanket and have a doze on the sofa with them.

Enjoy the snuggles, it won't be that long away and he may think he's too old for them, take them now 💐💐💐

I knew a child who was having surgery for life changing burns. As a toddler he got up early one morning (lived in a bungalow) and climbed up on the stove and turned it on. Had never attempted this before. Children are innately unpredictable and need to be supervised. Mother was devastated and had to live with the judgement of others, and support her disfigured child through regular skin grafts as he grew, and the wearing of a compression suit. Just so many potential dangers

@Merryweather80
I don’t allow my 6 and 8 year old downstairs alone let alone to eat.

You're kidding!! (Aren't you?)

I have four children and honestly mine were not allowed downstairs on their own until they were at least 8, even then they would have come in our bedroom to ask us first plus wouldn't be asleep I'd just be having a cupof tea in bed while they were watching their Saturday morning crap. If anything was to happen you'd never forgive yourself.

I think op has had a bit of a pile on, but I can remember Ds1 doing the same at a similar age. He’s now 18, still has an independent nature (but wouldn’t be seen dead out of bed at that time in the morning!) the worst thing he did was get his hands on a packet of chocolate biscuits.
I honestly find it odder that people wouldn’t allow their school age children out of bed without them. (I mean each to their own, it just seems strange.)

My quite small children used to go downstairs early at weekends and watch tv. Probably got a drink, food. They are alive! And thriving adults. Yes, someone can choke. I could when no one is around. Which is most times.

Yabu. You need to look after your child and not laze around in bed.

I would go and sleep on the sofa next to him. Or put a tv in your bedroom.

I've posted above about mine not coming down alone until they were about eight and just wanted to explain and say that my fathers left side of his body was completely scarred with burns that travelled down from his jaw bone, chest and right arm due to him.and his twin coming downstairs on their own and starting a fire. So maybe I am over the top and a tad paranoid too lol.

Sorry if it’s been mentioned already (haven’t had time to RTWFT) but on the occasions when my 4 or 6yr olds get up super early, they get asked if their Gro Clocks have turned orange yet. If they’re still blue (I.e. on sleep time, they’re set to ‘wake up’ at 7.30am) and the child isn’t distressed or unwell, they get sent back up to their rooms to play. Don’t get me wrong, they needed to hear it a few times to accept it and just go back up, no questions. But now they’re good, I know they’re safe and get a little extra sleep myself. Or, if that’s really not an option, I’ll go downstairs with them and occasionally snooze whilst they watch TV/have toast. I hope you figure out something that works for both of you.

Ours are 6 and 3. They go down. Switch on their current fave programme. And there they remain.

Our 3 year old DS always comes for snuggles but then smiling he says he’s going to watch “little bit Paw Patrol” “big bit playing” = watching telly. He quite happily heads downstairs and knows how to use the remotes. I trust him not to be getting up to mischief. He will sometimes drag a chair to climb up to reach a piece of fruit. He has also been known to open the fridge, open the apple juice and pour himself a drink. Usually he is on his own for no more than 30mns/an hour. Each child is different and you have to use your own instinct. eg I know that our DS would not go searching for keys to get out! It is interesting reading about what others do/think. I take on board what a lot of you have said about the risk of choking if they are left to their own devices...