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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Leaving 4 year old alone

203 replies

LittleLego · 17/05/2021 15:31

Please help settle an argument.

DH has left DD (4 years old) alone momentarily twice in the last week.
The first time he ran to the corner shop at the end of the road, it's 60 yards away and he said he was three minutes at most. He locked DD in the house watching TV, it wasn't an essential purchase it if matters at all, I was back from work a couple of hours later and could have called en route.

Second time DD was in the bath and DH popped downstairs to check on dinner that was cooking, we live in a solid house where sound doesn't travel well, we can't hear her crying at night for example without the baby monitor on. He said he was only 10 seconds. I've left her to go to the adjoining room to grab a towel etc but talk to her throughout, he can't see how this is any different.

I'm really quite angry that he feels this is ok, he's begrudgingly said it won't happen again but only after arguing the toss that she's sensible and nothing happened. I'm concerned about his lack of judgement, I've talked about how it only takes a second to slip and bang her head blah blah but he's not seeing it the same way. Both of these incidents I only found out about after DD told me. I have a tendency towards anxiety and catastrophising things so want some outside opinions, AIBU or is he?

OP posts:
Waitinginthewings · 18/05/2021 12:54

I would never ever leave my 4 year old in the house alone for any amount of time.

I would leave my 4 year old in bath for 10 seconds- I can hear him. I would pop out to get PJ's etc. Never more than 10 seconds.

Thatisnotwhatisaid · 18/05/2021 13:23

YANBU. The bath would bother me most out of the two. I don’t think I dared leave mine alone until the youngest was 5 but she was in the bath with her 6 year old sister and I knew one would shout me if anything happened and I’d definitely hear! Leaving a child unattended in the bath under 5 is irresponsible and dangerous.

Unsure how I feel about the shop situation. If he genuinely was only 3 minutes from start to finish it isn’t a massive issue as a one off although I’m unsure why he didn’t just take her with him.

PainterInPeril · 23/05/2021 09:08

@LittleLego Throwing in my tuppence worth, for a start he's not being truthful about the times. It takes longer than 3 minutes to pop to the shop, select an item, possibly queue up at the till, then pay and run home. And it can take longer than 10 seconds to walk downstairs, check dinner, add water or seasoning to it or whatever, then get back upstairs again.
Don't understand why he couldn't take daughter to shop. What was he needing so urgently that he couldn't wait for you to shop for him?
He needs to stop sulking and understand that his feelings are not as important as your daughter's safety! Why is he such a manchild?

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