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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who is right here?

68 replies

LoulaJ · 30/08/2021 11:42

Parent A left 4 month old baby unsupervised in a baby bath (pic attached) which was on bathroom floor whilst they nipped across the landing to grab baby's towel from baby's room.

Parent B is appalled and thinks this was a serious lapse in judgement as they don't take their eyes off baby for even a second in the bath. Parent B thinks Parent A should have instead called them to get the towel.

Parent A thinks Parent B is overreacting and overly anxious, and is sure that baby was fine for the 20 seconds or so they were out of their sight.

Who is right here?

Who is right here?
OP posts:
Sirzy · 30/08/2021 11:43

Parent B. You don’t leave a baby unsupervised in the bath for even a second.

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/08/2021 11:44

B. 4 months is tiny. It’s not hard to plan ahead and get the towel before you put the baby down.

teaforoneandacoffee · 30/08/2021 11:44

I think parent B is a being a bit over zealous.

I agree to not leaving a baby in a bath. But in a baby bucket, on the floor for 20 seconds is ok imo.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 30/08/2021 11:45

Parent B is right - never ever leave a baby in water even if it's only an inch of water

BananaOatmeal · 30/08/2021 11:45

Parent B is in the right. It only takes a second for them to slip and drown. It happened to me when I was a baby and my Father left me unattended for a minute, perhaps not even that long. Luckily my Mother came into the bathroom and found me, under the water and not moving.

Noshowwithoutpunch · 30/08/2021 11:46

Parent B.
Baby is 4 monthsShock

Haggisfish3 · 30/08/2021 11:46

Parent b if there was water in the bath.

Hellocatshome · 30/08/2021 11:47

Parent B is technically right but Parent A has probably done the same as a lot of parents have done before. I would just make sure that you have everything you need in the bathroom before you start bathing the baby so it isn't an issue in the future.

MrsRobbieHart · 30/08/2021 11:47

Parent B is right. Babies slip so quickly. A lungful of water means A&E. parent A really needs to educate themselves.

Original poster
LoulaJ · 30/08/2021 11:48

Yes there was water in the bath

OP posts:
MrsRobbieHart · 30/08/2021 11:49

20 seconds is actually a very long time to leave a baby in a bath. How far away was the towel?

negomi90 · 30/08/2021 11:49

Parent B. Baby is 4 months and can't sit up or put their head up. All it would take would be a bad wiggle from the baby and there would be no hope of self rescue.
Also there were a million alternatives - call for help, carry baby in that tub to where the towel was, carry dripping baby to the towel (a few drips on the floor won't do any harm).

Fncottonrrrrgh · 30/08/2021 11:49

I wouldn't make a habit of it. It was very risky. If the other half was around parent A should have called for assistance. What's done is done. Just make sure it doesn't happen again. The more "oh it was only a second" circumstances there are the more your parent A is tempting fate. Don't fall out about it, just agree now that these sorts of things won't happen again. Now is the time to discuss "what we will do if..." situations Xx

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 30/08/2021 11:50

Parent b, you never leave a baby unattended in the bath .

lifehappened · 30/08/2021 11:51

Unless you live in a mansion it wasn't 20seconds. My 4 bed house takes 3 seconds to sprint get a towel and come back. Just tested haha

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 30/08/2021 11:52

Say you sprint, fall over, hit your head, knock yourself out. What next?

Sounds dramatic yes, unlikely, yes but it does happen even if a small possibility

spooney21 · 30/08/2021 11:52

I think if there was another parent in the house in that situation then I would've called on them but I probably would've nipped out for a second otherwise.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 30/08/2021 11:52

Parent B is right. Never ever leave a baby unattended in any amount of water. They can drown in less than 2 inches. Literally 6cm of water.

You never take that chance.

MrsRobbieHart · 30/08/2021 11:53

Tell parent A to imagine their baby under water for 20 seconds and how their lungs would look after that. They wouldn’t be “fine”.

Fncottonrrrrgh · 30/08/2021 11:53

I even take my four month old to the loo with me when I'm on my own. I lay them in front of the door (open) on our travel playmat

PlanDeRaccordement · 30/08/2021 11:53

Parent B is correct.

Parent A is tempting fate and on a slippery slope where 20secs becomes longer trips like just going to grab a phone or answer the door....

Fncottonrrrrgh · 30/08/2021 11:55

Say you sprint, fall over, hit your head, knock yourself out. What next?

This

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 30/08/2021 11:55

I've never understood this 'popping off to get a towel' thing.

When mine were little and I bathed them, I had the towel right there. Do people actually take their infant for the bath and only when ready to get them out do they remember actually, I'm going to need a towel here.

Blitzes · 30/08/2021 11:55

Parent b!

There are lots of times parents can be over the top about leaving babies for a few seconds but in the bath isn’t one of them! Takes seconds for the worst to happen

Disfordarkchocolate · 30/08/2021 11:55

You never leave a baby unsupervised in or near water. Parent A needs to be more careful.

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