To leave 3yo in park whilst going to the loo?

[DoormatBob]

Not sure if this is an AIBU or more WWYD but was at a rural touristy attraction. When we arrived both DD (3, nearly 4) and me needed the loo. DD went then refused to wait for me and ran out to the play area (toilets were within the play area but not staffed/ticketed).

I told her to wait but she said no and was off, told me she was going on the slides as she legged it away! We've been there before so she knows where she's going.

I had to go to the loo and therefore she played in the park for 2 minutes unsupervised.

AIBU
YES - i should have got her back and made her stay with me.
NO - she is OK for 2 mins, she knows where I am.

What would others do? She is very independent and confident but it's just the safety aspect.

[PumpkinKlNG]

I wouldn’t have done it.

[cunningartificer]

She’s three. It only takes a moment for a child to be snatched or to fall off a high slide or run off where you can’t find her. You shouldn’t leave her alone. She needs to learn she can’t run off when you tell her to stay with you. Take her into the loo with you.

[Howsyourfather]

I consider myself pretty relaxed but I wouldn’t have done that

[GertrudeCB]

Good god, no.

[WorraLiberty]

She would've been straight back out the park gates before her bum touched the slide if she did that to me.

'Independence' and 'confidence' don't come into it. She's 3 years old for goodness sake.

[KihoBebiluPute]

For a 3 yo they should be bolted into the same cubicle as you in the loo. I know this means you don't get privacy for using the loo but that's the price you pay for your child being safe.

[0palescent]

I'd have gone to get her back before using the loo. And there would've been a stern talking to about ignoring me and running off.

[Fernando072020]

I lose my DS in my flat if I take my eyes off him for 5 seconds!
Yabu. It takes one second for something to happen or someone to with bad intentions to come along

[SylvanasWindrunner]

I'm generally quite relaxed but no I think that's too little to be left unsupervised in a public place.

[Solasum]

Too little. 6 or 7 fine. 3 not.

[DeepaBeesKit]

It's very difficult. I don't think I would have done it, but then I dont have any difficult holding etc.

I would have stopped, gone over and got her and taken her inside the cubicle with me to stop her running away. But then when using toilets with my children (similar age I always taken them into the cubicle with me so there's no possibility of them running off without me.

[ANameChangeAgain]

You know it wasn't great but nothing went wrong. Just have a plan or better control in place so it doesn't happen again. Having two children in a toilet cubicle with you isn't fun, especially when you are sitting there and one of them is opening and closing the door!

[WorraLiberty]

By straight back out the park gates, I mean I would've taken her straight home for her disobedience.

[Mammaaof]

Omg anyone could have taken her!!

[Detest]

She's 3? I wouldn't even leave her outside the cubicle, never mind let her run off. And I'm a very relaxed parent.

[Pinkplums]

No way, I can’t take my eyes off my 3 year old in a park. Once when I had toddler and baby with me I was sorting the baby and in a split second toddler managed to get under a fence and was in the car park. I looked up and just caught sight of his foot disappearing, if I hadn’t have looked every few seconds and missed that he would have been gone and I wouldn’t have had a clue which direction to look for him.

[Cherryana]

3 is too young.
I think 6 is too young.
I think 7 with an older brother or sister
A sensible 8 would be fine I think.

[hopeishere]

Agree they are locked in the cubicle with you. I have a child with SN and this is what we do.

[Floralnomad]

It takes seconds for someone to walk off with a child , is it likely to happen - no , would I risk it - hell no .

[Bitcherama]

No fucking way.

[CaddieDawg]

Personally, no. I wouldn't have left them alone in public like that. I'd have either asked another mum to keep an eye for a min or dragged her back in with me. Was it busy? Roads or ponds nearby?

[NannyR]

I'm very much into giving kids space and independence in playgrounds, but I think 3/4 is too young to not have anyone watching her. If it was only two minutes you should have made her wait.

[myheartskippedabeat]

@KihoBebiluPute

For a 3 yo they should be bolted into the same cubicle as you in the loo. I know this means you don't get privacy for using the loo but that's the price you pay for your child being safe.

Don't people always take small children into cubicles with them in public places? Me and my friends certainly do

[MonkeyPuddle]

Not a fucking chance would I have let that happen. Not at all.

[Hercisback]

My 4yo would have been taken straight home for that.