Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Let a two and a half year old wander off in a shopping centre ??

103 replies

goforawander · 10/07/2022 08:14

I saw my aunt and uncle the other day who said if there was one thing they learnt from having children, is to let them roam freer. They said I needed to let my two and a half year old walk off alone at the shopping centre...

Apparently she would find her way back to us. We were sitting in a coffee shop and she kept wanting to walk off. They said I should let her and she'd definitely come back.

I know they wouldn't have meant it in a horrible way at all, but I literally cannot take my eyes off her in public and the thought of letting her out of my sight terrifies me.

Aibu to think this is absolutely insane to let a two and a half year old walk around alone ?

OP posts:
MarthanotMarfa · 10/07/2022 08:16

They are, as you rightly say. insane. No words or response are needed to such ridiculous “advice”.

DaisyLouB · 10/07/2022 08:19

No way, too many weirdos about. I wouldn’t even let my 9 year old roam free alone in a shopping centre. The Jamie Bulger case still haunts me all these years later.

DreamingofItaly2023 · 10/07/2022 08:20

Absolutely not! I am all for children roaming as much as is safely possible but a shopping centre is not the right place. At 2.5 I would only allow it somewhere like a soft play where I was next to the exit.

lanbro · 10/07/2022 08:21

Absolutely no way, they are crackers!

TheKeatingFive · 10/07/2022 08:22

I'm a fairly chilled parent, but that's batshit

abyssofwoah · 10/07/2022 08:22

Yes, that’s ridiculous!

Dajeeling · 10/07/2022 08:22

Erm no. James Bulger was snatched when his mum was distracted (as we all have been) not just allowed to roam. That was all it took in that case- his poor mum. I cannot imagine ever consciously doing this.

SheWoreYellow · 10/07/2022 08:23

So now you know you can never leave your child with them.

That’s far, far too early.

PonyPatter44 · 10/07/2022 08:23

I'd just laugh at them because they are completely stupid. Don't ever let a toddler wander off!

I lost my DD in a big shopping centre at much the same age, and it is TERRIFYING.

Dajeeling · 10/07/2022 08:23

The ‘erm no’ response was to the horrendous ‘advice’ you have been given OP.

Sloebluewalls · 10/07/2022 08:24

In the average childrens play park with fences yes, they are contained and in view. In a maze of shops, with lots of strangers/dangers and easy access to roads, no.

isthismylifenow · 10/07/2022 08:24

🤔

Dajeeling · 10/07/2022 08:24

And to be honest if I saw a 2.5 year old on their own in a shopping centre, I’d be loudly and publicly walking them to customer services anyway.

daisychainsandrainbows · 10/07/2022 08:26

Roam freely?! Thats insane, 2.5year olds are not cats.

Sloebluewalls · 10/07/2022 08:26

It’s clearly been a long time since they had children.

ThinWomansBrain · 10/07/2022 08:26

sounds like a bizarre way of saying "we do not want to babysit or provide childcare, ever, Don't bother asking."

erinaceus · 10/07/2022 08:27

That’s bonkers! As others have said, in an enclosed playspace letting them explore a little independently makes sense, but in a shopping centre is barmy.

Namechangeforthis88 · 10/07/2022 08:28

They don't find their way back! I remember friends saying the same to me at a picnic in a park. As DS charged off over the horizon. After repeated escape attempts they had acknowledge they were wrong. Easy to keep him in view and retrieve him in a pay, not so in a shopping centre. He has given me the slip in shops as well. He's like Bruce Willis in Die Hard, give him 5 minutes he'll be into the cooling ducts and that'll be that.

Maybebabyno2 · 10/07/2022 08:29

I would let mine roam the distance the reins let them. 1m maybe?

Echobelly · 10/07/2022 08:32

I'm a pretty 'free range' parent but wouldn't let one so small that someone could just take their hand and walk off with them (rare as that is) just wander about like that.

SolasAnla · 10/07/2022 08:34

Namechangeforthis88 · 10/07/2022 08:28

They don't find their way back! I remember friends saying the same to me at a picnic in a park. As DS charged off over the horizon. After repeated escape attempts they had acknowledge they were wrong. Easy to keep him in view and retrieve him in a pay, not so in a shopping centre. He has given me the slip in shops as well. He's like Bruce Willis in Die Hard, give him 5 minutes he'll be into the cooling ducts and that'll be that.

🤣

Soggycrisps · 10/07/2022 08:34

Don't ever leave your kids with them or let your kids wander in a shopping centre. In a field or park I think it's fine to let them wander a bit but only far enough for you to be able to run quickly over to them when needed.

Mummyoflittledragon · 10/07/2022 08:34

SheWoreYellow · 10/07/2022 08:23

So now you know you can never leave your child with them.

That’s far, far too early.

This. I’d say around 7 is old enough to wander but only where you can see your dc. So for example they go in a smallish shop like Smiggle etc while you’re outside. A toddler or preschooler most definitely does not find their way back.

chilledbubble · 10/07/2022 08:35

Absolutely not.

KangarooKenny · 10/07/2022 08:37

A toddler being allowed to wander off in a shopping centre ? Have they heard of James Bulger ? Absolutely do not let them wander.