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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To leave 2 under 2 in the house while I walk to get dc no 3 from childminder 5 doors down the road

493 replies

threeisacharm18 · 14/11/2022 16:21

Quick pulse - as the title says I have 2 under 2 at home with me now. Dc No 1 is school age and gets picked up by the childminder who lives 5 doors from us.

Should I pack up the 2 babies in a pushchair to walk 2 mins up the road to get dc 1 or risk it and leave them in the bouncer while I run up the road to get dc no 3?

OP posts:
Spanglepixie · 14/11/2022 16:39

My mother used to leave my brother to collect me from play school, a similar distance away. Nothing went wrong and it wasn't unusual. Same as prams with babies outside shops. Sadly, even without debating the rights and wrongs, if you leave them and there is an accident, even if it's an unforeseen and unpreventable health issue, you will blame yourself and you'll be torn apart by the public. Times have changed.

gogohmm · 14/11/2022 16:40

5 (normal width houses) doors down, I would leave the babies, but I would not go into the cm's house under any circumstances so have line of sight to your front door, it's no different from being in the garden

Harrysnippleno3 · 14/11/2022 16:40

Dc1 is at the childminders.
OP is home 5 doors away with dc2 and dc3.

The thread title and OP refer to DC3 at the childminders?

The OP also refers to DC1 at the childminders.

caroleanboneparte · 14/11/2022 16:40

If the cm doesn't have any other dcs at that time can they bring them round?

StridTheKiller · 14/11/2022 16:41

Really OP?

moistmingemist · 14/11/2022 16:41

If you don't take them with you the childminder would hopefully report you for leaving your DC alone anyway.

DuplicateUserName · 14/11/2022 16:41

ButterflyBiscuit · 14/11/2022 16:38

We dont know the age of the child. If it's a 4 year old I wouldn't want them running down the road on their own (and very much doubt a CM would release a 4 year old to do so..)

Why would anyone be running anywhere?

A school aged child is perfectly capable of walking 5 doors down when told to.

NCFT0922 · 14/11/2022 16:42

Why can’t your child run down to yours with both you and the childminder standing on your doorsteps?

Phuton · 14/11/2022 16:42

I mean - I understand the rogue thought from Satan that probably nothing would happen… which makes you want to be lazy…. But just take them with you.

drspouse · 14/11/2022 16:43

FinallyMrsE · 14/11/2022 16:24

Or ring the childminder and ask her to bring the older one out and you stand at the end of your gate and let them run down to you?

I would do this if the CM was up for it. If you let the school age one walk along the pavement a few houses ahead of you where you can see them, this would be fine.

PinkPupZ · 14/11/2022 16:44

Take them

DuplicateUserName · 14/11/2022 16:45

I've just checked the age of the OP's child on another post and they're 6.

No idea why the OP would rather leave the babies on their own than have a 6 year old walk a few doors down while she stands at the gate?

brighterthanthemoon · 14/11/2022 16:45

I guess childminder might have other kids she has to keep an eye on too.

Tessabelle74 · 14/11/2022 16:45

This reply has been deleted

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JennyForeigner · 14/11/2022 16:46

You can't leave them. There will always be something to discuss with your childminder and when things go wrong, they go wrong fast. Don't do it.

Dixiechickonhols · 14/11/2022 16:47

It all depends on layout. If it’s a terrace of 2 up 2 down houses no gardens then 5 doors up is probably equivalent to next door in detached houses. Also Depends how busy road etc.

Gh12345 · 14/11/2022 16:48

Could you not stand outside your house, and ask childminder to send him down? So you can both see him.

IScreamAtMichaelangelos · 14/11/2022 16:48

If 5 doors away on a terraced street (ie houses close together) and same side of road, I'd ask the childminder to be at her door when you are standing at yours, and then DC1 can walk from her to you whilst in sight at all times.

If 5 doors away and opposite side of road or houses are further apart, I'd take babies to her.

DuplicateUserName · 14/11/2022 16:51

I think the OP really needs to come back because people are just suggesting the obvious over and over again.

Anyone else wondering if there's going to be a huge drip-feed as to why a six year old can't walk a few doors down?

Thomasina79 · 14/11/2022 16:51

A ccidents happen in the twinkling of an eye. There is no excuse to leave them. You have years and years in the future when you will be able to leave them, but that time is not now I’m afraid.

Hesma · 14/11/2022 16:51

WTAF 🙄

Crushin · 14/11/2022 16:51

Harrysnippleno3 · 14/11/2022 16:40

Dc1 is at the childminders.
OP is home 5 doors away with dc2 and dc3.

The thread title and OP refer to DC3 at the childminders?

The OP also refers to DC1 at the childminders.

Yes but reading the whole post, clearly

To leave 2 under 2... get dc no 3 means three children not 2

MetellaInHortoEst · 14/11/2022 16:52

OP is obviously a bit harried to be asking, so it wouldn’t hurt to be less sharp.

Allthegoodusernamesareused · 14/11/2022 16:52

You absolutely cannot leave two babies unattended. I'm assuming at least one of them is mobile, and could get into bother, you could lock yourself out or anything. Either take them with you, or get child minder to send your oldest home while you stand at the door, as suggested by PP.

MakeMineADigestive · 14/11/2022 16:53

Oh FGS.

Imagine worst case events...you getting run over on the pavement, DCs choking, falling down the stairs, and more.

If anything happened your kids would probably be taken away from you as this is neglect.