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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we shouldn’t leave kids unsupervised while in bed

261 replies

Namechange12908 · 04/03/2023 09:13

…early in the morning. At what age would you do this? DC are 7 and 4 and will happily watch TV/play after breakfast. Kids wake up quite early (6-7ish), and at a weekend DH an I take turns at lie in, the other gets up with the kids. If it’s DH's turn to get up he will usually happily come back to bed for an hour after making them breakfast. He says he will hear if they start fighting or they come find him if they need anything. I would love to do the same but I don’t feel comfortable leaving them unsupervised.IABU?

OP posts:
Luana1 · 04/03/2023 09:15

If they were 1 and 3 I might agree with you, but 4 and 7 are perfectly fine downstairs on their own. Are you quite an anxious person in general OP? What age would you think that would be ok?

Standbyguest · 04/03/2023 09:16

At 7 and 4 it's fine.

MrsBunnyEars · 04/03/2023 09:16

At 4 and 7 I think it’s fine. If they’ve got easy access to a TV and breakfast, and they’re relatively sensible, it seems very low risk.

Whattheladybird · 04/03/2023 09:18

Some of my most memorable bits of childhood are me and my sister playing in the armchairs (not usually where we were allowed) with our blankets and watching wacaday aged 6 and 4ish. 7 and 4 is definitely fine, mine have been downstairs by theirselves from 3 ish (as with many things, the oldest had to wait longer).

Oysterbabe · 04/03/2023 09:18

Mine are 5 and 7. They've just started going down on their own, grabbing a bowl of yoghurt and watching TV. I think it's OK.

CarolDunne · 04/03/2023 09:18

That's absolutely fine. We leave breakfast cereal out.

We haven't got up since they were about 4

kimcho · 04/03/2023 09:18

Totally agree with Luana1 . 4 and 7 are old enough. If you only had 4yo DC, I might say it's too young.

Sheitgeist · 04/03/2023 09:19

As long as everything that needs to be is safe, locked away, inaccessible, padded or switched off then a little while by themselves is fine.

IME kids are pretty good at coming to wake you up if they want or need anything!

daisypond · 04/03/2023 09:20

At seven and four, they are completely fine to be be downstairs on their own for a bit.

Sheitgeist · 04/03/2023 09:21

Actually I would caveat my post with "as long as you don't have a dog"

I had an early rising young child and large dog at the same time, so I had to get up!

1000yellowdaisies · 04/03/2023 09:21

Sounds fine. Mine are 3 and 6 and get up very early, but i tend to just snooze on the settee downstairs with them after breakfast if they've got up ridiculously early

cocksstrideintheevening · 04/03/2023 09:22

Of course it's fine. When Dts where younger I used to leave out a breakfast for them.

Thisisthewaywe · 04/03/2023 09:22

It depends on how long it’s for.

There do seem to be a lot of tales on here about very young children spending hours unsupervised in the mornings, which are uncomfortable reading.

Siennahh · 04/03/2023 09:24

Lots of posts lately about unsupervised kids!

1st. Aged 9 and 6
2nd. Aged 8 and 5
This. Aged 7 and 4

Coincidence?

WandaWonder · 04/03/2023 09:24

No I need think kids that age need to be glued to parents, I played alone at that age and even played outside and my son played by himself also

DutchCowgirl · 04/03/2023 09:27

It depends on how “adventurous” they are for me. I know stories of kids who went outside with their bike to visit grandma. Or wash daddy’s car as a surprise. Or try to bake a cake as a suprpise for mommy. If you don’t have that type of kids then it’ll all be ok☺️

Beachhutnut · 04/03/2023 09:27

Absolutely fine. I set up a breakfast cupboard for them at that age where they could help themselves to a bowl of cereal or fruit and a drink of water.

WinterMusings · 04/03/2023 09:27

4 & 7 should be fine to be left downstairs on their own.

though having been woken, I'd just make a coffee & get comfy on the sofa.

why not just leave a snack out for the them and have breakfast together when you get up? (Muffin/breakfast biscuits. Not the best, but fine for a weekend morning)

or leave the cereal out with milk decanted into a small milk (what are the tiny ones? 1-2 pints) banana & juice box?

WinterMusings · 04/03/2023 09:27

Totally depends on the kids though!!

gogohmm · 04/03/2023 09:28

At 4&7 mine helped themselves to food and drinks. You can start to have a life again (even if that's just an hours lie in)

Bronzeisthecolour · 04/03/2023 09:29

That's old enough,we left breakfast bits out for them from about that age. Stay in bed, the baby & toddler years are done!

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 04/03/2023 09:31

I think most kids that age would be ok while a parent dozed for an hour, particularly if they've been given breakfast and a bit of attention already.

Where I'd potentially be annoyed is that if he hears them fighting or similar, that disturbs your lie in, whereas when it's his lie in you being downstairs means he's not going to get disturbed. But that doesn't seem to be what you're bothered about here.

percypercypercy · 04/03/2023 09:31

I always got up with mine, now 2 have left home and the other sleeps until about 9/10 every day I am still up at 7 Sad

gogohmm · 04/03/2023 09:31

Dd started bringing mugs of tea up about 7/8 too, both of mine learned kitchen skills early and I woke on more than one occasion to the smell of cakes cooking etc. They are grown now

Conkersinautumn · 04/03/2023 09:33

I risked it at 8 one ate a whole packet of biscuits. It depends what your kids are like.