Left 5yo alone in a restaurant for 2 minutes

[Havanawinter]

I was in a chain restaurant with DS today who is 5, 6 in November. After the waitress had taken our order I went to the loo, leaving DS happily colouring at the table. Before I left I told the woman at the table next to us (who had young children) that I was nipping to the loo and could she please keep half an eye on DS.

When I arrived back at the table literally 2 minutes later I was basically chastised by the waitress for leaving. “I didn’t know if you were coming back for him! I was so worried!” Which seems a bit far fetched considering I’d also left my phone, purse, keys and bag of shopping on the table. She huffed at me again and left, but I could see her taking to her colleagues across the room about it. That was the end of the whole thing but it left me feeling a bit weird, it never even occurred to me that I was doing something wrong but now I’m wondering if my behaviour was unreasonable? Honest opinions welcome!

I'd have taken him with me.

'I’d also left my phone, purse, keys and bag of shopping on the table.'

You obviously don't live round here!

Yeah sorry I would have took him with me

I'd have done the same as you. But then I used to ask nice looking ladies to watch my newborn whilst I took my 3yo to the loo, so I'm probably a bit more lax than the average mumsnetter.

Yea just to add ive been asked to watch kids in cafes by dads while they take their other kid to the loo. I often think this is a bit odd given they don’t know me.

Wouldn’t have done it myself (my 6 year old has far too much FOMO to ever allow that anyway). But think it’s not that big a deal and the waitress was being a dick.

Yabu.

You take a 5 year old with you. You don't leave them with a random stranger.

Tbh anyone abducting my six year old would probably return her PDQ 😂

I wouldn't have left the child plus the belongings because it's unfair to put a 5 year old in the position of having to mind them. If an opportunist thief came past and took the bag and purse right in front of the child, it would probably be upsetting for them and they might be frightened and not know what to do.

I have done the same with younger kids….

my stomach suddenly rebelled and I had to leave my baby, and a 2 year old sat at the table. It was either that or I shit myself

This
No way could have left mine at that age, even if it was for "5 minutes."
Also not very fair asking a random.stranger to watch your child for you, when they're more than likely out enjoying the peace and their own company for a bit! (Plus you had no clue who they were, could have been anyone you were leaving your kid with.

I'd have taken the child or asked the waitress to watch them and left a large tip.

I'd do the same and I think it's perfectly normal to ask another mum to keep an eye. I've done this and offered for others often. More normally it's to keep an eye on one child while the parent takes another to the toilet but it's really not a big imposition.

I would have done the same as you, except I would have taken my phone and purse with me.

You trusted a random stranger?

Personally, I would have taken my child with me. My eldest is 6 and I would just worry too much (even though she would likely be safe).

Sorry, 2 minutes, not 5. Still stands though, could not have left for either amount of time.
Also, was probably more than 2 mins, Ì mean leaving them ar the table, going to the toilet, etc... was prob more like 5 minutes or even more, especially if she was starting to worry a bit.

Do opportunist thieves generally wander around chain restaurants? Not my experience

I wouldn’t do it and wouldn’t like someone to ask me to watch their 5 year old for them.

They're a waitress, not a babysitter, how are they supposed to carry out their job if they're having to watch your child?

You take your child with you, you don’t impose on random strangers.

I'd have taken him with me. Mine are 6 and 9 and they come with me.

A male tried to entice a little girl into his car at our very busy local park over the weekend. There is some absolutely sick bastards out there, why risk it? Even the tiniest little risk of something like that happening is not worth it.

Same!

I'd have pretty much decamped to the loo.

I don't know if I would or not, my child is almost 2 so we're nowhere near this stage.

I wouldn't mind being asked to keep a casual eye on him for a few minutes if I were at the next table though, I've no problem with helping other mum's out where I can.

How sad that the sense of community is so far gone that people think it’s unreasonable for one mother to ask another to watch her child for 2 minutes so she can relieve herself in the toilets.