To leave my kids alone in the bath?

[Bafftime]

My kids are 5 and 2.5.
I'm a single parent working full time and living in a small 2 bedroom flat.
When my kids go in the bath I use this time to tidy up after dinner, make packed lunches and prepare for bedtime. My flat is tiny so I am never far away from them. I listen the entire time and check on them every few minutes, I'm very tuned into what they are doing which is usually playing calmly and happily together. There are times when one gets upset or they squabble and when this happens I sit in there with them or get them out, but most of the time they're fine.
Am I unreasonable for doing this?

YANBU - using this time to get on with chores is fine, you check on them regularly.

YABU - they are too young to be left alone in the bath regardless of how close by you are.

I’m also a single parent of 3 youngest being 19mo and oldest 14yo never left any of them

2.5 yr old is too young.

It only takes a second for something to go wrong.

Me too. You've taken comments on board and managed to ignore rude posters with dignity.

Some people forget when you're parenting alone you don't have another adult in the house to just pass comment about risk assessment with.

Normally when asking it's because something niggles it's not safe but you also think "maybe I'm being over cautious"

Never leave them.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/toddler-left-bath-very-very-24473759.amp

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47541373.amp

Why can't you get a playpen for when they are out of the bath?

No. I have kids the same age and the other day I was just watching them when the 2.5 year old slipped under water on her back. Her face was completely under water. My 5yo was playing with a boat and didn’t notice. She can’t have been under for more than 2 seconds but the look of shock on her face when I pulled her out was awful.

sometimes I used to play on my phone or nip into the other room to grab a towel while they were in the bath but never again- even 5 or 10 seconds under water could have had her inhaling the water and at the very best being extremely distressed.

Obviously, you’re not just being unreasonable but reckless. It’s not your 5 year old’s job to babysit their sibling.

OP give them a quick (supervised) shower so you can get on with chores knowing they're safe.

Its hard when there's only one of you, I've been there. Don't be too hard on yourself given some of the replies you've had x

I'm glad you asked too.

I'm so glad you're going to change this.

My 3 year old's bedroom is next door to the bathroom and even then I don't go into his room to grab his jammies if I forget🙈 it can take ten seconds for a child to drown in the bath. I know we all choose what risks we're comfortable with but I really don't think this should be one of them. 2.5 (and even 5) is just too little.

Absolutely not not even the five year old why would you ever think that was ok?

I used to think it would be quite hard for a 4 year old to drown in the bath until mine managed to flip her self under the water. I think she got her foot caught in the bendy shower pipe. It only took a split second for her to go under and she couldn't get herself back up again as she was panicking.

Luckily I was in the room at the time!

It's not worth it. My friends kid was in the bath. He went to grab his phone. She drowned. It took 7 minutes for paramedics to revive her. They have no idea of the possible impact on her development. He left the room for less than a minute.

Is this for real? You must be a troll.

If so you are mad. You could lose both in a moment and be done for manslaughter to boot.

This is when parents come on tv shows crying after their kids drown insisting everyone does it and no one could predict it.

No people do not leave toddler in the bath, not to answer the door or take a phone call or tidy up after dinner... you just don't do it.

You are not a superhero you do not have magic powers others don't have... dying is in almost all cases silent it doesn't 'sound' like anything to listen out for.

I'm glad you asked OP. I was getting a bit too laissez faire with mine (6 and 8) and this thread has made me realise I need to be more attentive.

Today I left my 19 month old in the living room of our apartment watching TV while I was doing something in another room. I was gone a few minutes and she had wandered onto the balcony. She can't go anywhere but I still had lots of what ifs. I'm getting far too lax in the name of getting chores done. Today was a turning point for me. I need to be more on the ball. Thanks op.

I really don't want to ask for this thread to be deleted because like the PP mentioned, this could be beneficial for lots of parents to read. It's easy to get a false sense of security about these things.
But having said that, the nasty comments are getting a bit much.
I've completely taken on board all the advice and entirely accept it is wrong and I will not be doing it anymore.
Please stop woth the personal attacks now.

Never leave then alone. The mess can wait

WTF????

Oh ffs the dramatics. I’ve always done this OP - younger than yours too - and my kids are alive and well. Like you say, you can hear everything and you’re tuned in. Why do you even need to ask strangers on here when you’ve clarified yourself?

My mums NDN left her 5yr old DD in the bath with her 2yr old DS to answer the door. Then heard her DD shouting her. DS was pulled out of the water unconscious. Luckily she knew CPR and he was conscious by the time the ambulance arrived. This was last year, they still have a case worker come round to do routine checks now.

I think OP has got the point now!

Ignore this OP. It is dangerous and no one is being dramatic in saying so.

I wouldn't do this but if I left my 2 year old unsupervised in the bath, he would definitely do a poo and then start drinking the shitty bathwater.