Going to the toilet when supervising children

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Just wondered what others do really as twice this week I have second guessed the right course of action. Not sure if I am being over cautious or not.

1- In the cinema with 4 year old twins who were engrossed in the film and I need the toilet. Ended up sitting there very uncomfortable (am pregnant) until the film ended. Should I have dragged them both there with me or left them watching the film as I quickly rushed there and back?

2- At soft play and one child needs the toilet, other is right at the back of the play area. Generally I make us all go together but is it reasonable to leave one as I rush there with the other? I leave them to play on their own nowadays, although can always usually see them.

just interested in what others do really.

Take them with you on both of those scenarios

I’d take them both, I definitely wouldn’t leave them by themselves in a dark cinema.

Take them with you in the cinema, but I'd probably leave the one in soft play for a minute or two

I’d take them in the cinema but I’d leave in soft play for a minute.

I'd probably err on the side of caution in both scenarios and take them with me.

Perhaps at the cinema if there was another mum with kids sitting next to us I might ask her if she'd keep her eye on them while I popped to the loo.

Take them with you but maybe use the loo before the cinema/soft play starts.

Number 1 - absolutely take them with you. A cinema is not geared up for child safety. They could literally walk out of there or off with a stranger.

Number 2 - bit more debatable. Where are the toilets and how long are you likely to be? In a small play place with no way for them to get out, a quick loo trip would probably be fine.

The cinema, I’d have done as you did and waited but if desperate take them with you.

Soft play, I would tell them where I was going and see if another mum nearby would keep an eye or take them with me.

4 year olds and pregnant women can’t always plan for toilet breaks.

Take them with me in both scenarios, particularly the cinema.

The soft play I might take a view based on how safe it felt but I would tell the other kid where I was going and be very quick.

Yep this one for me too

I’d leave one in the Softplay. You could mention to another parent where you’re going in case your child starts looking.
The cinema, it’s a pain but I’d probably take them.

I make a point of everyone going to the toilet before the movie if I'm on the own and we go to the cinema, McDonalds or soft play. I've started leaving my 9 and 6 year old, but the 4 year old couldn't be trusted to not come looking for me if he took a notion.

Can’t get much safer than inside a softplay!

We have one local to us and I think it has better security than an airport. I’m surprised they don’t ask for my passport.

I’d take the children with me in both scenarios, 4 is too young to be left alone although at some soft plays it seems people don’t give a shit where their children are or what they are doing so I try to avoid them.

I wouldn't leave them in the cinema but I would in a soft play centre.

Take them with you in this and most other scenarios too. Not worth it.

I’d ask another parent to keep an eye on them in both cases and just hope it’s not a Mumsnetter, who would definitely call social services.

Then there's hiring a Rug Doctor from B&Q. Dear god.....I swear it was easier getting a visa for China!

Take the both with you on any occasion at this age unless you have someone else with you who can watch them.

My opinion:

Cinema is a definite take them with you.

Soft play is dependant on a lot of factors. Could there possibly be a mum nearby who doesn’t mind just keeping an eye for 2 mins. I would definitely not have an issue if someone asked me to do this!