to leave DS alone in house while we go to pub?

[LordVolAuVent]

Let me explain...

We are going on holiday with my parents and brother. We go every year and usually we camp but this year we're getting a house because DS 15months a bit young for camping (bad sleeper and noisy!). It's a tiny little village, v quiet, no crime ever as far as I know. The house has a garden, with a gate that leads onto road behind, where there is a pub.

Today my mum suggested that one night we could all go out together for a meal/drinks at the pub as it's so close we could take the baby monitor. The way things are positioned, it would be just like sitting out in the house garden, if the garden was a bit longer iyswim!

I'm not sure how I feel about this. She really sees no problem in it, we would obviously lock up the house, it would take barely a minute to get back if he woke (which he rarely does at that time), and anything untoward would be heard over the baby monitor. This all makes sense but a little thing in my mind is a bit [unsure emoticon]... I'm sure other nights we will stay in/BBQ, they will babysit so me and DH can go out, and we will stay in when they go out, but it would be nice to all go just one night.

It's not a big deal at all, she isn't going to get pissy or anything if we don't do it, but just wondering would you do it? Judge away

I wouldn't do it personally. What if there was a fire? You can't hear fire over a baby monitor.

Hmmm. The McCanns though there'd be no problem with this, didn't they? Horrible comparison I know, but that's the worst that could happen. I wouldn't.

No, I wouldn't, tbh. Noisy pub and baby monitor aren't a great combination, plus if your ds is a bad sleeper, waking up alone in a strange house with no-one coming for a while would be upsetting. I just wouldn't like the idea of leaving a little one alone like that.

I'd be inclined to go for it as the risk of anything bad happening that would not happen if you were still in the garden is low.

But most people are stupid about risk (ie don't understand it) and particularly stupid about the idea of a person making a risk assessment in order to do something enjoyable so I hope you have your flame-proof knickers on.

Omg...no way at all would I do this!

DH and I don't even have family nearby to babysit but we just realise that having a child was a choice we made and we are happy to forfeit the odd night out for that..at least your mum will do some babysitting so you and your DH can go out - that's more than enough imo

I wouldn't, definitely not.

sgb, I've just packed in a job as a risk manager!

I would quite happily sit at the bottom of the garden while dc's were in bed, but the fact that the pub is outside the property, does make me feel a little uneasy tbh.
Don't know why, if it's as close as you say it is. Maybe you could do a test with the monitor first?
If you are uncomfortable with it, don't do it

Cant you just take the baby with you? find a corner in the pub and sit him there in his push chair asleep. If its a tiny little village I doubt its going to be a roudy pub and more old worldy.

I personally wouldnt chance it.

NO,have a drink indoors whilst he sleeps.

I wouldn't do it! I would take ds along in his buggy and let him sleep in there. I wouldn't even leave mine in our house and sit in my neighbours back garden, even though technically it would be the same distance away as when I sit in my own garden!

i think your mum is an idiot, and i can not believe you put this on here.

I would do it if I did it exactly like I was actually in the garden iyswim. I would be checking on him every 15 minutes.

Can you see the back door/the door you will go through from the table? If yes then it really is like just being in the garden.

Having done a risk assessment which you obv have, Iwould do it.

As you say, it is just like being in a garden and if I was you I would do 15minute interval checks with everyone taking it in turns.

Totally irresponsible imho.

You can't hear/smell gas leaks/fire etc over a monitor. You couldn't hear an intruder. All of these scenarios unlikely I know. Also baby monitors are not very reliable ime.How much of a night out would you truly have? Perhaps not very relaxing/enjoyable.

In your position I would get some lovely food/wine/chocs in and have everyone over for a night in. That way you can all be together.

I wouldn't. But apparently that makes me stupid

It's nothing AT ALL like the McCanns, who did not take a monitor and did not lock the door.

Good point about fire, hadn't considered that. Although if we were out in the garden we may not notice a fire then either, depending on where it was.

and, pedantically - the likelihood of anything happening is low - proper risk assessment also considers impact, which, when it comes to children, most of us would mark as high, so the overall risk would be moderate to high.

I always ask myslef "Am I going to be able to completely relax and enjoy myself?" and if the answer is NO, it is not worth it, rather don't do it.
I wouldn't feel comfortable with that situation...rather take him with and try get him to sleep in the buggy if you want to stay out late.

In the garden you'd likely hear/see more, as you wouldn't have pub/road noise interfering.

I wouldn't do it.

Depends how much you want to go out really and if it is worth it if anything bad should happen.

yea, i would take the baby with you personally

How can he be a bad sleeper but not wake up a night?

sorry OP, but like kitcat has already said the McCanns thought it would be safe and it wasnt. And that really is the worst that could happen, along with a fire. I know it all sounds very 'pie in the sky' and scare mongery, but imho it just isnt worth it.

Take DS in his buggy and find a nice quiet corner. I would rather just have a drink/food earlier with him with me than leave children alone in the house, especially so young.