Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

so, how irresponsible would it be......

83 replies

MrsMc82 · 05/08/2010 11:06

...... to go to the corner shop while ds (6mo) is napping....

just want to gauge how terrible it would be to do this and if anyone actually would do it.....

would take me 5 mins to get there and back if was just grabbing some bread and milk for instance (and have even thought that i could even have the home phone next to the monitor and listen to it on my mobile? - see thought about it lots!)

main reasoning is that its a faff to the buggy out of the car and then get him in it just to go round the corner...... though is it actually illegal??

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

grumpypants · 05/08/2010 11:09

Tempting but totally wrong.

skidoodly · 05/08/2010 11:10

I would never, ever do this.

I've no idea whether it is illegal, I just wouldn't leave a baby in a house alone (not including just being out in the garden) even for 5 minutes. Even if I knew there was only a tiny chance they'd even wake up.

Doesn't sit right with me.

I recognise your thinking though - I have often wondered the same thing myself

DD2 is such a reliable sleeper that I could probably take myself out for lunch and leave her in her cot.

[I would NEVER do this, just saying I probably could with no ill effects.]

PixieOnaLeaf · 05/08/2010 11:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

moaningminniewhingesagain · 05/08/2010 11:13

Wrong. He would probably be fine but you might get run over and no one would know he was at home. Or a meteorite might land on you. The house might suddenly explode. etc etc

It would be considered illegal AFAIK.

It is a faff to get the buggy out, yes. Babies are quite a faff generally

mustrun · 05/08/2010 11:15

If its only round the corner, cant you just carry him when he wakes up? I wouldnt faff with a buggy to go to the corner shop.

BelligerentGhoul · 05/08/2010 11:15

It would be horribly irresponsible.

SqueezyB · 05/08/2010 11:21

Tempting but i would never actually do it. I agree with mustrun though, I'd just carry him to the shop or use a sling/babybjorn.

sparkle1977 · 05/08/2010 12:52

I would never do this either. Wait till he wakes and go together.

Margeaux · 05/08/2010 12:57

I would never do it.

MathsMadMummy · 05/08/2010 13:09

tempting, but god no. just, no.

I'm not actually sure it's illegal in itself though - IIRC there was a thread on another forum where it transpired there isn't actually a minimum age for leaving a child unattended - only NSPCC guidelines I think. I may be wrong. But either way it would be classed as neglect I reckon!

the only thing I've ever done is left DS sleeping in the high chair, facing the open window, while I am outside with DD, literally 2 metres away and can see him all the time (our house and garden are tiny) - I pretty much shut the door (could hear if somebody opened it) but keep my key in case it blows shut properly.

StormyWeather · 05/08/2010 13:15

To save a few minutes getting the buggy out and him into it? Not in a million years.

nowherewoman · 05/08/2010 13:17

We've all thought about it, but you can't. What if you have an accident while you're out and no-one knows about your baby being on his own? What if a fire starts? What if someone realises and grasses you up?

seeker · 05/08/2010 13:18

Why would it be so irresponsible? Is it worse than falling asleep on the sofa while 6 months old is three floors up? Or doing some gardening at the back of the garden? Or - leaving a baby crying for 5 minutes while doing controlled crying?

It's not illegal by the way - but if the mythical "something" were to happen, you would be charged with neglect.

Butterbur · 05/08/2010 13:19

I have a Dutch friend, and apparently over there it is both common and acceptable.

I wouldn't do it though.

thumbwitch · 05/08/2010 13:20

I wouldn't do it. Wouldn't have done it, still wouldn't do it. Put him in the pushchair/pram and take him with you.

I don't think leaving him is illegal per se but if anything were to happen to him while you were gone you could be done for criminal negligence or whatever the correct term is.

AnyFucker · 05/08/2010 13:21

the chances are nothing will happen to your baby

but what if something happens to you while you are out ?

car accident etc and you are unable to tell someone there is a baby alone in the house

not worth it for a trip to stock up on teabags or whatever

< waves at seeker >

Mindy1 · 05/08/2010 13:27

I wouldn't and think that its a bad idea. I do remember though DD being 2/3 months and the thought going through my head, I immediatly pushed it away and said no way. A friend had a different but somehwat similar experience when she stayed in a hotel and left her 6 month old in the bedroom when she and hubby went to dinner (weird I know, not in a month of Sundays would I do it) She had a monitor and could hear but she didnt bank on the fire alarm going off. She couldnt get back to the room as fire doors closed and she could hear her baby crying on the monitor and had to wait till a staff member got to the baby. There was no fire but that what ifs are just too great in my opinion.

seeker · 05/08/2010 13:28

Thing is, I wouldn't do it either, but I know that there are absolutely no rational reasons why I shouldn't. And I think it's really important that we know why we are doing things.

"I don't want to do this because it doesn't feel right, and doing it would make my heart beat so fast it might choke me" is fine

"I am not going to do this because it is incredibly dangerous, and there is a real and serious risk of my child coming to harm" - is not fine.

seeker · 05/08/2010 13:31

AnyFucker · 05/08/2010 13:49

BitOfFun · 05/08/2010 13:54

I've done it before when I've lived two doors down from the shop, no roads to cross. I wouldn't for a walk of five minutes though. The most important thing to remember is your housekey- getting locked out is more likely than getting run over.

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 05/08/2010 13:59

I wouldn't bother with a buggy for that distance. Just carry him. And yes, take him.

Laugs · 05/08/2010 14:00

I once got locked out when my baby was asleep in her cot. I'd been to put the recycling on the front doorstep and the door slammed behind me - no keys, no phone, no shoes! I had to get the fire brigade out. That was one of the worst days of my life!

Laugs · 05/08/2010 14:02

I meant to add 'even though I knew the likelihood of anything happening was incredibly tiny.' That's what instincts are there for though.

PosieParker · 05/08/2010 14:02

Not illegal but I'd never do it, it's not about what's likely to happen but what could possibly happen.

Flip

1 2 3 4