I put my baby at risk and I feel terrible

[Chattanoonoo]

I've name changed for this. I don't know why I did this as I am usually so careful. I was giving DS2, 7 months, his bath and left him laying in one of those ergo baby bath seats whilst I grabbed his flannel. He was in the bath in the en-suite bathroom to our bedroom and I grabbed the flannel from the bed which is right by the door to the bathroom. I was about 2 metres away from the bath. I had backed out of the bathroom keeping my eyes on him at all times whilst I grabbed it but then I couldn't find see it initially so I had to glance away from DS. I glanced back and saw he had flipped off the bath seat and was face down in the water struggling. I immediately lifted him out. He was face down for 3 or 4 seconds. He didn't cry but seemed a bit surprised. I am trying to work out why I did this. I know the rules on never leaving children unattended in the bath but I still did it. I just don't know what I was thinking, especially as I KNEW that he would probably flip out of the seat he is very wriggly and always turns over. I think I felt it was ok because I could see him and could get to him quickly if need be. Please tell me exactly how bad a mother I am. I have never done anything like this before to either DS1 or DS2.

Don't feel bad...the point is you could still see ds and were near enough to grab him,so you didn't actually leave him unattended anyway. At least now you will probably be ultra careful,and no harm done! xx

Oh thank you Roo, I feel a bit better. Maybe that's why I did it/ felt it was ok to grab the flannel. I will be SO careful from now on. Those seats are so unstable and not supposed to be used past 6 months when the baby can move/roll over but if I don't use it it's near impossible to bathe DS2 in the type of bath we have. Will have to think of another way to do it. I usually kneel next to him the whole time.

Nothing happened, it was for a fraction of a second and you ds was fine. Don't feel too bad, you won't do it again.

On a lighter note why don't you read through the post 'those firsts you don't write in the baby book' look at here and it will make you realise mistakes happen and everything was ok in the end!

x

can he sit up yet? Once he's sitting up, you can just sit him in the bath - can buy a huge non slip bathmat.

Ahh don't feel bad, these things happen and it's impossible to keep your eyes on them all the time. Why don't you get one of those swivel seats for the bath, they are from 6 months I think.

Would agree with others, try not to feel bad, you weren't to know he would do that & was only a couple of secs. These things happen. Also 'he didn't cry but seemed a bit surprised', there you go, he wasn't even too bothered. Can remember that 'what happened?' expression that babies under 1 have a lot of the time, I'm broody btw x

please dont feel bad it was just a mistake and he is ok and its something im sure you wouldnt do again so dont beat yourself up about it. we all make mistakes i spent a day in a+e not long ago when dd fell off bed and banged her head badly after id fallen asleep bf her in night.i felt awful. these things happen to us all just try to learn from it

Honestly - please don't feel bad! You backed out of the room and were only away for a flash. There was never any danger of him coming to harm. :)

He was fine and you won't do it again - be kind to yourself and move on.

You didn't leave him unattended or make a mistake - you were 2 metres away, something happened, and you dealt with it immediately. Well done. Babies are scarey!

he was surprised not hurt you are good mum my Dd dived off pew in church while right beside me actuslly had my arm round her and she still landed head first on floor felt bad esp when she screamed but in 3 minutes was fine just a bruise It will happen kids are very good at finding new ways to hurt themselves when right beside us don't beat yourself up, he could not have drowned in such a short time. everytime you think you have made it all safe they find a new dangerous activity!!!!!