What age to leave child alone in the bath for a second?

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

I'm very strict about stairs and baths. Breaking necks and drowning worry me. DH is ovens and fires

Anyway, I'm dozing this morning, DH and DD (3.0yrs) are in the bath. She won't let him wash her hair so he comes in to ask me to do it. I went mad and told him to get back in the bathroom this minute etc. He looked at me like I was mad and said he thought that was while she was a baby/toddler. How much longer were we going to sit watching her in the bath? He was good natured about this btw not having a moan, just surprised.

So who is right? Is 3 old enough to be left for as long as it takes to get a towel/pyjamas whatever?

hi again, i am no expert i assure you, but it was discussed on my course.

basically, i don't think you need to worry if they just go under, kids do it all the time, cough up and are fine. You do need to watch tho for changes within 24 hours, esp extreme tiredness, temperature and any major behavioural changes, all symptoms of the brain struggling for oxygen as the lungs are under pressure and cannot deal with the absorbed water. If so, its an A&E job and tell them the child has been swimming/under in the bath so they can check the lungs.

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110157.php

i hope i've done this link right, it gives some more info. If you just google "dry drowning symptoms" i'm sure you'll get more info. As i said, didn't want to traumatise anyone, but its a little known risk and i wanted to mention it.

No more loaded sentences, i promise!

My ds1 is 21months and I pop in and out to get his Pj's and stuff. His bedroom is literally 2steps from the bathroom and the doors are directly opposite so I can still see him at all times.

I wouldn't leave him to go in our bedroom or living room though because the doors are on different Walls so I wouldn't be able to see him.

I think it's really good to be aware of dry drowning, it has made me very aware. My daughter is a confident swimmer and jumps in at the deep end, does fips and all sorts since she was 4 and sometimes says she swallows loads of water and i can hear her burp it all up. I don't want to stop her fun and let her do what she loves but i'm very aware of dry drowning and keep an eye on it.

As for the bath then i've been leaving her since she was 3 (in and out and not too far away) and same as another poster - she sings and talks all the time so i know she's ok. You would have to be so unlucky for them to die of dry drowning, they would have to have had a near drowning experience or swallowed loads of water and surely they would be purplexed or would say something to you about it especially aged 3.

Bath time is an excellent time for MNing or reading a book. In the bathroom. Or on the landing just outside with the door open.

Mine are 7 and 4. The 7yo is left mainly to it, he tends not to stay in long, and often showers instead. I am near the 4 yo most of the time, or shout to her regularly. I am more worried about her in the shower as its slippery there.

OMG . I had never heard of dry drowning.

I leave my DS (3.8) and have done for ages in the bath sometimes while I potter just outside the bathroom.

I thought just popping my head in, listening then running in if quiet was enough.

Im NEVER leaving him again and am glad I red this. >shudder

read (typo)

So, umm, they could do all this going under and swallowing while you were actually with them in a swiming pool?

A few moments for a 3 yo is fine, surely. If they were drenching, with water all down thier face you might guess they had been under, but sitting up with ducks for 20 seconds? Come on, people.

10 or 20 seconds is long enough to go next door for a towel.

GLM - I think your DH is being reasonable.

Blimey have never heard of that before, scary, good to know though. I leave my 7 and 4 yo's to it most of the time, will be more vigilant.

I leave dd2 and dd3 in together and do everything around the house but then dd2 is 10! If dd3 is in alone (rising 4) I stay in the room or out on the landing with the door open.