Do you take your few week old baby to the toilet with you?

[Madratlady]

I know you're supposed to have your baby in the same room as you all the time, I just wondered if that means you should take it to the toilet with you?

Probably a silly question but this will be my first dc so I just want to try and make sure I do things 'right'.

[LilBlondePessimist]

I think there's two separate issues being discussed here - correct me if I'm wrong (I often am ), but I don't think anyone is suggesting that leaving baby alone for two minutes while popping to the loo will cause or increase the risk of SIDS. Just that they either would or wouldn't feel comfortable in doing that for their own reasons, whether that be clingy/chilled baby or whatever. The other thing that has been brought up is the separate issue of babies under six months sleeping alone. This has been stated by official SIDS guidelines to increase the risk of SIDS and they therefore advise strongly against it. The guidelines now apply to all sleeps, including day naps and overnight sleeps.

So, I guess what that means is that as long as you have baby sleeping in the same room with you both during the day and overnight, then whether you decide to pop to the bathroom alone for two minutes, or take them with you, it's a personal decision, and what suits you and baby is best, and won't be going against SIDS guidelines if you have chosen to follow them.

[MissAntithetic]

I did up until 4 months when I could leave her in her chair for a minute.

And now I do again because at 10 months she is a climber and unless she is asleep I wouldn't dare leave her!

[Katnisscupcake]

I'm with the Mums that say 'No'.

Never had to do it with DD whether she was asleep or awake, but then she wasn't a clingy baby at all.

I did however make sure that the dog was shut out of the room when I left DD for any period of time. And also I took DD to the bathroom in her bouncer when I had a shower.

[WhispersOfWickedness]

Well said, LastButOne

Follow the path of least resistance is my parenting mantra, do whatever makes the most sense to you!

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

i did
not due to SIDS advice, but dd2 spent a good 12 weeks being pretty unputdownable, including only sleeping when on me

dd1 I happily left

[AnotherStitchInTime]

If dd2 was already in the sling yes, if not no.

I too have a 16 month old and a 4 year old that follow me to the toilet, it helped potty train dd1.

[exoticfruits]

So therefore you can nip to the loo and leave them in peace!

[Ragwort]

No of course I didn't - and my child has never, ever followed me to the toilet as you read on Mumsnet. And I let him sleep in his own room from 3 weeks.

[LastButOneSplash]

Nobody knows how it works, that's the problem. There was a theory to do with breathing subconscious and stuff but there's lots of theories.

[exoticfruits]

I only know two cases and both babies died with the parent a few metres away, so I don't think it works like that.

[LastButOneSplash]

It's not nuts to do whatever feels right for you and your baby. There are a fair number of people on this thread who did keep their baby with them, so it must be happening. Labelling new mums as 'nuts' for doing what they need to do to get through that stage isn't helpful. Sharing lots of different approaches so new mums can figure out what makes sense for them is.

[changechangechange]

I thought the stuff about being in the same room as a sleeping baby was that somehow hearing your breathing helped them subconsciously remember to breathe, or something. Not suggesting that two - or even ten - mins to wee alone would therefore be 'dangerous', but I don't think it's just about whether you can see your baby.

[exoticfruits]

If you can't go off for a wee it means that you are having to watch your baby the entire time!
I can't see the difference between leaving a sleeping baby to pop to the loo or having the sleeping baby with you in the kitchen and putting the washing in or making lunch etc- you can't look at them every minute.

[ReallyTired]

i think that SIDS advice on being in the same room means close by during the day. Ie. the baby is where you can see it easily. most people are more alert during the day than the night so the risks are less.

Taking a sleeping baby into the toilet is nuts and the chances of a baby dying in a few minutes is virtually nil. Otherwise how can you ever get anything done if you are always in the same room as the baby.

I would definate take a crawling baby if I needed a wee. We never had a baby pen, but some people use a baby pen to contain chaos.

[GreyWhites]

Oh I didn't realise SIDS advice had changed to include daytime naps. Although I still don't think you need to take them with you for a wee, and definitely not if they're asleep and you risk waking them!

[OddFrog]

Wait and see who you get, they're all very different. Do what feels right at the time, this may vary from day to day. Or from pee to pee . Don't feel bad if you sometimes need a few minutes to yourself, just leave baby somewhere safe like in the cot. If all else fails, buy a stretchy wrap sling and you too can pee hands free.

[LastButOneSplash]

Do what feels right. I took mine with me and put him on his changing mat on the floor. I pretty much didn't leave him ever for the 1st months until SIDS risk had declined. But that's me and what made me feel comfortable.

[Dackyduddles]

Pee alone while u can. This to will pass..... Lol

[BramshawHill]

I always took her in with me as a newborn, simply because it didn't take me seconds to use the loo. I had a 2nd degree tear that made it incredibly painful so I'd be sat there for 5/10 minutes trying to relax and not cry! At least if I had her with me, I wouldn't have to worry about her waking up, crying and me not being able to get to her.

[GingerDoodle]

Heck no; she's almost 1 months so obviously survived! The only time she has ever been in the toilet with me is when we are out and about.

[JellyWellyWoo]

I think this is up to you. If you feel more comfortable doing this then by all means do, if your little one is fine somewhere safe while you nip off for a min, then that's also fine :) Just do what is right for you, don't over think things, as long as baby is safe and content you are doing a good job. I don't usually take DD but some days she is a grouchy pants and wants me aaaaalll the time.

[maja00]

There is nothing wrong with keeping your baby with you as much as possible though - I felt better for having him nearby as a newborn. Your instincts are usually right on these things, just don't force yourself to do something you are uncomfortable with because you feel you should.

[scottishmummy]

Screamer or not I didn't have my dc velcroed to me.no way
Of course I had a pee on my own. Also made sure had some me time
I don't predict significant damage in time takes me to pee,wash hand,return

[louisianablue2000]

No, of course not. And the DDs (4&5) are no longer allowed in, although they do stand outside claiming they are desperate and need to pee nooooowwwwww and Mummy I'm going to pee myself so I'm not sure if I'd actually be better letting them in. DS is now 10 months and I dream of the time when I got to go to the toilet without a child sitting on my knee (or screaming blue murder if they are not on my knee).