Children alone while parents sleep?

[Mumof3xx]

When is this ok? What age?

The problem there was more the poisonous thing being in reach than the lie in - that could have happened if she'd gone to the loo or for a shower.

How sad

I think it depends on the personality of the child, the amount of time they are left unsupervised, and the surroundings they are doing it in. My DS would go downstairs in our small house and watch TV on his own at 4. He would always come in to tell me he was going down, so I'd be at least half awake, and listening out for any noises. He would never dream of helping himself to food, just start nagging incessantly for breakfast from 10 minutes after he got up

The house was fairly well childproofed, and he was always fairly sensible, so it seemed fine, in a bigger house, or with a less sensible child, not so good. Do you know if the parents are actually fully asleep, or are they just dozing with one ear open?

It would never have dawned on me that this was not OK - you read something even more bonkers bizarre on Mumsnet every day . So long as your house is reasonably 'child proof' surely that is OK?

I don't believe anyone watches their child 24/7 - what happens in the middle of the night if your child wakes and is happy playing quietly in their cot - presumably you would never even know . There again, there are plenty of parents here on mumsnet who can't seem to leave their child to even go to toilet or have a shower in peace.

DS was perfectly mature to go downstairs on his own at 3, he could get himself a cereal or make a sandwich at 4, he started cooking at 8 and at 10 he can be trusted to wake up and dress up by himself, pack his own lunch and walk or ride to school on his own. Anybody can feel free to call social services, they won't find me having a lie in when they come, but working or sorting one thing or another, including providing my son with the skills he needs most in his life: risk assessment and independence.