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Parenting

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Original poster

Leaving a 2 year old in the bath alone :-/

42 replies

someonesname · 10/04/2017 07:57

So my partner rang his ex last night to speak to his daughter who is a toddler. The ex answered the phone and said 'she's just in the bath at the moment, can you call back in a bit'

So my partner said 'what are you doing? Why are you not with her?' And she said she was doing some jobs around the house.

My partner went absolutely ballistic but she just didn't see the big deal.

She said 'she's a toddler, she's a big girl now' my partner replied with 'she's still a baby'

She said there was hardly any water in the bath and that's it's no big deal and she does it all the time. She said it's the only way she can get stuff done.

I do understand that to a certain point. My kids are 8 and 6 but I've only just started to leave my 6 year old in the bath. Even then I'm always upstairs, checking on her every 5 mins. I would never go outside with either of my kids in the bath.

It wasn't long ago that my partner went to pick up his daughter and found her stood naked on the kitchen table. She had climbed up but couldn't get down. She's a really lovely little girl, very well mannered and sweet but she's also a live wire, you need eyes in the back of your head.

What age did you leave your child in the bath? How should my dp handle this?

He's asked me to post this by the way, as it was all we have talked about last night and this morning

OP posts:

MrsPringles · 10/04/2017 08:21

He sounds like a lovely dad OP. I really wouldn't be happy with the bath situation, especially if that's just one of many things....

Jumble27 · 10/04/2017 08:21

No that is not on! I sometimes leave DD (3.5) in the bath but we live in a tiny flat so i potter around getting things done with the bathroom door open so I'm constantly walking past the door all the time.

Being outside however, no way would I be happy with that!

SuckingEggs · 10/04/2017 08:21

You need to get really heavy about this. It's life and death.

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Brokejoke · 10/04/2017 08:24

I thought it was going to be she'd popped out the room for a couple of seconds to grab something. Actually going out into the garden and leaving her completely unattended is unacceptable! The table thing, I understand. My dd will get up on things when I leave the room. I can't physically be with her every second... But the bath is a big no.

Original poster

someonesname · 10/04/2017 08:26

We are going too. I don't want to sound like I'm daft for asking the question wether it's ok or not because I know it's not. We just need to know how to deal with it. She's a silly woman, she really really is. I want to go off an a massive vent about her but I can't just incase :-(

OP posts:

KarmaNoMore · 10/04/2017 08:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

someonesname · 10/04/2017 08:41

Thank you for everyone's advice. My partner has said this morning he wants the child to live with us full time - I agree too, it would be lovely. With us she has a stable home, with her mother she's just passed round from person to person all the time. There's honestly so many things with this women.

And I bloody well know not to take my eyes off her for 2 seconds :-/

I'll let everyone know of the outcome. I've just read these articles, just awful.

OP posts:

CactusFred · 10/04/2017 08:54

No way is this ok!

I do leave my 4yo in the bath and go in the bedroom to put clothes away maybe but he's splashing and singing so I can hear him. The second it goes quiet I'm calling him 'are you ok?' as I head in there.

I would not have done this at 2, the furthest I'd be would be hovering in the doorway as he played.

Trb17 · 10/04/2017 19:17

No way is this ok. I never left my DD to bath on her own until she was about 8 as it always just made me too nervous before then. At 2 she's a baby and a tragic accident could easily happen. Do let us know how you get.

PatMullins · 10/04/2017 19:27

I don't feel I can leave my 5 year old yet, let alone my 2 year old, wow

annlee3817 · 10/04/2017 19:53

My Dd is nearly two, and I've seen her slip in the bath even though it has a mat, I'm always there to catch her. Wouldn't dream of leaving her even for a second, even if not deep what if she slipped and smacked her head... I would be sitting down with her and having a proper talk about that, and go through the dangers of this with her if I was your partner.

Caterina99 · 10/04/2017 20:20

My DS is nearly 2. The furthest I'd go is to get something out of the airing cupboard which is literally right by the bathroom door, so I can still see in the room. Sometimes I might clean the sink or something, but usually I'm sat on the loo right next to the bath.

Climbing on the table can be done in a second. Not ideal but I wouldn't judge anyone for that. You cannot watch them every single second of the day

DropZoneOne · 10/04/2017 21:33

www.rospa.com/resources/hubs/keeping-kids-safe/bath-time/

RoSPA is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. So many accidents involving children happen in the home, and whilst you can't keep your eyes on your child every second of the day, you can minimise the risks by taking precautions.

Not leaving your child unattended in the bath is a pretty basic precaution. What if the bath was slippy and she rolled over and slipped under the water? You only need 3cms of water for a child to drown - if they can't lift their nose clear, they will inhale water.

Funnyface1 · 10/04/2017 22:18

My eldest is 6 and I feel comfortable nipping across the hall to fetch a towel which takes about 30 seconds and I purposely get him talking about something so i can hear his head is not under water. I wouldn't leave him, i don't take risks. I still feel that if he tried to climb out by himself he could fall and then it's "who'd have thought it?"

Must be very worrying for both of you, good luck.

123bananas · 10/04/2017 22:24

If she will not take the message from him directly she might accept it from a professional such as a Health Visitor. It should be fairly easy to find out his dd's based on area and ask them to pop and have a quick word.

helenfagain · 10/04/2017 22:32

My son is nearly two and I still get in the bath with him!

user1491403410 · 11/04/2017 08:11

We ended up telling the mothers brother as my partner is still good friends with him, my partner didn't feel having a go at her was enough for her to realise the dangers of it and she is very close to her brother, he only lives opposite to her so my partner rang him and he went round.

I don't know anything else so far but we are hopeful this will be enough to get through to her. Will most definitely be taking it further if we have too though.

Thank you

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