Do you let your children wander off in shops?

[Glassofwine]

I don't mean very little ones, but I was in Woolies the other day with my three, who had some money saved up to spend. They all wanted to look in different ailes and I found it hard work to keep them all within sight. They were finding me annoying as I kept saying that I needed to see them. They are 7,5,4. I wondered if I was being ott or not?

I do let DS who is 5 and DD who is 8 wander off. I don't like it though and they tend not to wander far. I have had a few panics in the past when we were in Peacocks. I ended up waiting at the door while someone else looked for them.

I let mine wander off for a short time if we're in a small shop and I can see them both every few seconds and I'm near the exit so I know they haven't run out of the shop. They're 2 and 4.

I can't imagine how I'd feel when mine is 7 so not sure about that one. My DD is 5 and I never, ever let her out of my site! I'll probably be the same when she's 7. Poor kid! So in my view, no, not ott at all!

no, there is no way I would let any of them wander off.
they could so easily get lost, let alone anything else that might happen (think james bulger here)
It isn't worth it.

i let my dd age 9 wander to look at the things she loves while i do shopping (in one store) then she comes and finds me, i hated doing it, and do worry about her but i also want her to have some independence.difficult one!!

In clothes shop today I let dds (5&7) wander round ifferent racks to me but only 5-6 yards away but out of sight.Thats about as far as I let them in town and they have to be together (dd1 wouldn't go on her own and dd2 woukd go too far without dd1 to follow)

We were in a corner too and the shop was practically empty so I knew I'd notice if they went anywhere!

I don't let my dd out of my sight for a second but she is only 2,5, i know friends of mine when we are out let theirs of teh same way out of sight and my heart skips a beat and i feel uneasy - i don't when i'll ever feel comfortable but not for a while yet!!

I trusted my DS1 at 7, but would have kept other two with me, or stayed very close.

I can hear my kids from the other side of a big shop, they are very loud

dd is 5 & I let her wander a little bit, but always within calling distance. I don't shout her name, but a name I call her that isn't her name... if that makes sense at all ??

Never would I let ds go anywhere, he's 2 and a flippin' mentalist!!

Just to clarify, I only do this in the toy shop where they find something they each want to play with and get engrossed in it so I can browse the shelves but keep looking up every few second to check they're still where i think they are.

Hello was sat outside my local shop the other day(live on a V.Steep hill) watched a mum walk in said shop leaving her little girl of 3 (at most) outside the shop. the girl then started talking to passers by and when i got up to leave she started to follow me up the Hill took her straight back to mother and informed her of this and she was obviously not really bothered by this! (sorry but in this world i personally would not let my Son wander out of my sight)

no that is to young i do let my sensible 9 year old look on her own but wouldnt let my tearaway 3 year old wander off

Errr no I wouldnt.

Last time I saw that, the child ended up on the floor being pinned down by a mannequin.

Mine are 7 and 9 and I do let them wander around on their own inside a shop - Woolworths, or WHS, or toy section at Tescos.

I always stress to them that I would never ever leave a shop without them, and they must not either, and if they can't find me they should ask a shop assistant for help.

Ds1 is more nervous about this than ds2; but ds1 does not have a good sense of direction and has got lost a few times in the past.

Yesterday ds1 lost us in WHS, and was in tears by the time we hooked up with him So he will be sticking closely to me in future.