AIBU re bath

[numberblocksrule]

Regular mumsnetter, NC for this

Had a little disagreement with DH and just wondering what you guys do/think. Thanks

DD1 is 4.5yo and DD2 is 3. When they have a bath occasionally I go to the next room and fold clothes.

Bath water is 1-2in high and, not only do I have the doors fully open, the walls are almost paper in this house (super annoying actually I can hear everything when someone goes to the bathroom ). I keep my ears attuned to what is happening and keep checking.

DH doesn't like it because I'm not constantly in the room.

I feel like the kids are older now and I can let them play a little bit. Am I being a horrible parent??!!

At what age did you feel more comfortable leaving your kids semi-unattended in the bath?

1-2" isn't a bath, it's a puddle.

Put more water in ffs ! You wouldnt want to be made to bath in an inch of water would you??

@Babyiskickingmyribs

A child around that age that I used to regularly babysit once fell asleep in the bath. His mum had asked me to fold the kids laundry while she helped an older sibling with homework in the room across from the bathroom. She was supervising the bath from the next room basically. I walked into the bathroom to put away some towels and saw the kid lying face up in the bath asleep. If there had been slightly more water in the bath he could have drowned in that position. If he had turned over in his sleep he could have drowned. I woke him up immediately and he was so cross with me for spoiling his nap.

I doubt a child of this age would not wake if they fell asleep into the water to the point they couldn't breathe! The human body is not that stupid. Falling asleep with your head / ears in water but mouth and nose exposed is understandable - it's very relaxing.

I did this all the time, and with a lot more water, I would pop in and out to check on them though, as well as listening and calling out to them.

I wouldn't.

@BlueSoop

YABVVU. A child can drown in as little as an inch of water. This is incredibly dangerous. You’re not a “horrible” parent but you are risking the life of your child and it’s neglectful imo.

Incredibly dangerous is pushing it, op isn't leaving them for hours in a shark infested whirlpool.

YABU.

You think you would, but actually you wouldn't hear it if one went under, and there can also be falls in a bath. You are not fully present mentally in another room, doing another task

Your H can supervise bath time while you fold laundry 🙂

I don't feel comfortable leaving them alone

I just can't imagine how I would feel if something happened for the sake of folding laundry

Ds is 6. I use his bath time as opportunity to refold towels, tidy up, also cleanse my face and shove a face pack on!!
Tbh I have always used the time to just spend some time with dc!!

Oh blimey, I left mine when they were younger! The rule was that they had to talk or sing the whole time so I could instantly hear if one of them had done something silly like tried to climb and slipped.

Mine started playing a swimming under the crashing down bridge game (their legs) which I was thankfully their to stop them drowning each other. I wouldn't leave 2 together alone. Siblings can be idiots together. I wouldn't leave an under 4yo alone either. I will pop in and out vwry frequently sorting washing if they are being sensible. But it only takes them a minute to think of some way to accidentally drown each other.

I have no issue with this at those ages.
I leave DS for a few minutes, he is 4 but I figure that if he can go down a water slide or jump in the pool and surface himself he is vanishingly unlikely not to be able surface himself in the bath.

Also he is usually singing at the top of his voice!

@numberblocksrule seems 50/50 and I agree with you, our bathroom is across the door from the kitchen (like 3 steps, small flat...) and I have always (well since very early on) put water in, and let the baby happily enjoy the water time. As long as I can hear him, I know he is fine. He is 1,5 now and I fill him the bathtub, prepare milk, fold nappy, and if he still wants to stay in I do laundry, and prepare food, anything that is in close proximity but not sit there with him and watch. He brushes his teeth, washes his hair, eats soap, plays with whatever toys he has available and when he is done, he tells me he's ready to go to bed (or out at least) and that's it.

In my old days when I was a child my mum used to run a bath for me and my brother (same age as your kids now) and we used to play in there for 20-30 minutes, then we shouted that we are done and she came pick us up. So maybe it's also a matter of education or habit?

Of course it is fine to be close / within hearing/ within 2 seconds of reaching them at those ages.
Yes, drowning is silent, which is how, in the unlikely event either child didn't lift their face from the water instinctively, the OP would hear that their chatter had stopped.
Of course it is fine to bath them in a couple of inches of water - they are having a wash, and having a play, not going swimming.
There are some odd replies on here.
Of course they won't be cold - I presume your bathroom is a heated part of your home not a tin bath in the yard outside ?