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Original poster

Leaving 3 year old alone

68 replies

Sillytum · 29/03/2023 22:50

My SO left our 3 year old in the flat alone while he nipped out to shop. He had her on video call so could see her and he said it was just 5 minutes. I’m really upset and he doesn’t think there’s a problem. Am I over reacting?

OP posts:
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Tinyant · 29/03/2023 22:51

No

Pixilicious1 · 29/03/2023 22:52

No. I could never trust him again. Appalling parenting.

Fromwetome · 29/03/2023 22:54

If he was only 5 minutes then why not take her?

You aren't being unreasonable, that's madness.

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addictedtotheflats · 29/03/2023 23:05

Absolutely crazy, it's unthinkable actually

TomatoSandwiches · 29/03/2023 23:07

No, it's lazy, dangerous and sub poor parenting.

Eatentoomanyroses · 29/03/2023 23:09

He would no longer be my partner in anything

Mumma · 29/03/2023 23:12

What help is being on video call if there is an emergency... idiot!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/03/2023 23:44

Why wouldn't he take her with him?

HamishHero · 29/03/2023 23:46

Why on earth not take her with him?

Punkyspunky · 29/03/2023 23:47

Would never trist him again.

ourflagmeansdeath · 29/03/2023 23:47

Absolutely not. A video call would be useless if she seriously injured herself or a fire occurred and he was a couple of minutes away.

mrsfollowill · 29/03/2023 23:48

dickhead

DuckDuckNo · 29/03/2023 23:49

No. You don't leave a 3-year-old alone.

IHateLegDay · 29/03/2023 23:55

Please don't leave your child in his 'care' again.

Train007 · 30/03/2023 00:02

Am generally quite a relaxed parent/ grandparent but an accident can happen so quickly! I looked after 3 year old grandchild a few days ago ,went to the loo on same floor,heard a thud and she had tipped a chair onto her ! She was fine but it happened in seconds.

Original poster
Sillytum · 30/03/2023 10:06

Thanks for the replies. He is completely oblivious - I found out because he sent me a text telling me and saying how good she was while he was out. I don’t know how to get through.

OP posts:
AlltheFs · 30/03/2023 10:10

@Sillytum report him to the police and social services and leave him. I couldn’t have anything to do with him again. That is neglect.
I have a 3 year old and I can’t imagine leaving her, there’s no way my DH would either. He cannot be trusted to be left with her ever agin and I’d want the authorities to know for future custody hearings.

Aftjbtibg · 30/03/2023 10:12

Very doubtful it was 5 minutes unless your shop is literally next door and still that’s not ok. Be very clear with him that if the police were to find out he’d be arrested and that if he does it again you will leave him

DragonbornMum · 30/03/2023 10:43

What if the 3 year old decided to wash her hands, accidentally fell off the step stool, and whacked her head on the sink and fell unconscious? It takes seconds for an accident to happen, and on a video call you can't stop the child from doing something. You can only instruct, and 3yo do not always listen to instructions.

forrestgreen · 30/03/2023 10:59

Nope and if he doesn't see the issue threaten him with social services. Also tell your daughter that she is too young to be alone. When she's a lot older she can do it.

What was he going to do over video, watch a fire 🔥 and run back.

Tdcp · 30/03/2023 11:18

I don't understand the point of her being on a video call?! In case of an emergency, what was he going to do, teleport? What if she wandered into a different room? What if he was delayed and ended up being a lot longer than the supposed 5 minutes .. which I'm sceptical of as it took me 5 minutes to walk to the end of my road and back to post a letter the other day. I'm more of a relaxed parent but there is no way I would leave a 3 year old while I went to the shop ffs!

Marchforward · 30/03/2023 11:44

Ask your HV to speak to him.

Train007 · 30/03/2023 11:46

Also he could have had an accident outside the house and been a lot longer!

DelphiniumBlue · 30/03/2023 11:48

What if he was run over on the way home? DD would have been alone for a lot longer then! It's really concerning that he doesn't see it as a problem. I'd tell him very clearly that to not fully supervise a child of that age is negligent and if it happened again you'll leave him and make sure he doesn't get unsupervised access. It's so dangerous!

Nimbostratus100 · 30/03/2023 11:49

I thought you were going to say "alone downstairs" not "alone in the house"

clearly very very not ok

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