8 year old alone in hotel room?

[rach971]

Is it okay to leave an 8 year old alone in a hotel room for 5-10 minutes whilst on holiday, to go outside and vape? She does have a phone so could make contact if needed.

I personally feel it isn't okay, but I'm not sure if it's me just being over worried. She is very sensible etc.

How far outside? On the balcony or all the way downstairs and outside?

You could try nicorette quickmist instead of a vape, for the holidays. You can use the them anywhere.

Depends on the child. You would leave them in their room for a lot longer, of living room watching tv while you were cooking/housework.

Unless the child couldn’t be trusted, yes I would!

Back in the days when I still smoked I would have done that.

No I wouldn’t . Even when I tell my son (8) that I am just popping out of the back door to hang up washing and leave the door open he will often stop what he is doing and want to come with me , even though he can see me . Ds does not have a phone but what if the child trips / falls / hits their head ? My son broke a glass yesterday by mistake and I had to quickly jump in to stop him trying to clean up the boys and possibly hurt himself .

I probably wouldn't but think I'm a little over cautious.

Personally I wouldn't. Vaping is different to smoking, can't you just go in bathroom with extractor fan on?

All the way downstairs. Though I don't know what floor she was on when she was left

For a few minutes yes. I would explain to them what to do if the fire alarm goes off though.

She would probably be fine but it depends how far away and what if there was an emergency and she needed to get out?

I probably would, unless it’s a particularly dodgy hotel or feral 8 year old.

Vaping in a bathroom as PP suggested is disgusting. The smell does linger.

I think its fine if the child is sensible and doesn't mind.

Of course it is possible to imagine scenarios when it might go badly (a sudden fire in the hotel, someone breaking into the room....) but to be honest even in your presence the child is not entirely safe - every choice you make to take her anywhere or do anything with her involves some small risk.

It probably would depend partly on the lay-out of the hotel, how far we were from the doors, how secure I thought the room was etc - my instincts basically - but I reckon I would do this.

Btw I could never have left my children at that age but they were not sensible and always looking for something naughty to do.

I think it's ok as long as she's happy to be left.

Sounds fine to me. If you don't leave them in the room at 8 when do you? 3 years time they will be expected to get the bus miles to schools then come home to an empty house. It's better to start with little things than all at once

No, I have stayed in multiple hotels where fire alarms gave gone off and no one was allowed to go back to their rooms for any reason (including in one incident a couple who left their toddler sleeping with a baby monitor while they had a drink in the bar). Security would not let them return to the room and made them wait outside till they checked the cause the alarm which was someone smoking in the bathroom.

Kids can panic when alarms go off, someone knocks on the wrong door etc and may not act the way we would think because they would in a strange environment. Also if it was a fire and the power went out I would not be entirely confident a child that ages could make there way out in the dark. Back up lights fail.

I'm assuming you are posting about someone you know?
I find it rather depressing that someone would leave a child so that they can feed their addiction .

Yes, I am very judgy about this.

I probably wouldn't but then I managed to lock myself out onto a hotel balcony as an adult!