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Original poster

Do you leave kids alone and nip to the toilet?

96 replies

Awonderfuldayinthepark · 14/12/2023 18:07

I was in McDonald’s and only I needed a wee, 3 children 8, 6 and 5 all eating and colouring.

I ran to the loo. Left my phone with the 8 year old, told him to look after his younger brother and made them all repeat back to me to not move.

I’ve been doing this for about a year, only in local places that we have been to before. Probably started doing this once the youngest started school. They are all good sensible(ish) kids.

I felt like I got a strangle look off this one woman which made me question if I should leave them alone?

Do you/would you leave them for a few minutes?

Also, when we arrived at McDonald’s I ordered they all go and sit down. I can see them enough to know where they are but again questioning this too!!

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LinguisticallyCunning · 14/12/2023 18:09

I do with mine and have been doing so since they were kind of 6 or 7? I can't remember now!

Namechangedforspooky · 14/12/2023 18:09

Seems ok to me. I would do the same with my 10 and 4yo. They’re reliable with instructions though

Bells3032 · 14/12/2023 18:09

An 8 year old I would esp if more than one kid. One two year old deff not! Depends on the age, maturity and number of kids

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Quickredfox · 14/12/2023 18:12

Yes, sounds reasonable.

Pipistrellus · 14/12/2023 18:13

I don't think I would have with those ages a year ago, I'd just about be okay with it with the eldest being 8.

liveforsummer · 14/12/2023 18:13

I'd definitely do this but I wouldn't leave my phone

mathanxiety · 14/12/2023 18:14

No, absolutely not.

LondonQueen · 14/12/2023 18:14

As long as they were sensible children then yes. Mine are still quite a bit younger so I would probably wait until I'd got them in the car with the doors locked.

Ladyj84 · 14/12/2023 18:14

Nope I wouldn't with our 4 doesn't take 5 mins for one to be snatched or lost

Lougle · 14/12/2023 18:18

No, I wouldn't give an 8 year old responsibility for a 6 year old and a 5 year old, which essentially you were doing.

Singleandproud · 14/12/2023 18:20

The eldest no problem, the other two I would take with me. It's not fair on the 8 year old, what exactly is he going to do if the other two misbehave or decide to run for the door?

tiggergoesbounce · 14/12/2023 18:22

An older sibling should not have to take responsibility for younger siblings.
It does on take 2 seconds for something to happen.

YireosDodeAver · 14/12/2023 18:25

Depends on the kids. Exactly what would you expect the 8yo to do about it if the 5yo made a bolt for the exit? Can you be 100% confident that the 5yo wouldn't do something the 8yo didn't have the presence of mind to cope with? If you can then yanbu. When I was in a similar situation I couldn't have that confidence so did my pelvic floor exercises until the food was eaten and I could announce it was time for everyone to come and have a wee.

Pipistrellus · 14/12/2023 18:27

Lougle · 14/12/2023 18:18

No, I wouldn't give an 8 year old responsibility for a 6 year old and a 5 year old, which essentially you were doing.

Yes, I don't like the responsibility on the eldest. Eight and 6 I'd leave as I'd be happy to leave a 6 year old in that situation alone. It's borderline for me, a year younger certainly not.

Curlywurlycaz2 · 14/12/2023 18:31

I come from a parenting era when I was playing out unsupervised with my 8YO sibling at 5YO.

I started leaving my two when the eldest was about 8YO. I only have a two year age gap though.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 14/12/2023 18:39

I'd do that too OP.
I started leaving Dd in similar situations when she was about 9.

Lougle · 14/12/2023 18:40

I think what we have to remember is that to leave your children, you need to be able to justify the decision if it went wrong. There's no legal age to leave children. I don't know how you could justify leaving a 5 year old or a 6 year old in a public place with only a 8 year old to protect them from harm, if something happened. Of course, every time nothing happens it's very easy to say it was fine.

TomatoSandwiches · 14/12/2023 18:41

No I wouldn't expect an 8yr old to be responsible for their younger siblings like that.

Lougle · 14/12/2023 18:41

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 14/12/2023 18:39

I'd do that too OP.
I started leaving Dd in similar situations when she was about 9.

Did you leave her in charge of a 6 year old and a 5 year old?

ChristmasPuddingPie · 14/12/2023 18:42

Not at those ages no and surprised so many would

bananamangoes · 14/12/2023 18:52

Yes, you can't drag all 3 with you

What would happen to them?

bananamangoes · 14/12/2023 18:53

It's highly unlikely that a kid would be snatched from mcdonalds whilst the parent has nipped to the loo

Some people have vivid imaginations

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/12/2023 18:53

Nope sorry- same with soft play, if I have to take my youngest or myself to the loo my near 7 yr old comes too.

bananamangoes · 14/12/2023 18:53

bananamangoes · 14/12/2023 18:53

It's highly unlikely that a kid would be snatched from mcdonalds whilst the parent has nipped to the loo

Some people have vivid imaginations

Especially three kids 🤪

Ibizabar · 14/12/2023 18:55

Yes I would.