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Parenting

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Original poster

Would you get a babysitter for this - or will leaving them be ok

29 replies

offtoseethewizard · 07/10/2008 13:44

Genuine advice please, I have been invited round for dinner next door (joined on semi). I have three smoke alarms in my house and a video baby monitor on which I can see my son when he is sleeping and hear any noise he makes - or any noise from the house etc. This monitor works really well next door so would I be ok to not get a baby sitter? My neighbour feels it is the same as being in the same house and to be fair I could sit staring at him whilst having a meal. I am not well off so cannot readily afford a babysitter, am I being a bit precious cos still feel slightly uneasy? (not because I feel I am compromising my son's safety, but because I feel I may be judged for doing this).

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Original poster

offtoseethewizard · 07/10/2008 13:44

Sorry leaving 'him' be ok

OP posts:

Anna8888 · 07/10/2008 13:45

Sounds fine to me.

hecAteTheirBrains · 07/10/2008 13:46

Well, if you are next door, and you have a monitor that allows you to WATCH him, then maybe. No different from being downstairs, really.

Having said that, I personally wouldn't. but I am known to be ridiculously overprotective with a bad case of the WhatIfs

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littleboo · 07/10/2008 13:46

Can you not take him with you?? how old is he??

traceybath · 07/10/2008 13:46

Could you pop baby in travel cot next door? Not sure how old your son is?

I personally wouldn't leave him next door but its your choice.

PhantasmagoricalPhono · 07/10/2008 13:49

How old is he? Could you take him with you in a carrycot or something if he's little - then if he does wake you won't have to go home/leave to resettle him if he stirs or wakes up

I think you sound doubtful about leaving him. I personally wouldn't but also suffer from Hecateus WhatIf-itis

BloodAndMutts · 07/10/2008 13:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TiltingAtWindmills · 07/10/2008 13:50

Put him in neighbour's bedroom.

ohdearwhatamess · 07/10/2008 13:50

I personally wouldn't - not sure I'd be able to relax and enjoy the dinner.

I'd take him and put him in a travel cot or in one of their beds (not sure how old he is), or even in a pushchair.

juuule · 07/10/2008 13:52

I wouldn't.

How old is he? Would he sleep in his pram and just wheel him next door and home again later?

BloodAndMutts · 07/10/2008 13:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

offtoseethewizard · 07/10/2008 13:58

I could take him but I would have to dismantle cot and put him in my neighbour's room (she has 2 children so I suppose he could go in with them) or I could try and borrow a travel cot. But then I would have to wake him when I went home - although I could probably crash on their sofa and take him home if he woke. Thanks for the replies (he's 10 months btw). I know he will settle better in own cot and own room but would he be safe there? I could still get to him in less than 30 seconds.

OP posts:

hecAteTheirBrains · 07/10/2008 13:59

Cos I am paranoid years of doing risk assessments has made me into a lean mean risk identifying machine

PhantasmagoricalPhono · 07/10/2008 13:59

I'm not sure Mutts - I would think that even though the house was secure, alarmed, and even be able to see DS on a video monitor, I would irrationally worry and not be able to relax.

But thats just me being paranoid. I wouldn't think twice really if someone else did it

lisad123 · 07/10/2008 14:01

i would go and enjoy it. You can see him and hear him, so why is it any different than being downstairs in a large house?

littleboo · 07/10/2008 14:01

I personally wouldn't leave him. How about car seat or pram/buggy if he gets sleepy. Even with the best will in the world - you won't be watching that monitor all the time and evn with sound - you'll probably be on tenderhooks and not relax so easily. Could you not even settle him down on a made up bed on floor ( safe of course) but in another room.

scarletlilybug · 07/10/2008 14:06

So does everyone here spend every waking moment watching their child in case they're "in danger"?

I see very little difference between doing this and being downstairs in a larger house.

Having said that, I probably would pop "next door" two or three times in the evening "just in case".

hecAteTheirBrains · 07/10/2008 14:08

yup. I do.

bikerunski · 07/10/2008 16:14

i live in a cul de sac, where one particular neighbour always ends up having the new year party, because their's is the only house where everyone else's baby monitors work!

wheresthehamster · 07/10/2008 16:35

Ours always came with us and slept in the car carry seat under the table.

It's a good idea to get them sleeping in other places than a cot in their own room. Makes it easier to go out!

memoo · 07/10/2008 16:57

why doens't your frined just come round to your house for dinner instead?

Morloth · 07/10/2008 17:19

I think it is effectively the same building AND you have a video monitor! phwoar!

I would do this, we do something similar in that we visit with the people in the upstairs flat (converted terrace), just leave the two doors open, don't even bother with the monitor.

I had a quarter acre block at home and would leave DS sleeping whilst I gardened etc, always with the monitor strapped to my hip, I am sure I was further away than you would be.

themildmannneredjanitor · 07/10/2008 17:23

could you really, leave the house, and get to the door, unlock it and the be upstairs in 30 seconds?

i wouldn't do it tbh-i'd take him with me and put him to sleep in his pram and then wheel him home at the end of the night.

rookiemater · 07/10/2008 19:49

I would do it, the video monitor means you can see exactly what is happening.

unaccomplishedfattylegalmummy · 07/10/2008 23:51

I wouldn't do it, wouldn't ba able to relax. I'd take the pram and put him to sleep in that.

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