Potentially dumb question

[chicago]

I feel sort of silly even asking this...

H and I have a dog.  We have to walk him in the back alley to go to the bathroom because we don't have a backyard.  If I'm home alone with the baby and the dog needs to go out, what do I do with DD?  If it's spring or summer, I know I could just wear her, but let's say it's cold when she comes home in March (likely in Chicago). Does she just go in her crib for those few minutes while we are outside?  I'm guessing this is what people do, but I have a lot of anxiety just thinking about leaving her in the house alone, even for a few minutes.
What do you do when they're old enough to crawl out of their cribs?

It's that kind of week, folks.  Please don't judge me!

[natablue]

I've wondered the same thing. I have a yard, but it's not fenced so we take the dog out on a leash each time she needs to go. Can I put the baby in his crib/pack n play/whatever for 5 minutes or so while I take the dog out? What about if it's snowing and I need to shovel the walk or driveway while H is working and will be tied up for 15-20 minutes outside?

[chicago]

Ahh! I feel so much better knowing I'm not the only one who's perplexed about this!

[bugandbibs]

I had a similar dilemma regarding sleeping baby and picking up older child from the bus. We bought a video monitor and I was able to stand at the corner while watching the monitor. Just get one with a long range or that connects to your phone.

[Yankees21]

I agree that in a crib with a monitor is just fine...they tell you to do that when you need to shower or something.

[blushing]

If baby is sleeping, don't wake baby up. Take the monitor with you. If baby is awake you can still wear the baby, just put him/her in a snow suit. DS was born in December and he went out no matter what the weather was.

[smock]

I'm in the exact same situation! My plan is to take the monitor with me if it isn't convenient to bring baby. I'm planning to test out the range of the monitor once it's all set up.

[shelbyann]

I haven't been in this situation, but my gut reaction is that if the monitor reaches, you're totally fine to leave her and take the monitor. With your setup it doesn't sound much different than being out in the yard for a few minutes.

[missbella]

I've been wondering this too. We have an acre of land but it's shaped long and skinny. We have chickens who we let out during the day to roam the yard but their coop needs to be shut at dusk. Their coop is closer to the back of our property than the house which is at the front. It takes 5 min but I feel weird about leaving the baby alone but taking him out in the cold seems like a hassle. I guess I have time to figure out what works.

[vmars]

Jan 23, 2014 13:47:16 GMT -5 oceanspray said:

I truly believe there is no such thing as a dumb question on this board.

I am wondering what we will do when we take the baby somewhere in the car. Part of me wants to sit in the back with her so I can throw my body over hers if something happens.

I've been sitting in the back with DS for the past 5 weeks. DH goes back to work Wednesday so that will have to change, but do what you think is right.

[mae141]

I leave her in her bassinet while I take the dog out and get the mail, but it's all right in front of my house. I don't have a baby monitor set up, but I can usually hear if she starts crying. I try to wait until she's asleep to take the dog out. I have also taken her with me in the Moby, but it's kind of a pain to put it on just to take the dog for a pee.

[mae141]

Jan 23, 2014 13:47:16 GMT -5 oceanspray said:

I truly believe there is no such thing as a dumb question on this board.

I am wondering what we will do when we take the baby somewhere in the car. Part of me wants to sit in the back with her so I can throw my body over hers if something happens.

I sat in the back the first few times we went places. And the first night home I wouldn't sleep because I needed to watch to make sure she was okay. Last night I dreamed that I was on an airplane trying to figure out how to save her if the plane went down. I've been on a plane like 3 times in my life; we are not flying anywhere anytime soon. I don't know why my mind went there. 

Having a baby makes you crazy.  

[adcobe]

I wondered the same thing when DD was born and we were in an apartment. I always wore her. My dogs always wanted a long walk after work and since DH works 24 hour shifts I was the only one who could walk them. It took a few times to get a routine down. Now the times to go out and just pee real quick I left her inside in the swing or bouncer always buckled in since it was only a few seconds I was gone and right by the front door.