Question - leaving the baby unattended

[626]

We were discussing this the other day and I was curious to see what your thoughts were on here.

We live in a high rise apartment building.  We have laundry facilities in the basement, but were considering a laundry service once the baby comes.

We have cleaners in the building, though to get to them you have to go downstairs and out the front door and down two exterior doors outside.

If the baby were sleeping, would you feel comfortable leaving the baby in your apartment while you ran down to the cleaners for five minutes?

[MamaMaui24]

no.

[nessness]

No. I would put the baby in a carrier and take him/her with me.

[busterpup]

I would probably just wait until the baby woke up and then go.

[melsamoony]

No....I take the baby everywhere I go even when he is sleeping. He usually stays asleep even when I move him.

[blushing]

I want say it should be fine, just make sure your baby monitor is still in range, but the reality is I probably wouldn't.

[Blue Moon]

I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that.

[busterpup]

Sept 2, 2014 8:41:32 GMT -5 blushing said:

I want say it should be fine, just make sure your baby monitor is still in range, but the reality is I probably wouldn't.

This is a good point.  If the monitor is still in range it might be less scary (after the baby is a few months old).  I know people who mow the lawn, work in a detached garage, etc. while baby is sleeping and that's pretty far away but the monitor works.  

[ringstrue]

If the baby is sleeping in a crib and there aren't any "tricks" to going in and out those doors (need special keys, etc.) then I would probably do it. You might feel weird doing it that way at first when the baby is new but I can't imagine taking your children down every time you need to go down there their whole childhood.

[Alwaysabridesmaidf]

I probably wouldn't. I would most likely be a nervous wreck thinking about all the irrational things that could happen in that 5 minutes. Fires, burglaries, etc. But I am a crazy person. LOL

[MrsAggie]

Sept 2, 2014 8:58:03 GMT -5 Alwaysabridesmaidf said:

I probably wouldn't. I would most likely be a nervous wreck thinking about all the irrational things that could happen in that 5 minutes. Fires, burglaries, etc. But I am a crazy person. LOL

Omg a fire. You're just feeding my irrational side, you know that right? Lol

[anna7602]

No. Our laundry is also in the basement of our building. I leave DD, age 6, alone in our apartment now to do laundry, but I put the baby in a carrier to head down there. 

[626]

You've pretty much stated what I said.

And of course, my mind went straight to Madeleine McCann.

Realistically, I know there is such a low probability of anything happening when I am so close and gone for such a short time and that there is really not much difference to this vs. being in a SFH and going into the basement or backyard. I'm sure there is probably a greater chance that I get hit crossing the street...but, I just don't feel comfortable.

I'm also due in January and the thought of having to bundle the poor guy up each and every time I have to run to the cleaners sounds like a PITA. Which is why I was in favor of having pick up and drop off service - or having H be the one to make the runs.

[magdala]

No I carry the baby monitor with me to our basement to do the laundry in a single family house because, yes, I am that neurotic.

[Deleted]

Err... Yes?

I left DS2 sleeping at home and went to get DS1 from preschool a few times. The preschool is on the first floor of our building. We live on the fourth. The door to our flat was locked and I was back in five minutes.

I'm all for caution and safety but I also hate to wake a sleeping baby.

Plus we're pretty breezy and live in a low crime rate area. Most people leave their doors unlocked. I don't bother locking my car.

Our police Twitter feed and the local paper run headlines like "Child's Bike Stolen" and "Cat May Have Been Stoned" *Note the cat was fine but the owner thought someone may have walked by and thrown a stone at it. Yes, they reported it to try and yes, it made ht news.

[mrssandro]

I would not.

[Deleted]

I'm confused. Are people concerned about baby snatching? Or are you worried the baby will wake up and get upset when you're not there?

[Brie]

I probably would, so long as I had the baby monitor with me and stayed in range.

When I was home on mat leave last time, I had to take our dog out (we don't have a fenced yard). If the baby was asleep or otherwise happy, and somewhere safe (like in the crib or PNP, or strapped into a bouncy seat/swing) I'd run him out in the yard or down a house or two.

[mrssandro]

I think it's the baby snatching. Maybe I watch too much Criminal Minds.

I would still be nervous with the monitor only because it still will take 5 ish minutes to run back up stairs in case something happens. One floor I might consider it.

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2014 10:22:16 GMT -5 mrssandro said:

I think it's the baby snatching. Maybe I watch too much Criminal Minds.

I would still be nervous with the monitor only because it still will take 5 ish minutes to run back up stairs in case something happens. One floor I might consider it.

Yeah, I can see that. I was still nervous leaving DS2 even thought I knew it was HIGHLY UNLIKELY anything would happen.

This is our third so I'm interested to see how much more relaxed I am. Our first go around I checked to see if he was breathing all.the.time. And this was a kid that didn't sleep well or much.

Second son I thought I was over it but no, still checked to see if he was breathing (just a lot less).

Parenting: setting yourself up for a lifetime of worry. Fun!

[anna7602]

Sept 2, 2014 10:17:23 GMT -5 @bandwife said:

I'm confused. Are people concerned about baby snatching? Or are you worried the baby will wake up and get upset when you're not there?

I'm worried about any random thing happening like my dropping my keys down the elevator chute accidentally and not being able to get back into my apartment while my baby wails inside (DD is old enough that I could talk to her through the door and she could actually probably unlock the door and let me in). I'm worried about a freak earthquake or power outage happening that could make me get stuck in the elevator for hours, away from my baby and possibly out of phone reach as well. And generally, I just don't like the idea of leaving my baby unattended for that long should he be crying or spitting up all over himself or having an explosive diaper or something. 

But basically, it's the elevator that makes me nervous. I will leave the apartment to go down some stairs and check our mail, but not to the basement without DS. (There are no stairs to our basement, just the elevator.) 

[626]

Yeah, that was another thing I thought of too anna7602 - and the fact that it has happened to my husband once while we've lived here should be reason enough.

[thatgirl2478]

Sept 2, 2014 10:13:02 GMT -5 @bandwife said:

Err... Yes?

I left DS2 sleeping at home and went to get DS1 from preschool a few times. The preschool is on the first floor of our building. We live on the fourth. The door to our flat was locked and I was back in five minutes.

I'm all for caution and safety but I also hate to wake a sleeping baby.

Plus we're pretty breezy and live in a low crime rate area. Most people leave their doors unlocked. I don't bother locking my car.

Our police Twitter feed and the local paper run headlines like "Child's Bike Stolen" and "Cat May Have Been Stoned" *Note the cat was fine but the owner thought someone may have walked by and thrown a stone at it. Yes, they reported it to try and yes, it made ht news.

This is where I fall. 

Oh and last week our home town paper actually ran a story (complete with photo) about the cat that lives across the street from the post office and how he's picky about who he befriends... so low crime? yes.

[fallriverjenn]

I would feel comfortable as long as I had keys to get back in...but I am pregnant with my third kid and more laid back.

[sillygoosegirl]

Maybe. I think I'd be more afraid of getting arrested for it than anything else.

[andthentherewere10]

I leave my baby with a video monitor while I run out to the barn to tend to the horses. It has to be done and sometimes it is more dangerous to do what I need to do with the horses than it is to leave the baby on the monitor sleeping.

I suggest learning to wear your baby, esp. learning how to use a woven wrap to wear your baby on your back early. It will save your life.

[Alwaysabridesmaidf]

Sept 2, 2014 9:41:47 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

Sept 2, 2014 8:58:03 GMT -5 Alwaysabridesmaidf said:

I probably wouldn't. I would most likely be a nervous wreck thinking about all the irrational things that could happen in that 5 minutes. Fires, burglaries, etc. But I am a crazy person. LOL

Omg a fire. You're just feeding my irrational side, you know that right? Lol

Haha! Sorry.