Age to leave child alone sleeping in hotel room to go downstairs?

[Anonymous]

I did a NOLS course when I was 15 or 16 - flew to another country by myself, stayed in a room by myself, walked to the course headquarters using a map. I didn’t have a cell phone (I am in my 30s now). So these posters who say never don’t make sense to me and I’m risk averse. It’s gotta be by 14 or something, but potentially younger!

[Anonymous]

Are parents really this over protective that they don’t let their teenagers be without an adult? Wow. M parents sent me on a group trip to Europe at 12 where I stayed with one or two other 12 year olds in hotels all across Europe (and no, no adult in the room, how creepy). And, gasp, we were allowed to wander around places ourselves as long as we were with at least one other person.

I then did summer programs at college campuses, one where I shared a literal apartment with 3 other girls (they did disconnect the stove…. I guess they didn’t trust a bunch of 14 year olds with that, LOL).

Wow.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This is a ridiculous and irresponsible. What the hell are you thinking as a parent?

Calm down. Nobody said that they were considering this with a toddler. 12 seems perfectly fine to me if the kid is responsible and knows how to put the deadbolt on the door, has a phone, can call you or the front desk, etc.

Don’t tell me to calm down. This is not at their home, this is at a hotel with people who have access to rooms you irresponsible prick.

Well my kid went on overnight field trip in fifth grade and there wasn’t an adult in the room.

Your anecdotal story makes it okay?

It IS okay. Schools and youth sports and other organizations have kids stay in hotel rooms without adult chaperones. Choir, band, basketball, school DC trip, school Europe trip…I can’t even count how many trips I went on before I graduated high school like this. There’s no danger and there’s nothing wrong with it.

No, it is not ok.

So the first time your kid will be sleeping in a room without an adult chaperone will be at college?

Someone once posted here that her 13YO wasn’t allowed to shower unless a parent was home. DC could slip in the shower and be hurt!

Absolutely ridiculous.

Eh I know someone who died this exact way and agree. They might have lived if they had been discovered sooner (concussion).

It’s not like you don’t shower, you just time it for when someone is around.

You can’t be serious. Do you also not eat if no one’s around in case you choke?

Yes! I know someone who died of choking too. I’d eat if I had to eat alone, but if I knew someone would be home in an hour? I’d wait.

This is next-level performance art

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck if their is a fire and you are in lounge and child alone in room

Don’t you teach your kids fire safety? I’ve been teaching my kids since age three stop drop and roll, never hide from a firefighter during a fire, always look where an exit is in a new place, etc.

[Anonymous]

When the child is capable of being alone in the hotel room- child isn’t anxious, shows understanding and preparedness for potential emergencies including fire, intruder. Walk through the scenario. My son wouldn’t have been ready at age 12 to be alone at night, as some PP proposed. Closer to 14 to be alone in the evening for a few hours. I have never left him alone while sleeping (except to get ice etc from vending machine or other quick trip). I am a single parent who had to travel for work and brought my son on many trips a few times per year starting as an infant.

Discuss with your child and first gauge comfort level. Every child is different.

[Anonymous]

Teenager

[Anonymous]

My kid is the age I would be perfectly comfortable doing this except that they would be bored -- it's not like my teen is going to bed at 8pm! If I'm in a hotel with them, we are hanging out together. So I'd bring them with me.

[Anonymous]

Probably by age 12 or 13 with DD. Of course something CAN happen. It’s not likely, but it can. It’s just the risk parents need to take to give kids more independence. It’s part of growing up (for kids) and of letting go (for parents).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Probably by age 12 or 13 with DD. Of course something CAN happen. It’s not likely, but it can. It’s just the risk parents need to take to give kids more independence. It’s part of growing up (for kids) and of letting go (for parents).

Clearly a lot of folks in this thread need to do exactly that.

[Anonymous]

Don’t any of you use neighborhood kids as babysitters? You really wouldn’t leave a 16 year-old alone in a hotel room but you would leave one in your home watching your toddler?

[Anonymous]

our kid has been in their own hotel room since they were 9 or 10.

I don't understand the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:our kid has been in their own hotel room since they were 9 or 10.

I don't understand the issue.

I think there is some next level trolling going on in this thread.

We are the same. I get if someone isn't comfortable leaving their kid, but it's no more dangerous or irresponsible than other choices we make daily, so no, you see are not a terrible parent if you do this.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. I did it. My kid woke up and the cleaning people had her at the front desk looking like Annie. I felt terrible. They scolded me in every language under the sun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did a NOLS course when I was 15 or 16 - flew to another country by myself, stayed in a room by myself, walked to the course headquarters using a map. I didn’t have a cell phone (I am in my 30s now). So these posters who say never don’t make sense to me and I’m risk averse. It’s gotta be by 14 or something, but potentially younger!

Good for you, I guess is what you want to hear. Unsound advice and really stupid reason to justify it to be okay. I know no one who would condone doing that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:our kid has been in their own hotel room since they were 9 or 10.

I don't understand the issue.

I think there is some next level trolling going on in this thread.

We are the same. I get if someone isn't comfortable leaving their kid, but it's no more dangerous or irresponsible than other choices we make daily, so no, you see are not a terrible parent if you do this.

So because daily you do more dangerous things, this makes this needless one okay.