Our preschool teacher called CPS on a family that was leaving their infant at home to take their toddler to the nearby preschool. Don’t do it.

It depends on state law. It's not illegal in DC. I have totally mowed the yard, walked the dog around the block, walked to CVS down the block for diapers. When I do so, I inform my neighbors who have baby monitor privileges/key (and for whom I do similar sleeping baby monitoring in emergencies). I don't get in my car and I am not gone longer than 20 minutes.

Also, my babies used to be able to sense when I left the house - if I left my mom or DH with my baby, the poor baby would wake up and be crying for ages (until whoever had volunteered to let me go to the gym or dinner or whatever gave up and called me to come home.) When I was in the house, they would sleep through the night.

I get that the added expense and hassle of childcare makes date night harder but this is NOT something your cheap out on.

OP, it maters how long you will be gone. I have done: half a block to the bus stop to wait for older child to get off the bus and alternate side parking/street cleaning. In both cases I was near the house and home no more than 15min max, usually less than 10. Previous similar questions on here: yes I would totally go outside to my yard and mow it while the baby was asleep. Have tea at the neighbors house? no.

Electrical fires can move very fast. And one wouldn’t need to engulf the whole house ... just the sleeping area heaven forbid!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see nothing wrong with it. What could possibly happen to the baby assuming they are swaddled. They could cry a bit, but it's not much different than putting your baby down for a nap.

Umm, a house fire maybe? A break-in? Not likely of course, but it's irresponsible to leave them when they are helpless to their environment.

Do you understand how fires work, there is no way a fire could engulf your house in 10 minutes, what if someone break in while you are there and you are a small woman.

You under estimate fire. https://www.capitalgazette.com/cgnews-annapolis-area-mansion-fire-report-released-20150805-story.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To go someplace 5 minutes away? Or is this terrible? Baby has been consistently STTN for a month now and never wakes up until hours later once he is put to bed at 7pm

This sounds suspiciously like you want to put baby to bed and walk down to the local neighborhood restaurant for dinner and avoid paying for a babysitter....

I agree, and OP, if that's the case, you should realize that if you do this, you will not be able to enjoy yourself an ounce. I once ran out to pick up a preordered meal from the place that was literally next door to our condo after I put the baby down for bed — I was away from our unit less than five minutes, and I felt sick with worry the whole time. I'm not usually someone who worries much about remote possibilities, but all I could think was that I'd left that little helpless guy alone in his crib and WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED. Please reconsider.

Sure, just like you can drive your car in reverse on the highway! Dum dum

Anonymous wrote:I see nothing wrong with it. What could possibly happen to the baby assuming they are swaddled. They could cry a bit, but it's not much different than putting your baby down for a nap.

What if the house caught fire?

It's really unlikely anything will happen, but if it does, it could be bad. These days aren't going to last forever, so just get a sitter or bring baby with you. You'll be able to leave the kid at home alone soon enough.

Anonymous wrote:To go someplace 5 minutes away? Or is this terrible? Baby has been consistently STTN for a month now and never wakes up until hours later once he is put to bed at 7pm

Wtf? Your backward with a monitor? Then yes. Otherwise, no.

IT'S ILLEGAL

Period.

Do not do this. Ever.

A baby, sure. My baby, no.