Anonymous wrote:No. It takes about 5 seconds for a room to be engulfed in flames. Truly. I wouldn't do it.

I'm not saying your decision is wrong, because there are clearly strong arguments for not doing what OP suggests, but by the above logic do you consider it safe for your children to be in a separate room within the same house -- surely it takes more than 5 seconds to get from wherever you sleep to wherever your children sleep? At some point in parenting you have to accept some risk, and clearly this discussion shows that where the line is drawn between acceptable and too much is a very individualized choice.

NP here. While I would not leave my children unattended even in a scenario that the OP describes, some PPs have posted things about the McCann situation that have been quite inaccurate.

The McCanns were not within eyesight of their room at all when they were out dining during Madeleine's abduction. Here is a very detailed description of the events of that night, with many photos and other graphics showing just how foolish the parents were to leave three very young children (all age 3 and under) alone at night in an unfamiliar setting:

http://www.mccannfiles.com/id21.html

I wouldn't chance it.

Too risky.

If anything happened to the children, you could never live w/yourself.

No party in the world could be worth your children OP.

OP's joke shows how clearly she lacks common sense.

So being at your own home in the backyard is exactly the same as being outside at a neighbors house?

Would you be charged if something happened and you were at the neighbors? Would you be charged if something happened and you were outside your backyard?

Duh!

No. It takes about 5 seconds for a room to be engulfed in flames. Truly. I wouldn't do it.

Whoever took the little McCann girl was likely watching her parents and figured out they had left the children alone. How well do you know your neighbors? You never know when someone decides to take advantage of a situation where your children are vulnerable because an opportunity suddenly presents itself and the idea comes into their sick heads. I am generally pretty laid back but wouldn't take a risk like this regardless of how infinitesimally small the chances are that something bad could happen.

What about walking the dog? I do this often after DS is in bed. My former neighbors also used to come over (two connected townhouses down) with their monitor for drinks and board games. Never thought anything about it but I guess some would call them bad parents...?

I am as laid back as they come but I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself.

Now, that said, I would leave a sleeping kid to go borrow a cup of sugar (do people still do that?) or if I had to tell my neighbor something quick or if I were outside and went over their front yard for a quick chat (10 to 15 min maximum). Not to a party though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who go out, lock their doors, and leave baby monitor with their neighbor (it works next door). Not sure what I think about this.

I would call CPS in this particular case. There is no way to assume the neighbors pay enough attention to the monitor. It's basically leaving the child unattended.

That's nice...now get a life!

Anonymous wrote:We have friends who go out, lock their doors, and leave baby monitor with their neighbor (it works next door). Not sure what I think about this.

I would call CPS in this particular case. There is no way to assume the neighbors pay enough attention to the monitor. It's basically leaving the child unattended.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't even take the garbage downstairs in our condo building if I'm alone with DD. I wait until DH is home. And my monitor works down there too. There are just too many unknown potentials.

This is a good idea not just if something were to happen to DD but if something were to happen to you.

I don't drive to work. I mean, so many ways to die each time I leave the house.

Well hopefully you wouldn't drive to work while LEAVING THE BABY AT HOME ALONE. You missed half the point.

OP here. Thanks for the feedback everyone. I honestly never thought about the "wake up and no one is here" scenario.

I tag teamed with the husband, though there was maybe 10 minutes where no one was home with the baby, but he survived. All is well. No fires, kidnappings, head injuries or carbon monoxide poisonings.

I like the point a PP made about being in the backyard vs. the house. We have a fire pit in the back corner of our yard that DH and I sit around a lot in the evenings. All the kids are in bed. I think that part of our yard is about how far away the neighbors are, maybe even further, so that put things into perspective.

We have friends who go out, lock their doors, and leave baby monitor with their neighbor (it works next door). Not sure what I think about this.

Is it really that important to go to a party at your neighbors' house?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I don't even take the garbage downstairs in our condo building if I'm alone with DD. I wait until DH is home. And my monitor works down there too. There are just too many unknown potentials.

This is a good idea not just if something were to happen to DD but if something were to happen to you.

I don't drive to work. I mean, so many ways to die each time I leave the house.