leaving baby home alone....?

Question

my husband was talking to me about his freinds leaving the 10 month old baby home alone while they dropped my husband off at work, i dont think thats right at all (the baby was asleep). but then he said i do it too but i dont really do THAT. i live in apartments and a few times in the past i have walked nextdoor to borrow a marker or to ask a quick question but never drove off without the baby, i dont liek taking him out in the cold. its very cold here. should i stop doing that or do you think its normal?

the next door is ten feet form our door and i leave our front door open.

i never dirve away, i thought i said that.

Answer 1

Well, being a single parent, I couldn't get anything done unless the baby was asleep. I believe the ones that say never ever, have never done it alone, or never done it at all. A baby monitor is a good idea. If you don't have one, get one. They cost $25 new. Ask around to others with kids if you can't afford a new one. A neighbor as close as 10 feet is no different than being in the next room in your own home as long as the doors are open and you can see and hear your apartment and it's a safe neighborhood. A woman lost her child being next door, but she was over there getting high. Be in control of your situation and be aware of your surroundings. The folks that drive off need to be reported and have child services teach them something. Please don't be foolish just because someone else is. I work with a girl that leaves her 4 year old alone for about 20 minutes every morning while her husband drives her to work and it makes me sick.

Answer 2

You are probably going to get a lot of never leave your child alone. However; I feel that as long as the child is safe you can leave your child alone. I live on a lot of land and in the summer I need to cut the grass. During nap time I'm outside and stop every 15-20 minutes to go in an check on the kids. Children will be injured while you are standing right next to them. We cannot protect and watch them constantly. I do feel that leaving the area for more than 10 minutes is a little too much. When you are in the home do you watch your children constantly? Most likely not they are allowed to be by themselves.

Answer 3

Firstly you need to talk to your husbands friends about how dangerous it is to leave their baby at home alone. I cant believe anyone would actually do that!!!! Or if you dont know them well enough get your husband to. find out if this is a regular occurence and if it is I think you should contact the authorities as this is endangering the child and neglect.

You popping next door to quickly borrow something is fine as long as you know your baby is safe ie. asleep in the cot or in a playpen or bouncer.
There is a big difference between popping next door quickly and leaving a defenceless baby lone in a house and driving away. I thik you should explain that to your husbnd.

I lived in an apartment with my first child and I would leave her asleep in her cot while I took the trash out or hung out clothes. I wasnt leaving for hours just a minute.

How is this, my neighbour's stove caught on fire and she rushed to my apartment for help leaving her 10 month old son crawling on the floor!!!!!!!! I had to actually tell her to go get the baby and get him in my apartment, while I put the fire out. She didnt even think of getting him, how shocking is that?

Answer 4

Dont worry about it. I tend to run out to my car occasionally, and I take my monitor with me because thats what they are for. If what you are doing is wrong then why do they make the damn things? I understand what you mean. It is much easier to not wake the baby up, dress him for the weather, carry him out and so forth... a few minutes is nothing. Take the monitor (which is like being in the babies room practically) and listen. I also live in an apartment complex as well and I have ran to the neighbors to borrow various things.

Answer 5

I don;t think it will hurt to walk right next door for just a second, as long as the child is in a safe place. I would take the baby monitor with me just in case.
That man's insane and shouldn't be allowed to have children. What if his house would have caught fire or someone broke in? He would pay for that the rest of his life!
Totally different situation.

Answer 6

your friend has lost her mind and so have you i don't care if it is cold rap the bad up good so it will be warm and you know that the baby is warm then you go out. if it is that could and it is not a must that you go out keep your self in the house. i don't care if it's next door never leave a baby along. to be honest you or your friend needs a baby. or you both need help if you ask me. i'm a teen mom and i know beeter then that.

Answer 7

Someone might think they will only be gone a minute but accidents happen. A five minute trip could end up taking hours due to circumstances beyond one's control. Better safe than sorry. I can't imagine having to explain why I left my baby /child alone and something happened.

Answer 8

never leave ur baby @ home alone dress the baby up reallly warm if u have 2 take him out anything can happen its normal taking ur baby out in the cold if u have 2 its safer than the baby being home alone god forbid the apartment catch on fire

Answer 9

next door in an apt. isnt so bad....does your baby monitor work? clip it to your belt and go next door....driving off IS another story...hell, i drive my husband to the bus stop at 6:15 AM...my kids are 11 and 8 ...i am gone for 6 minutes total and i STILL dont feel 100% good about it!! at 10 months....wow, i wouldnt do it.
and if you are 5 minutes or less...and you know the baby is in a safe place....running next door isnt a big deal...but then again...a baby monitor is a pretty cheap investment!

Answer 10

SIDS...any child under the age of 2 should absolutely not be left unattended for any reason for any amount of time. I know of a guy who left his 18 month old daughter in the tub while he ran to the fridge...she was drowned when he got back. I am sure you would never do that, but just to be on the safe side, please never leave the baby alone.