Children left alone?

Question

I just saw a story in the news about a couple who left their 4-yr old and 2-yr old twins sleeping in a hotel while they went out to eat. They returned and Maddie (the 4-yr old) was gone. This was in Portugal.

Now, I disagree with their decision to leave the children, even asleep, for that long a period. But it made me wonder, how long is too long? One scenerio was brought up... if your kids are asleep and you're in the back yard enjoying a sunset with your spouse, and someone breaks in and steals the kids, does that make you a "bad parent" because the kids were alone in the house?

Or the mom who stepped only a couple yards away to return a shopping cart, only to return and find her child gone from her buckled car seat...

How far is too far? How long is too long? an What is this !!!! world coming to?

Answer 1

that is bad 2 and 4 year old is bad. But at what age can a child play outside in the front yard. My 13 year old had the police called on him because he was playing in the front yard with his dog. My kids are not allowed to play outside at all. It's not the same as when we were kids, where we would ride our bikes til dark. Now it's kids of any age can't play outside with out the police showing up so they don't anymore. This is what our America has come too, Don't you love it.

Answer 2

wow u r right it sure makes u think. As I read the first part about the couple leaving their kids I was thinking who would do that. \Then you pointed out about working in the back yard or returning a cart a few feet away. How many of us do this, I know I do. After my son goes to bed I go outside and work on my flower beds it is my relaxation. And another one you missed the mother who is holding her child's hand and lets go to grab something off the shelf and her kid is gone. I don't think it makes us bad parents just victims of unfortunate circumstances. But there is a line that is too far. Having supper for an hour or more in a building not close is a little too far.

Answer 3

As long and as far is it takes something to happen to a child is too long and too far.

There are some very dangerous people out there and so long as you take the proper safety measures to protect your child and are not paranoid that everyone is out to steal your child then you are a good parent in my mind on this front.

Also, there are laws on how long you can leave a child of a certain age unsupervised (weekends, over night, ect), I'm not sure how they are inforced though and in none of the cases you just discribed was there any "large" passage of time.

So lock the doors, change your locks, have a 'child find' file on all your kids hidden away with all your important paperwork in case of abduction (local police forces can help you with this), and teach them about safety in ways they can understand as soon as they can understand without making them fear the world and you've done your best as a parent.

Answer 4

A child should never be left alone, in the house if asleep they should be checked every 20 minutes, anything can happen not just someone breaking in. And as for the shopping cart business I try to park as close as possible to cart cage, if not I normally unload the bags in the car and return the cart with the child with me( if it's hot and not raining). If it's cold I put my daughter in the car first, unload the bags and leave the cart where it is. I once returned the cart after putting my daughter in her car seat but I kept my eyes on the truck, I walked backwards. I am very protective when it comes to my daughter.

Answer 5

I personally think they left their kids longer than they are claiming because it would take a half an hour to walk both ways, ( to the room and back), so they were negligent as far as I`m concerned.. What if one of the children woke up needing to use the bathroom, or they were scared? Not to mention the resort offered babysitting services!! Why did they not use the babysitting services or why didn`t they bring a nanny? I know couples even on vacation with their children like alone time, why didn`t they find proper child care?This story just reeks of laziness, I think...

Answer 6

I am a mom who believes that if you can't hear them you are too far. I used to work at a grocery store and one day a Mom had left her sleeping 4 month old in the car to grab a gallon of milk. It was nice outside, and she rolled down the window. When the mom got back to the car, her child wasn't breathing. She had woken up and swallowed a hair barette. My point is, even if someone doesn't break in and steal them, they should be supervised. That mom will never forget the guilt I am sure.

Answer 7

I have 4 kids all under the age of 6 and I will walk out of the house and do something outside for a few minutes but no longer then that.
I would never leave them in the house or hotel and go out its just not safe for the kids they can get in so much trouble on their own.

yes its a scary world we are living in raising our kids the best way we know how,
I know Im afraid to let them out of my sight in stores,

Answer 8

We had two sets of foster kids in here recently: Two girls ages 2 and four and a girl-4 and boy-3. I would maybe leave them long enough to run out to the dumpster. I left the little girls napping in the bedroom while I was in the hall talking to the upstairs neighbor. The boy and girl didn't nap well, nor would they play in the bedroom for "quiet time." I guess it depends on the kids, but I wouldn't leave for more than a few minutes.

Answer 9

Sometimes you can do everything right and bad things still happen. I don't think that necessarily applies in the case of Maddie though. But obviously there's a point at which you can't keep them safe. We never get further from the kids than the baby monitor can transmit to and would never drive away.

Answer 10

I don't but Inever leave my 4yr old alone ever I take with me to return carts, and if he sleep and i'm out side i lock the door i'm not using and don't leave the site of the door I am using because I don't trust people in general. This may sound pariond but its better safe then to be sorry later begging on the 5 o'clock news to bring my son back.