What do you do with your baby when....?

Question

you have to do things like take a shower, take out the trash, check the mail, etc. I was told that I was a bad parent because I would put my daughter in her swing if she was awake while doing these things. They told me that I should always be in the room with my child because you never know what can happen. I understand that, but am I the only person who doesn't see anything wrong with walking outside for 2 minutes while I check the mail? Am I doing something wrong? I could put her in her crib, but if she is awake, then she would cry. I would, of course, rather have my baby cry then something happen to her, I just am wondering what you all do. Keep in mind I am talking about times when I am the only person home with the baby, when daddy is at work. She is almost 6 months old.

Answer 1

I bet you a million bucks the people telling you you should never leave your baby in another room do NOT co-sleep. So they are leaving their baby in another room for 10-12 hours a day or MORE.

As long as your daughter is somewhere safe then you can go out for a few minutes. If you are in the shower I would try to make sure you can hear her, just in case.

Only you know how safe the swing is at this point for your daughter. But I have never dragged my baby down to the basement to do the laundry, besides its a death trap down there. I *used to* shower with my son in the swing in the hall beside the bathroom door. Now I have a toddler and a newborn and the toddler likes to play with the newborn. This makes things more interesting as I can only really leave the newborn in the bedroom with the door locked if I am out of site. Otherwise my son can get to him as he can climb into cribs, playpens, and even over the baby gates (though he knows he shouldn't and usually doesn't)

Also you never know what could happen while you are asleep, so someone better be awake and staring at the baby at all times =))

Answer 2

I always kept my daughter(s) in their playpen while I ran to get the mail, or take the trash out. As far as taking a shower I would do that first thing in the morning before my husband left for work. At 6 month sof age I would be careful with leaving her alone on the swing..because they are getting a bit more active and you never know what could happen at least in the playpen she is secure in there, she is not at the age of trying to get out of it. I would not go as far as calling you a bad parent, i mean lets face it we all have things we need to get done but just remember anything can happen in even seconds so the more secure you have her the better off you will be.

Answer 3

I will put our 5 month old in his playpen or crib with his play gym thing while I take a shower. I have learned to take quick ones. If he is really upset that day I will bring his bouncy seat into the bathroom and the sound of the water calms him down a lot while I shower. I will leave him in his bouncy, crib, playpen or on the floor while I check the mail. I don't leave him anywhere he could get hurt. You aren't a bad mom for doing what you do.

Answer 4

6 months is too old for her to be left in a swing... by that age, they know how to wiggle and squirm and she could easily get out or tip the swing. If the baby was a month or 2 old and couldn't really move, then I think leaving her in the swing would be ok.

Do you have an excersaucer? They're great for the older babies. They sit in there and jump around and play with toys. This works great for cooking dinner and showering. Do you have a pack 'n play? Older babies and young toddlers can play in there too... that would be good if you ran out to get the mail quick.

I don't think its a good idea to put the baby in the crib unless its for sleeping... they sometimes get the wrong message... keep that just for sleeping.

*EDIT - the carseat idea is only safe for newborns... again, as soon as they can wiggle and squirm, they can flip the car seat too... seen it happen. Be careful!

Answer 5

For showering I always wait until my boy has gone down for his nap. As for running out to check the mail, and in my case letting the dog in and out, doing dishes, taking care of laundry and stuff if he isn't sleeping I put him in either his exersaucer or activity bouncer. If I am going to be in the kitchen for longer than 5 minutes or so, I have an old school bouncy chair he sits in and watches me. The playpen will be going up again in a month or so as he is learning to get mobile as I won't be able to leave him on the floor unattended anymore.

It's not bad parenting to walk out of the room for a few minutes if you know your baby is safe. You can be in the same room and have your attention diverted and something can happen. Heck you can be staring right at them and have something happen so quick there is no way to stop it. The chances of that happening if you have created a safe environment though are minimal. Relax, tell those meanies to bugger off and go raise their own children. Sounds like you are doing fine to me. Besides it is healthy to leave baby alone for a bit and then come back, it teaches them object permanence even when out of sight and will help to reduce separation anxiety.

Answer 6

I was the only one home with our son after the 1st 3 days. Of course I had to shower and get the mail. I strapped him in his swing or bouncy seat or tried to do things when he was sleeping in his pack n play. Ocassionally I had to just let him cry in his crib to get a shower. I know some will think that's terrible but at 3+months he is a happy baby so I don't think it hurt him to cry some. He knows I'm his Mommy and that I love him!

Answer 7

Well most days I either take my son with me to the mail box, unless he is sleeping. Sometimes if I just can't get around to it I let my husband check the mail when he gets home. A lot of times I do things around the house when he is napping, or wait till my husband gets home. I really try to spend as much time as I can with my baby because it is only little once, and the dishes and everything else will be there later.

Answer 8

I don't think your a bad parent for that. I do the same. I used to strap my son into his carseat and set him on the bathroom floor while I showered, etc., and now that he's 9 mo and mobile, I put him in his activity center (walker without wheels). Granted, I do have him in the bathroom with me, but checking the mail, taking trash out, etc. he is inside when I go out. I don't see anything wrong with what you've said at all....and those that do either have too much time on their hands or don't have kids. lol

Answer 9

I could not possibly count the number of times I have gone to get the mail or take out the trash with a baby in a swing- lots and lots of times!! You are only gone a minute - you could be in the kitchen for longer for sure many times.

If some one called you a bad parent for this tell them to mind their own business!

I also did use a small playpen for such occasions once the babies could sit up on thier own- this is what most moms use for occasions like this.

Answer 10

I think that is fine. Your whole life cannot stop because you have a baby. Also, your baby needs to have some independence and alone time. What do these people expect you to do at night time... sleep in the crib with her? I would make sure to have a baby monitor by the baby so you can hear if anything is happening but you are not a bad parent just for getting things accomplished. Good luck!!