Leaving a toddler in the bath

[nattyfred]

Hi I'm just wondering how old your lo was when you first started leaving the room when they were in the bath? I know children can drown in an inch of water etc so just wondering what the acceptable age is and also any things you do to minimize accidents?

[hj1981]

i think Miss B was about 15months!

and it was only for a few seconds at a time (and yes i know thats all it takes), while i cleaned up dinner! but i always had her talking to me when i was out of the room so i could here her!

and we just drilled in her head not to stand up in the bath and when she did once, sorry to say she got a smack and has never done it again! she learnt her lesson!

[beckoes]

in both houses we have lived in with dd1 her bed room has been right next to the bathroom. first house we didnt have a bath, only a shower but she would go in there on her own from about 15/18 months while i got her pjs ready. same at this house. she is neaarly 3. i will leave her for a minute or two...but we sing a song while i go to the other room etc. and she dosnt stand up in the bath. saying that, she did slip once and iheard the water splash and the singing stopped,she was ok and had just slipped backwards some how, but it certainly made me more carful. with something so precious you can never be too carful!

[Ginger]

my kids are 3yo and 2yo and i still watch them the whole time they're in the bath. i have ran out to get a towel before, but i sit in the bathroom with them the whole time.

[zap]

My boys are three and I still don't leave the room. It's more the slipping and seriously hurting themselves that freaks me out.

[nattyfred]

I have been leaving dd in while I get her pjs ready etc and I hear her playing etc but my dh feels really strongly that I shouldn't. I have told him if he had the amount of stuff to do he would have to make shortcuts here and there, and honestly I wouldn't just stick her in and walk away.. Anyway thanks

[MrsFabuloso]

DD and DS1 bathe together and they have been left alone for a few mins at a time since DS1 was about 2, so DD would have been 3-3 1/2. I would maybe clear the table, or get their clothes. I will now leave them for about 10ish mins while I do the kitchen or dress DS2 from his bath. I can always hear them nattering away together and make them call to me if they're too quiet. They're now nearly 3 and 4.

[Arimeh]

I leave all 3 big ones in the bath and have for awhile.

If there is whinging its good. If the whinging and fighting stop then we go in to see what the problem is lol

I trust DS to dob in his sisters if they stand up.

[Arimeh]

Double post

[[M]umma[M]ia]

My DD doesnt like me being in the bathroom with her anymore lol. I think its abit of her chillout time...

I put her in and tend to do things around that end of the house so I can look in on her every couple of minutes. Shes huge on talking to herself, so I dont worry too much when I can hear her talking to her face washer etc lol

So probably left her alone abit more in the past couple months. Shes now 2 years 8 months.

[Artechim]

I leave DS (3.5) and DD (21 months) in the bath together for 5-10 minutes at a time. I am usually clearing up the dining room which is right across the hall, door is open and I can hear them. I have been doing this for a few months now.

[onthefly]

I can't remember, but it's been awhile. Maybe 18 months? One of us is always nearby, so if he goes quiet we can check on him right away.

[Isadora]

I leave my 3.5 yr old, but I am always also nearby tidying up etc. She constantly chats away to herself in there, so I am always listening out for that. If she goes quiet I yell out 'are you ok in there' and get back a 'yes mum' hehe. But I never left her before 2.5 yrs.

[Fleur]

Pie is 22 months and I will leave her for a couple of minutes while I go into the bedroom to get her pyjamaas etc ready. It's right next to the bathroom & I can hear her. Like zap, I'm more worried about her slipping & hurting herself. I'm sure I was leaving the other kids alone for 5 -10 minutes at that age.

[tellytubby]

Hey Nat. I leave both my two in the bath together for 5 or so minutes for a play, then come in and scrub them up and get them out. My house is very small, I can clearly hear them both. And as Mel said - whenever DS stands up, DD yells out, "Muuuuuuum!!!! FFEEOOOOOO!!!" lol. My DH doesn't like me doing it either.

[HotI]

I haven't got to that age yet. I am concerned she would turn the tap on and burn herself (in addition to the slipping/drowning....) do you have baby-proofs on your taps?

[Mum2Romone]

Ill only do it to get a towel or a nappy. i can see the bath from my bedroom though so hes never 'out of my sight"

[nattyfred]

I haven't got to that age yet. I am concerned she would turn the tap on and burn herself (in addition to the slipping/drowning....) do you have baby-proofs on your taps?

We have just moved into a house that the hot water is nowhere near hot so no I haven't been concerned about that aspect aside from turning taps off tightly but you make a really good point. Thanks.