Opinions wanted - leaving kid alone

MyBabeMaddie wrote: Adam got a new job which is less than a mile away. It takes 2 minutes (literally) to drop him off and come back... What would you do considering that we live in a safe place, doors locked, are gone for 2 minutes, its 630am, below zero temps and snowy. Would you let her sleep while your gone or would you wake her up and take her with you. We are in total disagreement about this.

gr33n3y3z replied: to much can happen in 2 min.

amymom replied: Take her with you!!!

hoosier momma replied: Take her with you. Not to be harsh, but a child could die in two minutes.

Edited to add--- if it is only two minutes, why can't he walk?

CantWait replied:
I agree.

julesmom replied: What if you got in a car accident? Who would know she was home by herself and how long would it be before someone got to her?

Hopefully that never happens, but you never know.

sparkys2boys replied: Im agreeing here.. take her with you. Its just not safe even for a minute.

MyBabeMaddie replied:
Good question - cause hes lazy i guess or maybe because he'd have to wake up a little bit earlier?!

stella6979 replied: Honestly, I have no idea how anyone could think it's ok to leave a baby at home by themselves. Even if it is just for 2 mintues.

hopefulmomtobe replied: Take her with you!!! What if something happened and you couldn't get back home...the thought of that would scare me to death. I even take my kids out of the car even if I run into the gas station for 1 second to grab something....safe place or not....anything can happen anywhere at anytime!

Jamison'smama replied: Oh my, despite the obvious safety factors, you would be arrested if for any reason the police were notified (accident etc.)

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I am assuming he's the one that thinks it's ok for him to leave her alone....

Not to sound harsh... but he's an idiot for even suggesting it.

He should maybe look into carpooling... or maybe just walk. 2 minutes... puh-LEASE!

Twelve Volt Man replied: Odds are, nothing would ever happen in those two minutes, but like julesmom said, if you got into an accident, your return home would be delayed. Everyone has left a kid unattended for two minutes at some time or another, even if it was just to take the trash out, get the mail, or chat with a neighbor. The difference, though, is that you're still in the vicinity if something did happen. My advice is to tell hubby to bundle up and beat feet.

cameragirl21 replied: personally, i think he should walk, end of story. there is no reason why you and the baby should have to be awakened, forced to get up and get dressed just because he doesn't have a driver's license. a 2 minute drive shouldn't be more than a 10 or 15 minute walk...he's young, he can handle it.
if i were you i would make that the ONLY option on the table. and his suggestion about leaving the baby alone because he's too lazy to walk?! i'm not even going to comment on that.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
With a baby?!?! I think it's a no brainer. Anyone who thinks leaving a child that young alone, even for two minutes, when nobody is around is NUTS and should be reported to CPC if they follow through with it.

ETA: like twelve volt man said, everyone has left a child alone for two minutes to take out trash or activities similar, but actually leaving the house and driving two minutes down the road???? MUCH different. He's crazy, and not to sound harsh, I don't know why you keep him around honey. He's an idiot.

stella6979 replied:
I could not agree more!

DillsMommy replied: Take her with you. What if there was an accident and you were stuck in traffic, your car broke down, etc...

luvmykids replied: I don't have much to add, I'd tell him you're not leaving her alone and you're also not waking her up just for a two minute drive so he can walk or figure something else out. Don't get mad at him, just matter of factly tell him this is how it is.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I have walked to the mailbox two houses down while my baby was sleeping in the house, making sure all doors were locked, but I think it's a different story when you're getting in the car and actually leaving her. Like someone else said, what if you got into an accident or got caught up in traffic or bad weather. Not a good idea IMO.

Paprikash replied: I just don't see the need for the question. I"m not trying to flame you but I just don't see why anyone would drive rather than walk "two minutes." But in the big city where I live we pay several hundred dollars a month to park a car, so I guess it's just a totally different way of looking at driving.

mummy2girls replied: well looking at the age of the child i would not leave the child alone. Anything can happen in a 2 minute span. Plus what if you get stuck for some reason or in a car accident( god forbid) or anything can happen which would your child would be left more than 2 minutes. plus you can get charged with child dangerment if caught even if its just 2 minutes...

Calimama replied:
I agree. It's sad that people feel it's okay.

moxee24 replied:

Kentuckychick replied: Nope, don't leave her alone... I agree, way too much can happen in two minutes time. A fire, someone breaking in, just anything and you'd absolutely never forgive yourself for leaving her alone.

Do you have a neighbor close by that's up that time of the morning getting ready for work? Someone that wouldn't mind running over to the house for a minute or two? A middle school child (13+) or high school student that would be up getting ready for school... you could even pay them a dollar a day just to come by for two minutes (by the end of the week they'd have enough to get a McD's value meal or something.) I don't know... I just think I'd easily be willing to do that for my neighbor... and then when it gets warmer he can start walking.

But no... I'd never leave her alone.

Boo&BugsMom replied: Not to mention, if something where to happen when you're not there, you can get yourself thrown in jail and have some serious charges pressed against you. Do you really want that risk?

MyBabeMaddie replied:
Thats a good idea but I don't really know many neighbors - the few I know are old men who are kind of weird.

I'll show him this thread when he gets home from work -

Its like you know if you feel bad for waking her up and dragging her outside and would rather her be able to stay asleep in her warm bed get your a** down to the $%^&*( Driver's License Center and get your d*** license back. Or simply WALK!

Ahhh I got myself started on the license issue now I'm even more mad

Brias3 replied: I wouldn't leave the baby alone for any amount of time. It's just plain not safe. Anything could happen.

lisar replied:
That was my thought exactly. Take her with you.

C&K*s Mommie replied: You know the right thing to do, and my thoughts have been mentioned numerous times in this thread alone already, so I have nothing further to add.
If the agreement between the two of you is to still awake early to take him the two minutes down the road, than you may luck out and she may end up still sleeping the entire time. When I had to take Chris to work early, the girls may have awoken for a split second but were back fast asleep shortly.

One further point to make: If you know you will have to get Maddie up early on cold mornings, than I would suggest dressing her warm the night before so it will be easier to toss a blanket around her and leave.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Buy him a bike and a helmet to preserve what ever brain cells he has left. No way would I leave a child in the house for any length of time if I weren't just outside.

holley79 replied: The house can burn down in 2 minutes.

redplaydoh replied: Here's my 2 cents worth... of course everyone said what I think. no way I'd leave her alone and no way would I wake a sleeping baby to go out for less than 2 minutes.

I vote for walking too... since we moved here and I don't have a car I have to walk everywhere. The boys and I go out all the time... in ALL kinds of weather. I didn't like it at first but it is a great way to perk you up, get some exercise and to wind down after a stressful day.

Even if he had a license I can't imagine DRIVING when it's only 1 mile away. Conserve gas, conserve emissions and get those feet moving. We walk to the pediatrician's office and it probably 2 miles (or a little more) away. Only when they are very sick do I take the bus. If my boys could do it (no stroller, I make them walk) at 2 and 3 years old then he can do it.

MomToJade&Jordan replied:
Thank you Kelly. I was going to say this very thing. You don't need a lisecnce to pedal a bike.

cameragirl21 replied:
good for you, DeAnn, you said that beautifully and bring up many good points.

MyBabeMaddie replied:


That was good!

MoonMama replied:
TAKE HER WITH YOU!....or really he should walk flat out!

PrairieMom replied: So, did he read the thread? what is the verdict?

MyBabeMaddie replied:
He read it and he was like I didn't think to realize what could happen in the 2 minutes we were gone. He felt badly about it he said he would never do anything to put Maddie in danger and please don't think less of him his intentions were good.

He also said that if I wouldn't let him take my car he would walk! He's going to have to walk starting next week anyways cause thats when classes start back up for me!

Thanks for helpin' me knock some sense into him

Brias3 replied: Glad the outcome was positive! Good for you to sticking to your guns