Have/would you leave your kids sleeping alone in the room and go f/swim? *SEE #159*

[sam_gordon]

My personal opinion... because of the 2yo, I don't think I would do it. My concerns are whether I would hear the baby monitor (presumbably if I'm floating in the pool, the monitor is somewhere out of the water), and if I did, the amount of time it would take to get out of the pool, grab the key, then get to the room.

My youngest DD (just turned 5) has had to entertain herself for the last year or so when I'd take a shower. Granted, it was only for about 15-20 minutes, we were in the same house, but "OMG, what if the house caught fire?" or "OMG, what if someone breaks in and kidnaps her?" I think those possibilities are far more remote than tramatizing DD by having her in the bathroom with me.

Now, for me, no I wouldn't do it. But once the youngest hits about 6-7 and the oldest is a teen, probably yes.

 

[momto2js]

I had a 1 and 3 year old both sleeping in cribs at the time. We lived at a residence inn for 9 weeks during a move last summer and at nap time while they were both a sleep I indeed left them in the room, behind a locked door, went down one floor and moved the laundry from the washer to the dryer. Each time I was gone about 4 minutes.

I'm not sure I would sit outside by the pool but if it was that close I would have considered it during those LONG 9 weeks.

 

[bumbershoot]

IMO, these are the most helpful posts here. Since it seems the OP isn't staying at CBR, they aren't going to have the same situation they had before, so the whole thing is moot. She had a small list of circumstances under which she would do it, and the rooms at POP won't allow her to check the items off her list. So it's moot.

I see on your ticker you are staying at the Pop and the rooms are not very close to the pool, even if you paid for a preferred pool location.

It says in the OP's sig that they are staying at POP Century on their upcoming trip, the pools there are definatly not as close to the rooms as in the pic posted.

****************

I will put them my kids (5 and 9) to bed and go out front on nice evenings to chat with neighbours. Only because we have a wooden fence in the back that locks from the inside only so I am closeby the only accessible entrance and my kids are old enough to know that we are right outside the front door of our own home if they need us.

If she were staying at CBR, and at the room area she stayed at before, pictured further on in the thread, her situation would be just about the same as yours. Older kid one year younger, younger kid one year older, right near the ONLY entrance to the room, and kids old enough to know where she is.

Not really a good comparison. While her parents kept claiming that they were very close and could see their room, the truth is that they were over 100 yards away from the room and could not see the door from where they sat.

yep.

Although it's the first thing I thought of BEFORE I opened the post and actually read, with a clear mind, what the OP wrote...once I read what she wrote, and all the "ifs" that need to be fulfilled before she goes to the pool, I realized that my kneejerk reaction was a reaction to something ENTIRELY different than what the OP was proposing.

Look at this picture from CSR.

OK that picture gives me the urge to give CBR another try. I just didn't enjoy our pirate room enough, but wow is that lovely!

I'm hoping we can see our room door from the pool... I wouldn't feel comfortable unless we could see the door and hear with the baby monitor.

Before she edited to clarify (what she had already said), this was the info given. IF these things were done, THEN she'd go forth. It's too bad so few people noticed it.

 

[MelanieMichelle]

I haven't posted before but I felt moved by this discussion. My husband and I have occassionally left our children (nine and 3) in a hotel room in the evening if we were right near by. I really don't think that it's that different from working in your garden while your children are having a nap. Also, if a fire or other emergency were to occur, you may be more likely to be able to assist your children while awake and near by than you would if you were asleep beside them (I'm a heavy sleeper .

I'm wondering if this is regionally based. I'm Canadian and it's quite common for parents in our area to do this. My nine year old also walks to the local library by himself and goes to school on the city bus alone. We don't live in a small town either, and as a child I also did these things and I lived in Toronto.

I'm wondering if the media and TV give people an incorrect impression of the dangers our children face in the world. A child is much more likely to die in the hotel pool (as, sadly, thousands of children do every year) than be the victim of an abduction and yet we all still let our children swim.

Every parent needs to do what is within their own comfort level given their own calculation of the risks, and not judge others who make a different choice.

 

[princessmom29]

OK that picture gives me the urge to give CBR another try. I just didn't enjoy our pirate room enough, but wow is that lovely!

Just FYI, that is CSR not CBR, and it is really lovely. We have stayed there twice and really enjoyed it.

 

[mapmakerj]

OK that picture gives me the urge to give CBR another try. I just didn't enjoy our pirate room enough, but wow is that lovely

Just a little FYI, that picture is of CSR (Coronado Springs Resort) not CBR. Didn't want you to book a regular room at CBR and be disappointed that the area looked nothing like the picture.

Edit: princessmom29 and I must have been posting at the same time!

 

[kidshop]

I haven't posted before but I felt moved by this discussion. My husband and I have occassionally left our children (nine and 3) in a hotel room in the evening if we were right near by. I really don't think that it's that different from working in your garden while your children are having a nap. Also, if a fire or other emergency were to occur, you may be more likely to be able to assist your children while awake and near by than you would if you were asleep beside them (I'm a heavy sleeper .

I'm wondering if this is regionally based. I'm Canadian and it's quite common for parents in our area to do this. My nine year old also walks to the local library by himself and goes to school on the city bus alone. We don't live in a small town either, and as a child I also did these things and I lived in Toronto.

I'm wondering if the media and TV give people an incorrect impression of the dangers our children face in the world. A child is much more likely to die in the hotel pool (as, sadly, thousands of children do every year) than be the victim of an abduction and yet we all still let our children swim.

Every parent needs to do what is within their own comfort level given their own calculation of the risks, and not judge others who make a different choice.

IF something were to happen, anything, really that would bring attention to the fact that the parents left the kids alone in the room...........what would it look like to the public, to your family? Imagine if they told the story in a Lifetime movie? (LOL). Would it be considered sufficent for the safety of the kids or negligent?



Pretty much anything is fine as long as nothing bad happens....most people count on that and we do get lots of 'freebies'. As you get older you start to realize the bad stuff can happen to you and you try to head it off whenever possible.

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

I haven't posted before but I felt moved by this discussion. My husband and I have occassionally left our children (nine and 3) in a hotel room in the evening if we were right near by. I really don't think that it's that different from working in your garden while your children are having a nap. Also, if a fire or other emergency were to occur, you may be more likely to be able to assist your children while awake and near by than you would if you were asleep beside them (I'm a heavy sleeper .

I'm wondering if this is regionally based. I'm Canadian and it's quite common for parents in our area to do this. My nine year old also walks to the local library by himself and goes to school on the city bus alone. We don't live in a small town either, and as a child I also did these things and I lived in Toronto.

I'm wondering if the media and TV give people an incorrect impression of the dangers our children face in the world. A child is much more likely to die in the hotel pool (as, sadly, thousands of children do every year) than be the victim of an abduction and yet we all still let our children swim.

Every parent needs to do what is within their own comfort level given their own calculation of the risks, and not judge others who make a different choice.

I DO think it is regional. DH is from Vancouver, went to school in Toronto and is now here. WHOLE different world. The 'trust' and lifestyle is VERY different there. I am more comfortable with my children walking to UVic than I am having my children walk to the neighborhood next to ours.

There is a similiar, trust and comfort in London as it is in places in Canada. WHOLE different world....

 

[Zeebs]

IF something were to happen, anything, really that would bring attention to the fact that the parents left the kids alone in the room...........what would it look like to the public, to your family? Imagine if they told the story in a Lifetime movie? (LOL). Would it be considered sufficent for the safety of the kids or negligent?



Pretty much anything is fine as long as nothing bad happens....most people count on that and we do get lots of 'freebies'. As you get older you start to realize the bad stuff can happen to you and you try to head it off whenever possible.

On this people would not end up doing anything. EVERYTHING carries a risk, it is up to us as parents to decide if that is a risk we are willing to take.

Apparently between 1.5 and 5 people die every year in America choking on a hotdog. How many people still "take this risk" and eat them.

The OP isn't taking about leaving the kids in the room and going to the MK for the day.

I still work on the if you aren't comfortable doing it then don't but for me the proposed senario wouldn't be an issue.

Kirsten

 

[CandleontheWater]

OP- I don't see a problem with the scenario that you are presenting. She may have Pop on her ticker, but she mentioned CSR in her posts. She also said that she was going to dip her feet in the pool, not that she was going to swim laps. I know the rooms you are talking about and they are VERY close to the pool.

My son is currently sleeping in his room with his door closed, and I do not have the monitor on. I'm currently further away from him right now, than I would be sitting at the edge of the pool at CSR. All sorts of terrible things could be going on in his room RIGHT NOW, and I wouldn't know it. In fact someone could enter my house quietly, walk up the stairs and kidnap him and I wouldn't know because I'm one floor above him. I could go on and on....

OP you seem like you have a have a good head an your shoulders and can effectively weigh the potential risks with the potential outcomes. Enjoy dipping your feet in the pool.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I'm hoping we can see our room door from the pool so dh and I can go for a swim with the baby monitor nearby after the kids are asleep. I wouldn't feel comfortable unless we could see the door and hear with the baby monitor. Anyone else do this or feel okay doing this? Our kids will be almost 6 and 8, and a 2yo.

ETA: I'm talking a few feet from the door, not 100. In clear view of the door at all times.

No, Not Ever, Not Once, Not even considered

.....Ever hear about Madeline McCann?

 

[hoffmann2828]

I think there are a LOT of variables. If everything was perfect, then I would consider it.

Based on the picture posted, I would think that IS close enough, if you were sitting by the edge of the pool with your feet in. After all, it is literally a few steps from your patio then.

Personally I would be likely to do it now with DD4.5, but not at 2 or even 3 - even with older children. If the older child doesn't wake, do you really want a 2 year old scared to death or upset that mommy isn't there? Your youngest should be old enough to understand that you are sitting right outside if they wake up they should come outside. They should be able to understand you are close, and if they don't understand, then absolutely not.

If it wound up being busy, too dark, too noisy, etc., then I would pass. But, if it was 7:00am, there was no one in the pool, the kids were still sleeping, I might be tempted to drop my feet in - but again, only if it was as close as the picture. If you couldn't hear them crying, it is too far to try.

 

[nchulka]

Everyone against this seems to bring up Madeline Mccann. The only reason we know her name is because of how incredibly rare what happened to her was!

 

[kidshop]

Everyone against this seems to bring up Madeline Mccann. The only reason we know her name is because of how incredibly rare what happened to her was!

The reason we know her name is b/c her parents left her alone in a hotel room so they could go eat. I'm sure parents leave their kids alone like this every day, and nothing happens. Doesn't mean it's the best option or particularly smart.


Is it likely something will happen? Nope, and as long as you can live with yourself if something should; go for it.

 

[tlbwriter]

Everyone against this seems to bring up Madeline Mccann. The only reason we know her name is because of how incredibly rare what happened to her was!

And everybody who brings it up seems to be ignorant of the facts of the case, which don't compare to the OP's proposal at all.

Personally, I wouldn't do what the OP is suggesting. It's outside my comfort zone. I'd leave an awake child watching TV (assuming my door really is as close to the pool as those in the photo) but not a sleeping child who might wake up and be confused and scared. But I wouldn't consider it neglectful for a parent to do this.

And please, people, no more McCanns. They were more than a football field's length away. They couldn't see the door. They checked on their kids, at most, every 15 minutes (and some of that "checking" was apparently not visual, just listening at the door). Not the same thing. Not even close.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

I think there is a big difference in leaving your child (2 year old) alone in your house or their bedroom which is child proofed, and leaving them alone in a hotel room which is not child proofed. 2 year olds are inquisitive. It is likely that they could quietly get out of bed and "explore" the room without a lot of noise... at least for a small while. (Eventually they'd make some noise) What could happen in that time? My 2 year old can tear up a room in a few minutes. What about light cords, electrical socket, and the dreaded bathroom? I'd be afraid of all the "stuff" that is in a room that is not child friendly. Sometimes the biggest danger is not the intruder outside the door but rather the common household things inside the door. Just a thought....

 

[ccgirl]

Would I do it? No. Even if you could see the door; what if there was an emergency in the room? The only time I have ever left my children "alone" was to sit directly outside the door while they were sleeping to have a glass of wine with my DH. Would you leave them alone at home to go to the neighbors house where you could still see your front door?

 

[daisyduck123]

You must have never stayed there before, or you would know that out of the thousands of rooms there...there are virtually none that are just "a few feet from the pool".

 

[savannahcat]

OP - I don't think this is a crazy idea at all. I have two girls, ages 4 and 7, and I would do this in a heartbeat.

 

[bwilcox]

If everything went perfectly as the OP posted, I don't see any difference between this situation and swimming in the pool in our backyard after our kids are asleep. However, I also agree with the PP who said there are few if any rooms at POP that would meet the OP's requirements.