How do you feel about this?

[mamacatnv]

Since my neighbors porch is actually closer to the main areas of my house than some areas of my garage it is something I have done.

We used a monitor that had light bars for noise and we even set it in the window of our ground floor room at WDW when we along with the entire family were all sitting right outside our doors visiting while DD was snoozing away.

I think to turn it off was irresponsible, but I don't think it is harsh to step outside with a baby monitor while the baby is asleep.

2 of my neighbors have had babies in the past year and we sat on the porches all summer with the monitors in tow, we can see and hear everything.

How many of you take a shower or run out to the garage or to the basement to do laundry? Depending on how far apart the neighbors houses are the situation the OP outlined could be a similar distance. JMO

 

[Kimmie5870]

I was in a fire when I was 7 and my biggest fear is that one of my kids will get caught in one. So no, I wouldn't leave them alone to go to a party or anything else.
OP
Several years ago I met a woman at the Childrens hospital that my DD goes to. She had 2 daughters aged 3 & 5 yrs. old in the burn unit and a 7 month old girl that died in a house fire. The fire broke out in the womans utility room while she was next door having cofee with the neighbor,by the time she realized what was going on it was to late for her to get into the house to get the baby. I guess the women did this every morning while the kids were still sleeping and supposedly they used a baby monitor. I know Child Protective Services were called because she *****ed to high heaven about it to anyone who would listen.

 

[ZPT1022]

I would never do it, I'd be too paranoid. We live in a small (16 unit) condo and I lock the door to check the mail, or retrieve something from the car, and while doing any of those things my front door is in sight the whole time. I'm just really nervous when it comes to something happening to my kids, especially the thought of something happening that I could have/should have prevented.

 

[ferris198]

How many of you take a shower or run out to the garage or to the basement to do laundry? Depending on how far apart the neighbors houses are the situation the OP outlined could be a similar distance.



To take a shower or throw a load of laundry in is one thing, to go to a party even next door ? They can't be compared.
I would never do that.
It would play on my mind too much

 

[MichelleVW]

I really don't see anything terribly wrong with it but I also would have run home from time to time to check on the baby myself . I never would have turned it off, that's the only part of the story that bothers me

I'm with you....it also depends how far the house was too. I probably would have done it....

 

[Jillpie]

... I see little difference between a sleeping baby next door with constant video survalience, or a sleeping baby down the hall with no monitor. .

I see a huge difference. What if a home intruder came in, snatched the baby all while the parents were doing their socializing and not watching the monitor at that moment? I am having such a hard time with so many people here thinking that its okay to just leave a baby alone. If thats ok, is it okay to JUST run into a store while the baby is in the car? Same thing, the baby is alone, period. It just shouldn't happen.

 

[Sleeping~Beauty]

I live in a safe neighborhood and would never do this.

 

[MELSMICE]

I probably would not have done it myself, but I don't think it's all that terrible. As a parent we all make decisions that we feel are the best for us & our kids.

 

[juligrl]

I see nothing wrong with it (until they stayed with the monitor off)... if they lived next door... I see little difference between a sleeping baby next door with constant video survalience, or a sleeping baby down the hall with no monitor. Leaving it off though while blabbing... and for almost an hour! That's just stupid.
Btw, my first thought when I started reading this was that the people had a babysitter, but still wanted contact because they were paranoid parents.

That was my first thought too!

 

[horseshowmom]

I have a major problem with this and think it could even be considered child neglect.

The sound was turned off, and they were "socializing" (and their attention was diverted.) I don't believe for one minute that they were truly "monitoring" that baby. Yes, they checked on the child from time to time visually (utilizing the monitor), but that was it.

Why would they turn the sound down? Were they afraid their baby might disrupt the party? Talk about putting yourself first (a party over taking care of their child)...

 

[disykat]

Never. Outside with a view of the house, sure, but inside another house at a party? No way!

 

[orljustin]

I have a major problem with this and think it could even be considered child neglect.

Neglect? That's ridiculous. Child snatching? C'mon. Like someone is going to be watching this house, out of all the houses in the neighborhood, 24/7 until the parents happen to go out to a party next door? Sure, there can always be a fire. But really, what are the chances of that in the 3 hours you are 20 feet away? There's no fire any other time, why would this night be any different.

Give 'em a break. They were probably happy to get some time with grown ups.

 

[akhenaten]

Neglect? That's ridiculous. Child snatching? C'mon. Like someone is going to be watching this house, out of all the houses in the neighborhood, 24/7 until the parents happen to go out to a party next door? Sure, there can always be a fire. But really, what are the chances of that in the 3 hours you are 20 feet away? There's no fire any other time, why would this night be any different.

Give 'em a break. They were probably happy to get some time with grown ups.

you get time with grown ups when you hire a sitter!!!

no fire any other time? thats why they arecalled tragedies...you don't expect it and it is out of the ordinary...

bottom line is that children are helpless and defensless....we, as parents and adults, have a duty and obligation to be there to protect them!!! you can't do that through a monitor......

 

[shirleyb]

Wow, I am a pretty laid back parent, and I can't imagine doing this, or that so many of you think it's ok. That being said, why hire baby sitters at all?

Sitting outside on the porch with house totally in sight to me is different than spending 3 hours at a party with a 9 month old home by themselves.

 

[katerkat]

I'll admit it - I've done it. Showered, mowed the lawn, done laundry, cleaned the garage, and YES, gone to a neighbor's while the baby is sleeping, with a baby monitor. All of my friends do it. (Yes, I'd jump off a bridge with them, too. ) We live in an incredibly safe neighborhood and the monitors light up with the smallest movement, even when turned down.

I would never turn it off and hang around for an hour, though.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Please get a babysitter. I would never forgive myself is I left a 9 month in my homem took the baby monitor to the neighbors, and the baby was injured or worse that could have been prevented with a person in the home.

 

[poohandwendy]

I'll admit it - I've done it. Showered, mowed the lawn, done laundry, cleaned the garage, and YES, gone to a neighbor's while the baby is sleeping, with a baby monitor. All of my friends do it. (Yes, I'd jump off a bridge with them, too. ) We live in an incredibly safe neighborhood and the monitors light up with the smallest movement, even when turned down.

I would never turn it off and hang around for an hour, though.

That's it, I am calling the panty wad police.

 

[JunieJay]

The only part of the story I find neglectful is the part where they turned off the monitor.

 

[Fishbone†]

Btw, my first thought when I started reading this was that the people had a babysitter, but still wanted contact because they were paranoid parents.

No, there wasn't a babysitter.... I'm sure of this due to different comments and conversations that took place about the monitor and the baby.

I realize that kidnappers, fires, burglars, etc are all very rare and 99 out of 100 times nothing will go wrong, but I'm just not sure I could ever forgive myself if this was the one time.

And I know that a parent doesn't watch the baby 100% of the time - they take nap time and night time opportunities to get things done, but to go to a party inside a house (downstairs) without hiring a babysitter still seems a bit on the irresponsible side. It was definitely farther than 20 feet, there was a lot going on, and it feels a little different than sitting on the porch outside with one friend having coffee while the baby naps. As for the hour the monitor was off, I'm sure they intended to leave right away, got caught up in the conversation and lost track of the time and what they were doing. How many times do you start to leave someone's house and end up talking at the door forever, or sitting back down to finish a conversation? And that right there is the concern - they were so easily distracted from what they were doing - they just didn't even think about it.... meanwhile......

I don't know - play it safe, hire a babysitter and give some young kid a chance to earn some money. JMHO

 

[cats mom]

Neglect? That's ridiculous. Child snatching? C'mon. Like someone is going to be watching this house, out of all the houses in the neighborhood, 24/7 until the parents happen to go out to a party next door? Sure, there can always be a fire. But really, what are the chances of that in the 3 hours you are 20 feet away? There's no fire any other time, why would this night be any different.

Give 'em a break. They were probably happy to get some time with grown ups.

So according to this logic you're probably OK with the mom who left her sleeping child in her BMW and took her dog into Nieman Marcus to pick up a few things in Scottsdale, AZ just last week? After all, what are the chances that someone is going to pick that particular car to break into etc, etc. She was only in the store for about 30 minutes or so.

That mom was arrested for child endagerment.

While I might have been somewhat OK with the next door thing while the monitor was on (although not something I would do personally) the hour or so of hanging around after the monitor had been turned off certainly does push this one into the neglect/endangerment catagory IMO