Would you guys do this??

In the apartment that I live in, right outside my door and down a stair well, into another door is the laundry room which is exactly below my living room. Sometimes Aaralyn goes with me (to help ) and sometimes I leave her up here with both doors locked and I'm only gone for a the most maybe 7 minutes at a time..... I don't really think it's horrible, probably no different than someone in a single family house with a basement/cellar doing their laundry down there. My biggest concern that I sometimes think about is what if a fire happened in the building and could I get back in the apartment quick enough to get to Aaralyn and get out.... I know it's a bit extreme but the thought has crossed my mind....

Just wondering what would you guys do in my situation with a 5 1/2 year old? also should add that dangerous things that she could get into in that 7 minutes are put up but I guess she could also fall or something in which case I would probably hear right away being right below.... so anyway, what do you guys think, honest opinions wanted, whether you think it's a really bad idea or you think it's ok and would do the same??

i think you are ok, i used to do the same when putting the washing out, id leave the kids in the house, we have a big garden so it used to take about 10 mins to put it out and about 2 mins to walk back in.

i have been known to lock the door and walk to the end of the street, albeit, just outside we are the last house on the road, but they were just fine.

i think maybe some walkie talkies might be a good idea, give her one of them and take the other wioth you when she needs you then she can call you, and vice versa, you can check shes ok.

Hey that's a great idea with the walkie talkies Lucy!! I can see it totally being a game with her though and I'd be taking 10 minutes longer to get the laundry switched over for having to answer walkie talkie calls from her LOL.... could be fun!!

I leave Joseph in mums house while I take the dogs to her garden (her garden is round the side of the neighbours house) I always tell him where I am going and leave him watching the TV or something and tell him not to answer the door or to move from the room I leave him in.

I like the walkie talkie idea

no worrys Tam, sometimes peace of mind is the key! But i see what you mean about it being a game!!!!!

I would pracrice fire evacuations. Walkie talkies are a good idea, too.

i wouldn't feel too guilty leaving Aaralyn alone for a few minutes. I do the same when throwing out the trash.

If you really feel bad about it, bring Aaralyn down with you and have her help out with the laundry. She's old enough to learn how to do house work. And the earlier you teach her, the easier it is to get her to do chores later.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that. She's old enough to understand not to get into mischief for a few minutes and as she's locked in it's not like anybody else could get into your place. I have to pop outside to the car sometimes which is not directly outside as we have a car park where we live and I tell the kids not to open the door to anyone and to be good coz I'll be back in a minute.

I have to say i agree with everybody else. I feel 5 1/2 isn't too young to be left for 5-10min in a safe environment while you pop down to the laundry. Infact i feel it does them good to give them a bit of trust. It teaches them in a safe way how to react when mum isn't there, and they aren't thrown in the deep end in a few years when you may have to be gone for more than 5-10mins. If anything major was to happen like Aaralyn falling and hurting herself you would be able to hear the noise and be there in 1min flat anyway. I would let Aaralyn know what she should do in the event of a fire, but i would let her know that anyway whether you are there or not and you would want her to stay calm and follow your proceedure whenever it happened. I think most mums will have left there children alone (safe) for a couple of minutes by Aaralyns age hun. It isn't possible to watch them 24/7! Don't beat yourself up over this one Xx

I agree with the others Tam. I think a few minutes at her age is no problem.

At the same age, Jas often used to play upstairs in her room and I'd be outside sitting in the garden. No real difference is there except I'd probably be in the garden about 10 minutes before I'd shout to her to check she's ok. Same if I was putting washing outside.

I do think the walkie talkie idea is a great one.

I would talk to her about what happens if there's a fire though, perhaps so she knows where to head, ie. sit on the floor next to your front door or some such thing so you find her instantly.

Just don't forget your key when you go do the laundry

I think Aaralyn is a smart little cookie,and is a very mature 5 1/2 yo by the sounds of things,so i would probably let her but have a emergency plan for her just to be on the safe side.
(i love the walkie talky idea the best lol)

The walkie talkie idea is a great one! And i do not think it is any different to us being on our top floor and DD beong on our ground floor! We still shout to check she is okay! xxx

Thanks for all the responses guys... I feel better about my decision to leave her up here sometimes as I do. We've had a talk about what to do if the smoke alarms go off, she is to sit by the back door or lay down and wait for me. I also mean to get some walkie talkies!

Funny story about those things... when my sister and I were younger, we (along with other friends) used to play in the tunnels in our neighborhood, NONE of us were ALLOWED to do this you see so, we all had walkie talkies and were communicating with each other talking about being in the tunnels.... when we got home, my parents immediately confronted us with the fact that they knew we were in the tunnells ... the had a cb radio and were listening to all of our conversation over the walkie talkies on their cb.... oh we got in HUGE trouble!!!