Here in Queensland it is actually against the law to leave a child below the age of twelve alone and unsupervised for an unreasonable amount of time and is seen as a criminal offence ! As a parent you carry the responsibility of your child and one of the things that comes with that is to keep your child safe. Is an unsafe situation really worth it that chocolate bar that you crave ? Just get your self organised and get those chocolate bars is with the rest of your groceries.

Scary stuff !
Do she really think her for year old can handle situations like a stranger at the door, or a house fire or even a small injurie ?? They are not matured enough cognitive or emotionally to deal with situations and it can be dangerous. But even when nothing happens and your child just wakes up and notices when nobody is there, it could result in a panic attack !

I think she’s being a bit over the top here. If she’s back within 15min literally nothing is going to go wrong. So long as the house is secure, what’s going to happen? People need to stop being helicopters! It’s the same as I’ve always left my kids in the car when I go in to pay for the fuel. It’s actually better for them not to breathe in those fumes.

I feel this is very irresponsible. Imagine “if” something happened; a house fire, a robbery, the child wakes, you lock yourself out of the house. So many things could possibly go wrong. And I’m sure not one parent would ever forgive themselves if something were to go wrong.

This is why some don’t do sleepovers.

No, so many things could happen to you or the child in that short space of time.

I would never forgive myself if anything happened to the child.

I could never leave my kids alone even for a minute. Anything could happen at any time.
It freaks me out, especially if someone is watching the house because they know you leave your kids unattended that could very well be their chance to take your kid!
Not only that, if a fire started from an electrical failure or something and you couldn’t get back in time, you wouldn’t be able to save your kid.

I remember reading an AITA once about a mum leaving her partner because they left their toddler at home to go to the bottle-o. It’s really mind blowing that anyone would leave their very young kids at home without any supervision. Anything could happen. It would be scary to realize you’re home alone at that age and can’t find your parents

That is a good point. Here in Queensland it is against the law to leave a child alone under the age of 12 years for an unreasonable amount of time; It is actually considered a criminal offence !! Now it is of course the question what an unreasonable amount of time is and I don’t know the answer to that. But anyway, when you think that a child is at serious risk, you could actually report it to Child Safety.

Many parents wonder at what age it is safe to leave their children at home alone. Consider your child’s age and maturity and their ability to cope in an emergency to help you decide. In Queensland, it is illegal to leave a child under 12 years of age alone for ‘an unreasonable time’, depending on circumstances.

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  • • Ellen replied
    • 16 Dec 2024 , 8:51 am

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  Child abductions do happen, think about Daniel and Maddie McCann and the Beaumont children. There are approximately 170 reported cases of child abduction both into and out of Australia per year. This critical issue is however, not widely known or publicized throughout the general community.
  Don’t risk it, protect your children !

It is 100% a NO. This should never happen. It doesnt matter that she can see the house from where she is going. What if she was hit by a car, knocked unconcious and taken to hospital by ambulance? No one knows that she has left a child at home alone.

Good god no! I would never leave a child that young on their own. You never know what might happen. Very irresponsible I say. She’s right to be concerned about the mother’s behaviour.

This makes me very uncomfortable, I am all for the dream of chocolate at night but Id be way too concerned.

No way! That’s so wrong.

Definitely not okay to leave a child that young alone while she goes out. Anything can happen in the time she is gone.

No no no. Definitely not okay to leave a four year old alone.

I can see why she might think it’s ok to just nip across the road….but the thing is, what if she was run over by a car or something else bad happened? then the four year old would be by themself for quite some time

I simply think that’s scary stuff !

Definitely not.