I am taking my toddler son on a week long cruise with my family. My mom is usually extremely paranoid about everything and says not to leave him in our cabin alone after he goes to bed. What do you think? Is it safe for me to leave him alone?
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I definitely would NOT leave a baby or toddler alone, under any circumstance.
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I'm pretty laid back but I wouldn't unless you are sitting in an adjoining room or literally right outside. The whole Madeline McCann thing just makes it seem like anything can happen.
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I don't generally leave the kids home alone at night, even when at home... so I'd definitely make sure someone is in the room/suite with my kids if we were on a cruise.
There are iPhone apps that work as a baby monitor, if the ship has good wifi, you have two phones, and you're not too far away from the room... that might work if you're comfortable with it!
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I would never do it. Maybe your family can help you by taking a turn each night so that you're not stuck in there at 8 every night.
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No way.
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No, I'd be extremely uncomfortable with that, I have to say. Unless I was in the next room with a monitor...no.
ETA: Yeah, no. The more I think about this, the more nervous it makes me. There's just too many variables and things that could go wrong. Even just next door... no, I couldn't do that on a cruise.
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I definitely wouldn't.
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No way. I would never, ever leave my daughter alone.
We took our LO on a cruise when she was about 15 months old and one of us stayed in the room with her after she went to bed.
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I wouldn't, especially because housekeeping has keys. What if something happened?
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I couldn't do it.
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I don't think your mom is being paranoid. I wouldn't leave my toddler alone in the room. Perhaps your mom would be willing to trade off with you?
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Sorry, I don't think it's paranoia. I wouldn't ever leave my toddler alone in a room, especially on a ship. You could ask the ship if there is some type of concierge or babysitting service?
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Wouldn't ever do it.
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@winniebee: I think of this too
Sometimes I want to grab the monitor and visit my neighbors in the townhouse next to ours, but just can't. -
No way. I would equate this with leaving a toddler alone in a hotel room. And as someone who works at a hotel - nopenopenope.
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No. I've been on several cruises (before we had kids) and would never leave a child alone in the room. The housekeepers come in and out, and besides that I just would never feel comfortable doing that.
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I would never leave my son alone in the cabin. No way
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I'm not being mean, have been on lots of cruises but none with baby yet...all that to say no. Besides him being alone and waking up and looking for you, the crew may come in to put out your towel animal, depending on when you go out.
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You wouldn't leave your toddler home alone. Those same rules apply when you are on a cruise. Your mom isn't being paranoid. She's using common sense.
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Nope. Too my things could go wrong, and the Madeline Mcann case terrifies me. But I also won't go further than my own yard if my son isn't with me, and even then, I lock all the doors I can't see and keep the monitor on me. I'd try and figure out a babysitting plan if there's family willing to help. They also have baby sitting services on most ships.
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No way I could do it
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@calsmom: Agreed. I don't see how this is any different than leaving him home alone, and I assume you wouldn't do that. I would never ever leave my toddler in a cruise cabin alone.
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Nope, wouldn't even consider leaving a toddler by themselves, the amount of things that could go wrong is terrifying.
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Never...esp away from home.
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It's not something I would do. I think it could be very dangerous.
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I'm extremely laid back as far as parenting goes, but I don't think she's being paranoid, I wouldn't leave mine alone in a cruise ship cabin.
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Every cruise I've ever been on has a children's room. Could you leave your LO there if you want to go out?
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The only way I would do it is if I were in the room next door instead and could hear him (had a monitor or the walls were thin--or both).
OR hire a babysitter?
ETA I had baby sitters till my brother turned 12 and I'm older. -
I don't think your mom is being paranoid at all. It sounds the same as leaving a kid in a hotel room or home alone. Only if we were in an adjoining room. My nephews are 5 & 8 and I could see them totally freak out if they woke up without a parent or someone there.
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Good to know. I didn't even think of housekeeping coming in and out! I was hesitant to leave him in the room himself, but my mum is too paranoid and over dramatic about everything baby that I wanted a second opinion.
My family has offered to take turns staying with baby, but I honestly don't mind staying with him and watching TV in the cabin and sleeping early myself!
Thanks for the insight everyone!
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Do you have a video monitor you could bring? I think there is a difference between a cruise ship and a hotel; since you can't exactly just walk away from a cruise ship and disappear into the world. You can also leave a note on the door so turn-down service doesn't come into your room after you leave.
In theory I don't think it would be *that* big of a deal to leave the room after he's asleep, if (and only if) I could see LO via a video monitor, and I wasn't that far away. Of course, I don't know what I would do in reality, and would probably have someone stay with LO.
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Is this even a real question? Leaving your child alone in the cabin is extremely dangerous.
I suggest that family members take shifts staying in the cabin with your LO, that way you can get some time to do what you want on vacation. Maybe you can take a shift, your mom, your SO, and whoever else is accompanying you.
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No. Absolutely not. I would never leave my toddler sleeping alone in a cruise ship cabin.
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I would never do it. What if they wake up or someone tries to get on.
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Um, no. Not in a million years. Anything could happen.
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I am really unsettled by this being a real question.
I don't know how there is ever a situation where this would be acceptable.
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Wouldn't the biggest concern of all be that your toddler would wake up and come leave the room looking for you? They could go anywhere
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I dont see how you would feel comfortable with that. It's not as if no on has access to your room - like someoe mentioned, housekeepers going in and out and theft on cruises happens very frequently. Can't some family members help babysit so you can go out some nights? Otherwise if you're looking to go out every night then maybe you should reconsider bringing a toddler.
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@yoursilverlining: just because a cruise ship is contained space doesn't mean there aren't places to hide for something bad to happen. And also what if the LO somehow opened the door and somehow got through the railing somehow and fell overboard. A video monitor would let you see what was happening but if you're 10 minutes away it doesn't help you.
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67 comments