The most common instruction on baby gear is probably: “do not leave infant unattended,” which sounds like a pretty common-sense idea. Sure, in a perfect world, you’d never be tempted to leave your helpless little one – who can’t talk, stand, or maybe even hold their head up – all alone.. But, in the hectic world of new parenthood – especially new single parenthood – there just doesn’t ever seem to be enough hands to do everything that needs to be done or enough eyes to never let Baby out of sight.
So what’s a new single parent to do when Baby is up and chirping bright and early with the birds, but you just really, desperately need to focus on what’s on the stove for a minute, put the trash out by the curb, or grab a lightning-fast shower? In some ways, when you’re in the moment, you’ll always need to make your own judgment call, but there are a few guiding principles you can use as you’re deciding how to best handle things.
If you find yourself wondering if you’re in a situation where you can look – or even walk – away from Baby for a few minutes, ask yourself these questions:
Are they awake?
Constant supervision is all well and good, but if you can manage to get your little duckling to settle down into their nest for the night, as long as you stay in the house with them and would be able to hear them if they woke up, that time is your own. And though the length of sleep is shorter and the time can feel more fragile, the same is true of naps. Even if your little one happens to wake up while you’re catching up on Netflix, writing the great American novel, or scrubbing off the last remaining traces of spit-up from your body, as long as they’re in a safe, confined sleep space and can’t wander off anywhere until you’re done doing what you need to do, you should be a-okay.
Are they in their high chair?
While there are safety standards for high chairs sold in the US, there are also many factors that can impact how safe they are. Are you using the five-point harness? Have you placed the chair far enough away from a wall or other object that Baby could use to push off of? Is the table or tray clear of any sharp utensils or food? High chairs should be a safe space for your little one as you cook or clean up a meal, but they have to be used according to all the safety instructions. Babies always need to be watched while eating as well. Pro tip: register your new high chair in case of any safety recalls by the manufacturer.
Is there anywhere they could roll off of?
This includes couches, beds, and even strapped into a changing table. Even if Baby isn’t actually rolling over yet, you never know when they might learn. Act as if they’ll learn that skill today. Leaving Baby in a room on their own for a few minutes now and then is reasonable. But when you do so, you’ll want to make sure that they’re at ground-level and, preferably, inside some kind of enclosure, like a playpen, pack ’n play, or a safely baby-proofed room with a baby-gate at the door.
And for the times when you can’t
One thing single parents learn pretty fast is the smoothest way for them to move through their daily lives with their little ones attached at the hip. When Baby is little, a baby carrier or sling can be a great way to keep them close without taking away the use of your hands. As they get older, you’ll get used to having an extra-special helper there with you through every step of your day.
