Leaving Toddler in Room with Baby Monitor?

[non]

We're going on NCL Sky next month with our 3 kids (7 yr old DD, 3 yr old DS, and 1 yr old DD). We have 2 adjoining interior cabin. Do you think it will be safe for me to leave my 1 yr old DD alone in the cabin with the baby monitor during her nap time and during the early part of the evening hrs after I put her to sleep if all I plan to do is find a deck close by that is in range of the baby monitor where I can sit and watch the ocean? Not a big deal if I can't do this or find a place to hang out that is in range of the baby monitor. I can always go to the other adjoining room and read a book. But if I do find a place to hang out in range of the baby monitor, I wanted to hear your thoughts if there is any danger of doing this before I do something stupid.

 

Thanks!

[crusinmama06]

If you were asking if you could stay in the adjoining cabin and listen for her on a monitor, then I would say ok....but an outside deck? I would have to say that I wouldn't. :(

 

Not after the disappearance of Madeleine Mc Cann. You just never know.

 

If you are on an outside deck and a crew member came into the cabin, odds are you wouldn't hear it because the ocean/wind is pretty loud. Now with that being said, that's why we get a balcony cabin. So I can go outside and read. I leave the curtains open so I can keep an eye on what's going on inside the cabin. ;)

[6rugrats]

Sure, as long as you leave another adult in the room with the baby.

 

Otherwise, no.

[non]

I was actually thinking of the Madeleine Mc Cann situation when I came up with this question. I would never consider this on a "normal" land based vacation. The only reason why I am half considering this on this vacation is that I'm thinking that the cruise is a self contained environment. No one in there except for the guests and crew, and no place to take a child to. However, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I would not be able to relax anyway with just the monitor to keep an eye on my DD. I would be going back to the cabin everytime to check if all I hear is silence. I was considering a video monitor, but even that wouldn't work. I would be staring at that video monitor the whole time instead of enjoying the view of the ocean.

[Julienatul]

I just wouldnt trust being that far away at an outside deck, you never know who might enter or what might happen if you werent close enough. The next room, yes, that would be fine since you could get in quickly. I agree with cruisinmama and the balcony, also you could get an outside and inside cabin across from each other and you could relax in the outside cabin with the window and have the kids directly accross from you. We had the grandparents across the hall from us ths past cruise and it worked great for DD to be able to go back and forth between cabins.

[queenL]

I'm going to go ahead and make this unanimous. I'm bringing my toddler this weekend on our cruise. For me personally, there is absolutely, no way, I'd feel comfortable doing that. More than likely your child would be ok, but I'm a "what if" mom and the slight chance that something could happen would be enough to deter me.

 

On our last cruise my daughter took a nap or two in her stroller while we were out and about, my husband and I also rotated who would return to the cabin with her while the other parent got "free time". We are also blessed to travel with grandparents who lighten our load. We bring board games, magazines, laptops, watch movies etc to entertain ourselves when we return early for bed or naptime. If money isn't a factor I suggest upgrading to a balcony cabin that would be the safest way to do what you are suggesting. There are so many ways you can tweak this so you aren't bored while your kid is asleep.

 

This cruise I am already planning her naptime. I will find a nice remote deck chair, lay my tot on my chest, while she sleeps I will watch the ocean pass by.:D

 

P.S. Don your flame retardant suit. I sense harsh posters in your future.

[cb at sea]

I wouldn't be that far away if it was my child. And yes--a balcony cabin may be the answer! That way, you're still "in the room", but not really!

[non]

Just to preempt any flames heading towards me, I now agree that it's not a good idea to leave my DD in the room alone with a monitor. Besides, my wife probably wouldn't let me ayway. I just wanted to check with you all before even bringing up the idea to my wife since she has a much bigger flamethrower than anyone here considering it's her DD also that we're talking about... :D

 

We have a total of 3 rooms for this cruise since we are going with another family. All 3 rooms are interior, 2 of which are adjoining. Let me see if we can still upgrade the 3rd one (the one not adjoining) to a balcony room across from the 2 adjoining rooms. However, I doubt that we can still do that considering we are 3 weeks away.

 

Another follow up question. There are a total of 5 small kids in our party (not counting the baby). They range from 3 yrs old to 7 yrs old. We're thinking of throwing all 5 of them in one of the adjoining room that nornally sleeps only 3 people. I think they're small enough to fit in the queen size bed and the sofa bed. But I haven't been on an NCL cruise so don't know if this is feasible or not. I'm even wondering if we can drag the sofa bed from the other adjoining room to that room but doubt there is any space for it.

[queenL]

Now it makes sense! Non is= a DAD! :D A Dad who hasn't run this idea by Mom! :D Just teasing you Non! It's just that Daddy's are often more liberal with things like this than Mom's. My husband is trying to figure out how he can get to the casino and the nightclub with my tot in tow! (Sigh) The world according to he v/s she! Anyways I'm glad we were able to change your mind, before your wife set you on fire! :)

 

I don't know about moving the sofa over. I've found in the past that most of the furniture is bolted to the floor. (Think rough seas and sliding furniture) They will probably be fine with just the queen and one sofa. Or you can bring an inflatable twin mattress.

 

P.S.I'm such a worry wart we chose an OV cabin because I didn't feel comfortable with a balcony. I'd be worried my tot would wander out and fall, try and climb the rail or pitch something valuable over the side. Little people boy do they change your life!

[Kerry's Girls]

I'm not a "what if" mom, but I also wouldn't do this. I can't afford balcony cabins, but I always bring a ton of reading material to enjoy during nap time - and invariably it all goes home unread. Turns out during nap time, I end up napping too :rolleyes:. It feels fantastic.

 

Best,

Mia

[crusinmama06]

Good choice. :D Run it past the women first who can't take a flamethrower to you in real life. ;)

 

I would check on that upgrade. NCL was having some really good deals lately for some upcoming sailings. So check on that and get back to us. :)

[non]

Yes, unfortunately, I'm a Dad. I was actually thinking of saying I'm a Dad as another excuse for people not to flame me, but I was afraid of other Dads flamng me by implying all of them are the same as me... :D

 

Anyway, just called NCL and the deck where we are at is all ocean view (no balconies), and all of the deck is fully booked. That's just as well. I was prepared to spend some relaxing times anyway reading a book in the adjoining cabin. Nothing beats being curled up reading a book while being rocked in the ship. That was before my brain started working (or tried to) and started thinking of other alternatives...

 

At least I should take credit in offering to stay with the DD while my wife enjoys the ship. She needs this break more than I do being a full time mom at home. I honestly don't know how she stays sane.

[kitty9]

You're talking about "adjoining" cabins, but not connecting ones, right? There's a huge difference between the two. There's no way I would put all the kids in one adjoining room together, without an adult in the cabin with them. If you had two connecting cabins, that is two cabins with an inside door between the two cabins, that's a different story. That way, you have instant access to that cabin if anything happens. Also, even with adjoining cabins, the doors to each cabin may not be right next to each other, but quite a few feet away.

 

If this is your first cruise, you might not realize that anyone with a master key can access any cabin at any time. Keeping a child, or children, alone in a cabin that doesn't have that interior door, could become a problem, especially with children as young as the ones you mention. Just because you're within a supposed confined space of a ship, doesn't make it safe. There is a lot of crime that happens on cruise ships, and a lot of that crime is caused by ship employees. Leaving a child alone in a cabin, even with a baby monitor or sitting reading in a cabin next door, isn't a good idea IMHO. There are a lot of crazies out there, and some of them do go on cruise ships.

[Dr_DNA]

I'm a dad but I don't think that this would be a great idea. Sorry NON.

 

You see ladies, sometimes we have some common sense and in this case, Non had great sense to approach complete strangers before confronting his wife. Now that was a great move on his part because she never has to know now. :rolleyes:

[non]

We have connecting cabins (with interior door), not adjoining. Sorry, this is only my second cruise so not using all the correct terminologies yet.

 

And yes, I also take credit for doing my homework before approaching my wife with any harebrained ideas. :)

[gtalum]

Please don't leave your child unattended in the cabin, monitor or no monitor.

[Kerry's Girls]

 

Another follow up question. There are a total of 5 small kids in our party (not counting the baby). They range from 3 yrs old to 7 yrs old. We're thinking of throwing all 5 of them in one of the adjoining room that nornally sleeps only 3 people. I think they're small enough to fit in the queen size bed and the sofa bed. But I haven't been on an NCL cruise so don't know if this is feasible or not. I'm even wondering if we can drag the sofa bed from the other adjoining room to that room but doubt there is any space for it.

 

I fit one adult and two toddlers in the queen bed with no problem, so I'd bet you could fit the 3 or 4 youngest in the queen and the oldest on the sofa (not sure on NCL if it's a pull out that fits 2 or just the sofa made into a bed that would fit 1). Sounds like a fun slumber party for them.

 

You wouldn't be able to move a bed from another room, but I bet you won't need to anyway.

 

Best,

Mia

[DukeFamily]

I'd just like to say, "non", that as a wife and a mom, I think you're a really swell guy, and a terrific husband and dad - brainstorming ideas AND having the good sense to run 'em by here first! Now you'll never know if your idea would have made your wife go all she-bear on you! Good thinking! Have a great trip!

[beachchick]

I would never consider this on a "normal" land based vacation.

 

non: Regardless of anything else, it's really important to change this mindset, IMO. The ship is a small town or large resort that happens to be at sea sometimes. If you wouldn't consider something for your kids on land, don't consider it on the cruise. There are all kinds of people on the ship, mostly good just like on land. However, cruisers really represent a broad spectrum of society and are not all like-minded wonderful people such as yourself.

 

beachchick

[msmayor]

Will you have a stroller on board? Surely there is a nice quiet spot SOMEWHERE on deck away from the crowds where you can find a place for your daughter to sleep in her stroller while you read on a lounger. Just bring along a light receiving blanket or pillow case with some clothespins to clip on for extra shade and to block out 'activity' so she'll sleep.

 

Best of both worlds.

[Crusin6]

Just put the baby in the stroller and take her wherever you want to go at whatever time you want to go. She will be tired and asleep anyway. We have traveled all over with 4 kids. The stroller is your savior here.

[CanadianTwosome]

Okay, first I just wanted to say Non, don't feel bad about coming up with such a boneheaded idea. We've ALL done it. Even moms come up with some really stupid ideas sometimes. The thing that sets apart a good parent from a bad one is figuring out it's a bad idea BEFORE you do it. :)

 

I was actually going to suggest something similar to the last two posters, also. If your toddler will sleep in a stroller, give it a try. The worst thing that will happen is they won't sleep and after a short trial period, you'll head down to the cabin. :)

 

Consider this now... Your wife gets to spend all her days with your little angel. She's the one that gets to stop and realize that the house is silent and take a moment to just go and look at your sleeping beauty. Sure, I agree that it will be really nice for her to take a break from what she does at home... but while she's experiencing that rare 'alone time', you also get to take advantage of something that you miss most of the time. Who knows, maybe if you're really having fun and enjoying your cruise to the fullest extent, a nap might not be such a bad idea... and what a great opportunity to curl up with your baby and cuddle and just enjoy the moment. :) Even if you don't feel like a nap, though, I highly recommend popping in while she's sleeping and just gazing at her... I still do it whenever I get the chance and mine is 10.

[Wilda]

Will you have a stroller on board? Surely there is a nice quiet spot SOMEWHERE on deck away from the crowds where you can find a place for your daughter to sleep in her stroller while you read on a lounger. Just bring along a light receiving blanket or pillow case with some clothespins to clip on for extra shade and to block out 'activity' so she'll sleep.

 

Best of both worlds.

 

I was thinking along those lines as well. Bring out the stroller at nap time and walk around the promenade deck until she falls asleep. Then you can go wherever you want. Unless of course she is a light sleeper;)

 

Have a great trip!

[leadout_kv]

Short answer - never

 

Have you considered upgrading one of your rooms to a balcony that is across the hall from the interior? Now, that would allow you to enjoy the ocean while being across the hall with the monitor.

[Ladypeartree]

I believe that since you are questioning if this would be acceptable and safe, you have your answer already. Trust your instincts. Don't leave your child unattended.