Can you leave your children alone by themselves ?....for how long?

Hello, Jaiho, My son is only 12 months old. When my parents was taking care of him, they left him alone and went downstairs when he was sleeping. Now I take care of my son, I leave him only when I take shower or when my parent-in-law is taking care of him. I am scared after I read the news that a kid are kidnapped while her mom is taking shower, so I always make sure I lock the door if I have go to another room and leave him alone.

My kids are 10 and 12 yrs.old, respectively. I have never left them by themselves because if something happens (like a fire, break-ins or they hurt themselves), they wouldn't know what to or how to cope. If this happens, then I would never forgive myself. I usually leave them with a sitter or in the company of an adult like my mother, a friend (usually 2-3 hours) when I have to go out or do things where children cannot be brought. Otherwise, they are always in my care and go wherever I go. In my opinion, they should always be under adult supervision. I don't think I will ever leave them alone until they are 18 years old. At the moment, they are still minors.

I don't have my own kids so I will answer for my nieces, who are 6 and 8. And the answer is no, I would never leave them home alone--they are way too young. I don't think children should be left home alone until AT LEAST 13...but really at the age I would say that they should only be left home alone in en emergency. Teenagers can think and they know how to keep themseleves safe. At that age they are LESS likely to freeze up in a situation than a 10 year old. I think if you have a mature, well behaved 13 year old then it would be fine to trust them at home alone...but I don't think I would continually leave my kid alone until the age of 15 or 16.

I don't have my own kids but my younger siblings aged 7 and 12 years old (a girl and a boy) I never leave them alone though. I don't feel safe doing that. Plus, there's a possibility that something might happen, even by a tiny chance of it. It's better not to take that risk. Plus, today's society isn't the one that you can fully trust.

When my girls were younger I would never leave them alone. When my girls were 11 and 14 I would leave them alone but my sister was upstairs in the two family house and keeping an eye on them. They usually would do their homework and then go upstairs till I got home from work. If my sister was not living upstairs I would never leave them home till the oldest was at least 14 or 15. If one was a mature boy I would feel a bit more at ease but two girls its just not safe at all.

Hi there.Yes,I have leave my son alone at home.My son was two years old and I leave him just for half hours.I just do like that when he was sleep.And I told to my neighbours,because our home to near.

My girls are 11 and 16. I do leave them on occasion but it is always with each other and never for long periods of time. I guess that maybe 4 hours is the longest length of time I've left them alone at home.

jaiho, my baby is 7 1/2 months old, and so far, I have not let her on her own for even a day.. mostly a few hours, with my mum while I go to the office for work. at times, I am able to let her play on her own in the living room, while I prepare her meals, or the usual family dinner / lunch. Not for long on these timing, as she will start to look for me, if she sense my missing in action. My friends tried to carry her around without my presence, however she will not be able to let someone carry her for more than 5 minutes and she will start to scream from the bottom of her throat.