[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Any child can be left for a couple of minutes providing they are in a safe environment etc... An hour or so at 18 months is ludicrous.

So, you're saying that a parent of an 18-month-old child is not to be allowed to sleep more than an hour or so at a time during the night --every night?

Really?

[momtothree]

No... absolutely not. There is a SIGNIFICANT difference of being in the house with a child who is playing, watching t.v., sleeping... whatever vs. leaving the child alone in a house and vacating the premises. For example, even at night... ask any Mom in the world and she can sleep and hear at the same time. They can be down the hall... we’re fast asleep and you are trained to hear a cry or even a cough. Leaving a child alone in a home.... for an extended period of time (i.e. we’re not talking about getting the mail or even pulling weeds) but driving away... opens the door to all sorts of tragedies.