I know there’s already a Madeleine McCann thread running, but that seems to be mostly debating the rights and wrongs of leaving the children alone. Can anyone think of a time they may have done something similar? I’ll start you off:
We’ve had two experiences of using baby listening services in hotels,
1. We were on holiday with our two children. We wanted to take toddler to the beach for half an hour. The hotel owned this beach, very small, and the tannoy could be easily heard on it. We left our 2 month old baby asleep in the locked room. He was a good sleeper, and I knew we had plenty of time. Problem was, I couldn’t relax, so went back. He was fine and still asleep. I just felt guilty though, and wished I hadn’t done it.
2. Four children by now, 8,7,4 and 3. On holiday again, in a hotel that provided baby listening. On the last night, my husband and I fancied a swim in the hotel pool, once the youngest two were asleep. Our 8 year old was very capable, and he knew how to ring reception if the need arose. We told the receptionist where we were and to listen out. When we got out of the pool, on our way up to the room, hotel staff said they’d been looking for us, as a child was screaming in our room. Of course, I rushed upstairs to the stern looks from other guests in the corridor. My three year old was standing at the gate we brought with us, as I opened the main door. The other three were starting to wake. It transpired, that shifts had changed on reception, and no one told them where we were, despite the fact they had a monitor showing the pool, on reception!
Since then, we never went to another hotel, it was all self catering. I never trusted any one again, and became quite over protective. This was all over thirty years ago too, when less was heard about these things. I still feel bad about it today. I know I would never have done what the McCanns did, but holidaying often gives a false sense of security.
Any other stories?
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