Husband left child in the car

@Marblessolveeverything

Bless you but no thanks.

The risk remains low.

He should have turned it off and taken the keys, I doubt anyone thinks their child would get out their car seat and try to drive until they actually do

Has your DH got form for not thinking things through?

If you thought that was bad... my DH left our wide awake 2yr old in his car seat in the car, on the drive, for a couple of hours and was completely oblivious. 😡

We were all meant to be going out together and I had a dentist appointment in the town we were visiting. We were about to set off and the car wouldn't start so I grabbed the other keys and took my husband's car so I wouldn't be late for the dentist appointment and told DH I'd come straight home and we'd all go out as planned a little later. The dental surgery is about a 20min drive away.

When I got home, I was shocked to see my gorgeous boy still strapped in his car seat, crying his eyes out and sat in a soaking wet nappy.

I was beyond furious with DH who has a habit of only considering himself. Apparently, he assumed I'd take B with me (!!) and so he got out of the car and went back indoors without a backwards glance.

We also live rurally and as the car was parked right next to the house, no-one walking past the end of the drive would be able to see DS sat inside it.

Poor DS. Thankfully he's grown up now and has no recollection of the event. 🤨

The voice of common sense!

Not going to waste any more time on you.

It’s possible to lead a full life and still not take basic risks. Your condescension is unnecessary,

Do you really need it explaining to you?

Engine should be off.my four year olds can definitely get themselves out of their car seat, open the door and come looking for me so I'd say engine off and doors locked.

You said your son not our. Do you worry that he generally doesn't look after him as well as you because he's not his Dad?

A man was frantic in the supermarket the other day because he had left the keys in the ignition and gone to put his trolley away and been locked out.

He had to wait hours for help.

Why take the risk, just take the keys out of the ignition.

It only takes a minute! Why risk it?

Absolutely NOT fine. He should not been left in an unlocked car with the engine running.

Is the 4yo his as well? Or just yours?

Did I say I was anxious about it? I was merely stating a fact: cars do get stolen off driveways when they're left unattended with the engine running.

'Although it's very rare, there have been instances of cars being stolen with children in the back.'

And instances of cars being stolen when they were left on a drive with the engine running. IIRC, one owner was run over when they tried to stop their car being stolen.

Exactly how often are cars stolen by opportunists who, within a 10 second window when the child is not being watched, notice the car is unattended, decide to take a risk on it, run and get into the car, and carefully reverse it out of a narrow driveway?

This takes me back a few years - person left car on a hill with two slightly older children in the back - messing about, somehow one of them knocked off the hand brake. There were 5 of us holding the car on the hill. Busy road at the bottom. The children could not understand how to put the hand brake on, and the windows were shut, so we could not reach in.
How steep was the drive?

I wouldn't have left the engine running in his position. An odd thing to do. I wouldn't be furious with him but would ask that he turn off the engine in future.

I thought this was going to be child left in tescos car park In car on hot day for 1 hour.
i can’t see the issue- is it that you’re worried about theft or that the child would try and drive the car??
Id just ask DH to not leave the keys where child can access them, at any time.

@MinervaMcGonagallsCat if you are interested there are examples in UK, NZ and given that Ireland crime rates are significantly proportionally lower I would think it is relevant.

But by all means be rude to posters who are providing factual references.

Me too. Total over reaction. I personally think locking the dc in the car whilst going in the house is worse, to be honest.