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Original poster

Would you leave baby alone?

379 replies

Mississippilessly · 28/11/2018 10:10

I have agreed to go and pick up a parcel for a friend tomorrow. DS is 10 weeks. I am going to have to take my DH so someone can stay with the baby - the parcel is too big for me to take him in. This seems crazy. Could I lock the car and run in? I have only just thought of itm

OP posts:
empmalswa · 28/11/2018 12:17

I can't. It is a child's christmas present and it has sold out - she cant get it delivered.

You CAN. You need to look after yourself.

It's not your responsibility.

Jaxhog · 28/11/2018 12:19

Don't do it. Who knows what could happen even if you left her for 5 minutes? I'm sure the mother who left her babe in a car then forgot to pull on the handbrake is bitterly regretting it. Her car rolled into a river and the babe drowned.

If your DH has to come to carry the parcel anyway, why can't he go alone? Is his 'comfort' more important than the safety of his baby? Better still, ask your friend to arrange for redelivery of her parcel to her correct address. Less hassle all round.

Missingstreetlife · 28/11/2018 12:20

I do know someone who got run over in a petrol station, by someone who hadn't paid for their petrol, maybe in a stolen car.
I wouldn't leave baby in car unless right under my nose
Captain, what you do is ok. Better than baby in car.

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empmalswa · 28/11/2018 12:20

If your DH has to come to carry the parcel anyway, why can't he go alone? Is his 'comfort' more important than the safety of his baby?

It's hardly fair to start on the DH. It's probably because the OP is the names person who will need to show up with ID.

No point adding arms and legs onto things and turning her husband into an arsehole is there?

MarshaBradyo · 28/11/2018 12:21

Please don’t you’re exhausted as you say
She can work it out
It’s not your responsibility
I’m sure she can think of something - get her to post in here for suggestions

Missingstreetlife · 28/11/2018 12:21

Op tell friend to have parcel redirected

Mookatron · 28/11/2018 12:23

All right. Since you're determined, how big is the parcel? I don't think it's a problem leaving the baby in the car of you can see the car but it's not going to help you emotionally especially if there's someone slow in front of you.

Is it a size you could put in a rucksack? Have you got some kind of trolley like a camping trolley? Could you put the parcel in the pram and the baby in a sling?

mostdays · 28/11/2018 12:23

I wouldn't. I know there's a fashion on MN to be scornful about parents who don't wish to leave their dc alone in parked cars, but I ignore those views because I would not be comfortable with the risks. The whole "there isn't a child snatcher waiting behind every bush lol" approach just misses the point.

I'm not really sure though why leaving baby with DH or DH collecting the parcel are not options.

MarshaBradyo · 28/11/2018 12:24

Also no I wouldn’t leave the baby alone

KatherinaMinola · 28/11/2018 12:25

If I was picking up a parcel at my sleepy village post office, yes, I'd leave my baby in the car.

A PP has mentioned that terrible case in Wales where the mother did something similar - I think it was the inquest this week.

I think your friend has unfairly put upon you with this request. It's too much with a newborn. Tell you can't do it - she'll find another way.

ibuiltahomeforyou · 28/11/2018 12:25

Please be kind to yourself.
Tell your friend you're not able to collect the parcel.

Shadowboy · 28/11/2018 12:26

I used to leave my babies in the car whilst I mucked out my horse’s- far safe for them. left a monitor in in there. They are both fine.

fruitbrewhaha · 28/11/2018 12:28

I mean this is the nicest way, if you are not feeling great, don't do this.

I think the logistics of baby in car and getting parcel are fine. But this is putting you out. It's very tiring and wearing looking after a tiny baby and driving while tired is not sensible. You will probably have to stop to feed and change which is tricky especially at this time of year. Stay home in the warm and dry.

Your friend will have to pay for the delivery to be altered which will probably be cheaper then the petrol you will use.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 28/11/2018 12:28

Good lord. If I could park within sight of the queue at the post office and the queue wasn’t too long, I’d definitely leave the baby in the car. Alternatively, could you put the baby in a sling and still carry the parcel?

CrispbuttyNo1 · 28/11/2018 12:29

Look it up on google earth if you don’t know the car park layout. Drive right up to the door if you can or go in with the baby, and ask if someone can bring the parcel to the door.

Strugglingtodomybest · 28/11/2018 12:29

Playing it by ear is a good idea. I used to leave mine in the car sometimes, but it all depends on the individual circumstances.

Oblomov18 · 28/11/2018 12:30

I always left baby in the car whilst paying for petrol. I thought that was safer. These threads are wierd.

SoupDragon · 28/11/2018 12:31

I have never "nipped in" to pick up a parcel. Especially not just after Black Friday and in the run up to Christmas. That's that makes it different to a petrol station.

MynameisJune · 28/11/2018 12:33

Jesus Christ, the perfect parenting on this thread is outstanding.

In reality most people leave their kids in the car at a petrol station. I’ve never seen anyone lugging car seats and toddlers about a forecourt. If I can’t use pay at pump I leave DD in the car strapped in.

The person that mentioned the Wales case, the girl was nearly 3, wasn’t strapped in and her mum left the handbrake off. Completely different scenario to the OP and to bring it up as a ‘oh look what could happen is just fucking wrong when the OP has said she’s struggling already’

Op, I’d leave the baby in the car as long as I could see them out of the window. If you can’t park close enough I’d park outside the door and explain why you have done. It’s a car park, so I doubt you’d be blocking someone. Don’t listen to all the doom mongers, they drive their kids around in cars. That’s much, much more dangerous but no one ever really grasps that.

BiscuitDrama · 28/11/2018 12:33

I would put baby in buggy and try and balance the parcel on top.

MarshaBradyo · 28/11/2018 12:34

Make sure you have the right ID if it’s necessary

SnuggyBuggy · 28/11/2018 12:36

Do you have any idea what the parcel will be like? You can wedge something's on top of a pram just fine.

Stiddleficks · 28/11/2018 12:38

Do what seems best for you op!
I always wonder on these threads about taking the baby in to pay for petrol, what would someone who had twins or triplets, or a baby and a toddler do? Surely you wouldn’t take them all in??

Strugglingtodomybest · 28/11/2018 12:39

I've just googled 'baby dies in car alone uk' and 10 pages in all I've found are 2 cases of babies dying in hot cars after being forgotten for hours.

Not that much of a risk then is it?

sosmooth · 28/11/2018 12:42

Why can she not get the parcel redirected/ delivered?

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