Leaving a child in the car for a couple of minutes - how old?

[FeathersAndDown]

I left my 4-year-old twins in the car for the first time when nipping in the shop yesterday. I only needed a loaf of bread, it's a small village shop with a car park right outside. My heart was in my mouth the whole time! I literally ran in and out again. Next time I will probably go back to taking them in with me.

When is it acceptable to leave them? I know it varies by the child and how sensible they are, but generally. Would be interested to know what others think!

There's nothing wrong with it imho

But

You will get busybodies who will call the police and report you

Oh yes I remember that awful story where the car rolled in the river. I think the mother came out and assumed the car had been stolen when it had actually gone in the river and was completely submerged.

You're a right charmer...

Then you put them in a sling or bouncer? It's hardly rocket science, is it?

I’ve never felt the need to leave kids in the car whilst shopping. Maybe I haven’t needed something as quickly or as urgently as others but I can’t get my head round why you wouldn’t just undo their seatbelt and take them in.

Dense question because I don’t have a car or live somewhere car centric…. What do you think could go wrong? How is it different from leaving them in another room or in garden for a few minutes?

People do not physically watch their children at all times. Sometimes parents sleep.
Wtf? 😵‍💫

And you take your baby with you to the toilet when you do a poo? Or when the door bell rings and you go and open it, you carry the Moses basket with you?

Also some parents like me have a 'runner' so DS would 100% be safer in the car than with me and his baby DD traipsing into the petrol station together whilst trying to hold him back and pay and hold DD at the same time

Sometimes you have to use your common sense and do what's best for all in that moment

Well, my child is now of an age where I can't go anywhere on my own, even if I wanted to. But she was always within earshot. Always.

Was honestly thinking, I cannot be the only person who does not think this is OK?

But the OP was talking about outside the home? How has this manifested into talking about what we do at home?

There really isn't

Some people like to be overly dramatic about these types of situations when in reality absolutely nothing will happen unless you're very unlucky as with anything in life like crossing a road or flying in a plane

Earshot, yes. Obviously. But your post was talking about them being visibly with you, so I was questioning whether you realistically did that at all times.

Ask @OdeToBarney. She made a point about carrying the baby in the Moses basket around the house with you so that they’re with you at all times.

I don't think it was, but OK. And obviously PP can neither hear nor see her newborn when they are locked in a car and she's in bloody Costa.

Either you or your partner always stayed awake when looking after your baby?

Come on!

Don't be so bloody daft.

When my two were babies I had to poop with them in a sling… on me … not a Moses basket tho, too chunky to lug around 🤭
Now my youngest is a toddler, he insisted he sit on my lap while I pooped the other week… idk how people get away with their kids not leaving them alone 😂

In response to PP trying to excuse leaving a newborn in a car to get a bloody Costa by saying "sometimes parents have to do stuff"! Why are you being deliberately obtuse?

You… sleep while your kids toddle about? (I’m abit lost on this conversation now…)

Genuinely, how am I being daft? Do people actually do this? Stay awake at all times?

On my second child and never heard of ensuring a baby has an awake parent at all times. Genuinely questioning my own sanity now.

I figured that since most people don’t take their baby out the car to pay for petrol at the petrol station, my local shop is pretty much the same set up. I park right at the door and the full front is glass. I’d only do it if I was literally running in for one or two things. It’s a self checkout at the door too so there’s no waiting in a queue. I leave my baby and toddler in the car now to run in there.. so very young! The alternative is getting my toddler unstrapped, him refusing to stand still while I get my baby sorted, either having to lug the car seat round the shop or attach it to the pram wheels, wake my baby from a nap in the process, face a meltdown from my toddler when he’s half eaten a chocolate lolly on the way round and I tell him he’s not allowed it etc etc 😩🤯 I can swerve all of that by just saying watch for me and il wave at the window, then run in 🤣

What are you mithering on about? People tend to sleep at night when their children are also asleep, not when they're unsupervised in a car on a public road.
What's the relevance? Not sure why I'm even bothering to respond, tbh.
You seem more than averagely obtuse.

Haha my toddler asked the same thing just tonight. I just said nope, not happening!

But I can’t poop with a baby! My youngest is in a sling most of the time, so I either don’t go all day long or put him down for a few minutes, which might end up with him crying, but needs must!