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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Leaving baby in car to get car park ticket

302 replies

IstheCartooFar · 25/05/2016 09:10

Name changed as chatted to husband and friend about this already...

I've tried to include all relevant details to avoid drip feeding etc...

Woman in car park annoyed me yesterday. I'd left baby in car to walk to ticket machine (at the end of the aisle next to mine, no closer spaces available). When I came back woman had parked next to me and getting her own children out.

She said 'excuse me, have you just left your baby in the car all on its own?' in an accusing way.

I replied I was just at the ticket machine, which she humphed at and turned away.

I felt pretty cross at her implication I'd done some awful dangerous parenting so I said I found her tone very judgemental.

She just said well you hear horror stories (and then said some confusing story about how some people have brain injuries and do weird things so you have to check). I just said you have to make lots of risk assessments as a parent of leaving baby in car vs lugging them through busy car park, she turned away and didn't answer.

Anyway, do people leave baby in car to get a ticket or is that just me being lazy??

And was she unreasonable to check or would you do the same? (to me it was pretty obvious I'd just gone to get a ticket rather than done a full shop, considering I'd walked past her car with ticket, put it on windscreen then was getting baby out).

OP posts:
goodomens830 · 26/05/2016 18:49

You were getting baby out anyway. So yes...lazy parenting. But the child wasn't in danger. I assume she was within sight of you.

Hodooooooooor · 26/05/2016 18:51

I feel even more uncomfortable about leaving baby in the car at petrol station.....that scares me

But WHY? What scares you?

RoastieToastieReastie · 26/05/2016 18:59

I've done it too op. Although logistically it would make sense to get the baby out first before paying for the ticket or else you're using up your time you've paid for getting the buggy etc out.

DuckAndPancakes · 26/05/2016 19:02

Lazy parenting.
Ha

Janefromdowntheroad · 26/05/2016 19:04

This thread is fucking bonkers

How do some people live their lives thinking there is a danger around every tiny padded corner?

I leave the baby in the car for tickets, petrol. I leave the DC in the car when I go into the shop. Baby is also fine outside in the garden putting her balls in and out of a bucket for bloody hours. I can see her through the window. Unless a giant mutant immigrant wasp comes and flies away with her.

Talk about being martyr

iMogster · 26/05/2016 19:05

I always left baby in the car and got my ticket from machine a few metres away. As soon as they could walk, I took them with me and they enjoyed carrying the ticket back to the car.
I also left baby in the car while I unloaded shopping into the boot and then put trolley away; again metres away.
She was completely OTT.

Janefromdowntheroad · 26/05/2016 19:06

Unattended water

Blind cords

Cars

Hot shit

Pulling heavy furniture over on them

Choking

Thats about all I watch out for.

Fulltimemummy85 · 26/05/2016 19:12

Is she joking ? has to be a wind up!

Randomer234 · 26/05/2016 19:22

I personally wouldn't and never have left my son in the car while I've got a ticket/trolley and i always pay at pump. But I'd never confront someone else or judge them. I'd hang around to see if the parent was coming back and then carry on with what I'm doing once they had returned (obviously if it was only a couple of minutes) my son wouldn't let me leave him he would scream the car down thinking he was missing out on something lol (he's 2.5) I just feel more comfortable knowing he's with me.

kensausage13 · 26/05/2016 19:30

Seriously?! For 5 minutes to get a parking ticket while in sight, car doors obviously locked or to nip in and pay for fuel/buy a pint of milk etc is absolutely fine!!! NOT lazy parenting FFS! It's called not making your life more difficult than is has to be.

So YANBU OP. You were much more polite than i'd have been. Busybodies everywhere!

LyndaNotLinda · 26/05/2016 19:31

No one's answered my question. What do you do with the baby in the buggy when you go to stick the ticket in the windscreen??

Woodhill · 26/05/2016 19:36

Why make extra work for yourself and stress. Better to get a ticket quickly and straight away. Sometimes there are traffic wardens ready to pounce.

Mine are all grown up and internet didn't exist so
I never thought about these things, just used common sense.

fruitpastille · 26/05/2016 19:52

I actually have been car jacked with ds in the car. On my quiet residential street.

I still leave the kids in the car while I get my ticket/petrol/trolley!

Rafflesway · 26/05/2016 20:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeppaIsMyHero · 26/05/2016 20:22

Totally with Jane on this one, possibly with the addition of his grandfather's butchery knives (don't ask).

YANBU.

Onlyicanclean10 · 26/05/2016 20:26

Fucking hell some posters just won't survive the teenage years.

Op she's bat shit crazy and I would have told her to fuck off.

embo1 · 26/05/2016 20:29

If the machine is close, I'd lock the car and keep a vigilant eye on it at all times and not think twice, but if it's going to take more than a minute, then I'd take the baby. I once saw someone leave their sleeping toddler unattended in the supermarket car park on a hot day whilst they did a small (one full carrier bag) shop... I told customer services and returned to keep an eye on the car (child was asleep) but she returned before customer services came out... not sure what they would have done, I shot daggers at her, but chickened out of saying anything fearing for my safety as she looked 'tough' (rough)...

Waterhill · 26/05/2016 20:30

YANBU - I do it

Niklepic · 26/05/2016 20:37

I'll just add peacocks to Jane's list. Evil fuckers. I think they stalk me! In fact, I won't leave DD2 in the car any more in case a peacock comes along and pecks her face off. that one might just be me

candykane25 · 26/05/2016 20:50

Goats and sheep. Bloody dangerous. Head butting fuckers.

LPickers · 26/05/2016 20:52

She was probably just checking, but using the wrong tone. I do it if the ticket machine is close. At petrol stations I only ever go to pay-at-pump ones with the kids.
However, much worse is that I leave my baby in the car when dropping my dd into pre-school. Its in a posh little village and the car park is opposite the door, but I know I prob shouldn't. Its just so difficult when ur running late, carrying a million bags, need both hands inside to sort her stuff out. He has to be carried as too heavy in car seat. Gosh is that really bad??

magratvonlipwig · 26/05/2016 21:09

Yanbu.
Parenting requires you judge the situation yourself. With the facts. And with your child.
Not someone who doesnt know either

timefliesby · 26/05/2016 21:25

Of course. The world has gone mad. In my Mother's era you left the buggy outside the supermarket and went and did your shopping. If you can't pop to get a parking ticket then seriously the world has gone utterly mad.

Bails2014 · 26/05/2016 21:27

My child is far safer strapped into their protective car seat, surrounded by some of the most advanced safety technology in use than he is being dragged to a ticket machine.

I also leave him in there when I get fuel, again, much safer in the car than he is being dragged across a busy forecourt to pay.

Jessikita · 26/05/2016 21:58

Haven't read the whole of the thread, but I agree with Napqueen and Ragwort. I can't see that it's anymore risky to leave your baby in car than it is to take them with you. I leave both of mine in the car when I pay for petrol. I find that a lot safer than carrying a 22lb in a car seat, whilst trying to hold a 2.5 year old's hand, crossing a busy forecourt, opposed to leaving them strapped in the car alone.