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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To leave baby in car while I drop toddler into daycare?

42 replies

Liskee · 22/02/2017 13:43

First time I'll be doing the drop off on my own and not sure how to manage the logistics! Is it illegal to leave the baby locked in the car in his car seat for the few minutes it takes to hand over toddler in daycare? Or do I need to bring him in with me while I do the handover? I remember being left in the car loadsas a child but times have changed and all that!

OP posts:

Redkite10a · 22/02/2017 14:51

I take the baby in with me, usually in her car seat. The car is out of my sight while I'm in the nursery, and I want to be able to pay attention to my toddler not stress over a baby left in a car.

For the person asking about how it is different to a garage where you have to leave the car to pay, I always try and fill up at the pay at pump station. If I have to fill up elsewhere, at least they are designed so you can keep an eye on the car the whole time - DS''s nursery definitely isn't.

ScarlettFreestone · 22/02/2017 14:52

Actually Waitrose that's a pretty sarky response.

I am talking about a real fire. It wasn't "spontaneous combustion" it was an electrical fault. My neighbours had just parked, thankfully no one was injured.

The car was engulfed in seconds you wouldn't have been able to get to anyone inside.

The risk might well be minuscule but it's not one I'd take.

WaitrosePigeon · 22/02/2017 14:53

I honestly didn't mean it to be sarky. I apologise for that Scarlett. It's just a long running thing that usually comes up and it was more of a lighthearted grin, not a sarky one.

I can see how it came across though - sorry

ispymincepie · 22/02/2017 14:54

It totally depends on the nursery and parking set up. I would happily leave my baby in the car outside ds's nursery as it's on a farm, only ever about 8 other cars there, everyone knows each other, you can see the car from the building and it literally takes a minute to get in and out. I wouldn't do it though if this wasn't the case (ie, near a road, busy area, car not visible etc...)

NavyandWhite · 22/02/2017 14:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dramaiguana · 22/02/2017 14:57

I would take the baby in - you never know when you can get held up taking toddler in. What if they are upset? Of course you'll want to re-assure them. What if staff want a word? Toddler trips and hurts themselves on the way in?

ElspethFlashman · 22/02/2017 15:02

I respectfully think that if the place has a secure and secluded carpark and you're going to be no more than 5 minutes, then if course leave the baby in the car, wtf?!

What exactly is the difference between doing that and leaving the baby inside the car and going in to pay for petrol??

Definitely more chance of a fire on a garage forecourt!

ScarlettFreestone · 22/02/2017 15:03

Apologies accepted Waitrose.

As others have said there are all kinds of risks in life. You have to decide which ones you are willing to take personal responsibility for.

ElspethFlashman · 22/02/2017 15:03

Oh and if staff want a word then "ok sure - I'll just go out and bring in the baby"

Simple.

ScarlettFreestone · 22/02/2017 15:04

Elspeth I never left my twins on a petrol station forecourt either.

CaroleService · 22/02/2017 15:04

If baby is going to end up at the same nursery sooner or later, the more exposure he/she gets to it the better. My dd was desperate to start after seeing ds chug in and pitch into the toys day after day ...

museumum · 22/02/2017 15:11

At our nursery I would have left a baby when ds was in the 2-3 room near the door with a window into the car park.
I wouldn't in his current preschool room at the other end of the building.

Sundance01 · 22/02/2017 16:17

Depends where the car is parked, how long you are going to be, how far away from the car you go etc etc

Balance the risks of leaving against the risks of taking them with you.

In fairness the risk of you tripping and dropping the baby must exceed the risk of the car spontaneously combusting by about a million fold😂😂😂

ispymincepie · 22/02/2017 17:01

I also leave my bag, phone, wallet, dog and sometimes the keys in the ignition 😂

bumsexatthebingo · 22/02/2017 17:08

Glad you've decided against op. I know you say that you remember being left in the car but I doubt you remember being left as a baby! (Though it probably did happen more often in the past).
My only worry would be the baby waking up and being distressed and you not being a few minutes. What if your toddler decides to cling to you one morning and get upset - are you just going to peel them off and walk straight out? Or if the nursery teacher has something important to speak to you about?
It's so easy to lift a car seat out and carry them in.

OpalFruitsMarathonsandSpira · 22/02/2017 18:31

I think the deal breaker for me is if I can see the car. To me it is no different in that case than leaving a baby to sleep in the other room and regularly checking. I have had a social worker agree with me on this in a professional capacity.

My perspective is that parenting is hard enough without adding unrealistic expectations to the equation. But that's just me, I respect other people feel differently and don't think they are a better or worse parent than me.

caffeinequick · 22/02/2017 18:45

I think it depends on how far you have to go. I used to drop ds to a nursery where I could park outside the front door so I was only 10ft away from the car and it was in sight. Now he goes to school where the car park is within the school but you have to walk a minute up a hill to drop off so I always take ds2 with me.

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