To have left DS asleep in the car?

[HelenLaBloodyAnnoyed]

Today I took DS (14 months) swimming. The pool is only a two min drive from school so I thought he'd make it and then could nap after but the poor little thing was absolutely exhausted and snoring by the time I arrived at school. I parked in the school car park and waited until I saw children from my DDs class leaving, then sprinted to get her leaving DS in the car. The car was out of my sight for less than 30 seconds. WIBU?

[Crockof]

The social would not be interested in 30 seconds, it's not illegal to leave a child unattended. Honestly

[HelenLaBloodyAnnoyed]

For 2 mins Filthy, l leave him for longer to go to the toilet. Dear God...

[AnOwlCalledPlop]

I envy the PP who can leave their two year old downstairs for half an hour unsupervised. My nearly two year old would literally require an a&e trip it she indeed survived it. She is ridiculously wreckless and accident prone (and naughty!)

[Barrenfieldoffucks]

Yeah, that's less cool tbh. If he was in a pushchair why not just walk with him? They're mobile, which is kind of the point. Unless you left your friend there,which would make more sense.

[SamStephens]

I wouldn’t do it - not because I think it’s an issue but because I’d want to avoid the abuse god forbid someone see them and give me a mouthful.

In reality though I leave my kids in the car to pay for petrol (because I’m not going to be fucked carting a 2 and 1 yr old on each hip to juggle paying for a whole 60 seconds) and have been known to leave my sleeping kids in their car seats in our driveway with windows down and in plain sight for a bit of respite knowing they’re safe and fine.

Parents - we can’t get it right.

[Purplejay]

I never left DS in the car to pop to the shop of pay for fuel while he was small. However I do understand why someone with a few kids would do so.

The poster who leaves their blue badge holder child in the car in a disabled space while popping to the ship is mis using the badge.

OP if you were only out of sight for 30 seconds it’s fine. Not sure I would have done it but I get it. For me I would be more stressed leaving them than taking them!

[Purplejay]

Shop not ship! 🙄

[BitsaBobs]

I left my son in the car with some McDonalds nuggets and fries, and my phone to keep him occupied while I nipped into the supermarket last week. He was fine.

[EssentialHummus]

It's really fine. And while I tend to sort petrol etc when 18m DD isn't with me I've repeatedly been asked to hold/watch other people's (strangers') babies while the mums nip to the loo etc, and I'd be happy to ask others if needed.

[HelenLaBloodyAnnoyed]

Barren because it was safer to hold the other two little ones hands rather than taking the pushchair too.

[FilthyforFirth]

How is it 2 mins to collect from nursery? Genuinely asking. I collect my DS 20 months old, I have to put his coat and shoes on, hear the run down of the day etc. It takes me longer than 2 minutes... Perhaps your other child is older. Not something I would do personally.

[Tempoaryname]

I used to do this but stopped after seeing another mums car having to he broken into by the fire brigade when her cars locking mechanism broke and she couldn't get in to her baby.

[MarieIVanArkleStinks]

I never have, and I wouldn't be happy doing this. I'm not casting judgment against you.

My eye-roll moment came with the TA, and the 'reporting you to the school' comment. WTH do the school think they're going to do, having witnessed a parenting incident of which they don't approve? They (some teaching staff, endorsed by government policy) behave as though they have some kind of authority to micromanage the way parents parent and structure our family lives. They already dictate when and how parents take their holidays. The idea that the decision as to whether it's in a child's best interest to take them out of school for whatever reason (especially if it's a one-off and not done on an annual basis, etc) should rest anywhere other than with parents is risible. As for sending them home if the stitching on their shoes isn't the 'right' colour ... (oh ye reprobates)!

Slightly tangential comment, probably, but it hit a raw nerve with me. I value education greatly; I am myself an educator. But this isn't about education. It's dictatorial and unnecsesary. Why do we sit back and tolerate this?

[Sirzy]

Outside ds school and most schools I have worked at this would be the most dangerous place to do this due to the nature of the parking and driving!

[greenlynx]

I wouldn’t do it. And I think that both times you underestimated how long you were away.

[NoCauseRebel]

I wouldn’t, not out of sight. And my fear wouldn’t come from the entirely hysterical possibilities which people bring up here such as the car exploding or the parent collapsing on their way to/from the car park, or even the minuscule chance of a stranger abduction. But I would be concerned that someone could easily hit a car in a car park, which is a very real possibility.

Incidentally, I knew at least two childminders who used to leave charges asleep in their cars while they dropped others off at nursery. Cars entirely out of sight at those times...

[Butteredghost]

ThePants999 how could you! Don't you know you should sleep in the cot with her. Oh no that wouldn't be safe. Stand over the cot watching. Oh no don't do that, you could have a stroke and fall in and crush her.

Hmmm... Better just push her back up inside to be safe.

[Tonsilss]

This is so ridiculous. And what about the risk of dropping the baby as you take it out of the car seat and then carry it over the concrete car park? And what if you trip and fall while carrying it?

[reallybadidea]

@FilthyforFirth

Probably a different kind of nursery, for 3-4 year Old's before starting school. When mine were at that stage all children got their shoes and coats on at 11.55 then at 12 they were released to the parents. Just like school, so it did literally take 2 minutes.

[Cloudyyy]

I never do this, even if they’re asleep - they’re my babies and far far too precious! I’d rather wake them and deal with the hassle of that. The TA is correct to report it as a safeguarding issue, if that’s bothers you, don’teave your young child unattended. If you’re not bothered and do it anyway, don’t be surprised if others disagree with you. 🤷‍♀️

[Dothehappydance]

kits I did things like that too. I figured the Morrison's worker wasn't going to make a mad dash for it whilst I went to the loo. I was actually really grateful to her.

And I also plonked a small DD2 on someone whilst taking ds to the loo, it was a swimming lesson so a known face, but no more than that.

I did all sorts of things that would send some posters into a spin. But I assessed the full situation and did what was right at that time.

[reallybadidea]

The responses along the lines of "but what if you got hit by a bus" always make me because surely that is a reason for leaving the child in the car so they don't also get hit by a bus?

[twoheaped]

TA sounds a bit ott.

[AhoyDelBoy]

You again OP
Surely you think YANBU if you are happy to leave a baby sleeping in a pram while you go and pick up other children from nursery

[QueenofmyPrinces]

I would never leave my children in a car out sight!

Leaving them for a few minutes whilst they are still in your line of vision is one thing, but to go somewhere where you can’t actually see the car and leave a young child in it is pretty shocking in my opinion.