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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Leaving kids in the car?

29 replies

LG101 · 29/10/2020 10:05

Got me thinking I just popped to our local and someone parked in the parent and child space but left their kid in the car. It’s a big supermarket and they can’t see the car from inside.

I’m too paranoid someone might steal my kid, is that crazy? Child looked to be 2 years old so I’m not talking 7 year olds.

OP posts:
Eloise97 · 29/10/2020 10:07

@LG101 I would never leave my children in the car, even for a second!! Like you said I would worry that someone would steal the children.

I don't understand why anyone would!?

dairyswim · 29/10/2020 10:17

I have left dc in the car while I pop into pay for petrol (where I can see the car from the shop and don't have anything else to buy so no wandering around the shop) but I would never do it at a supermarket.

Vinosaurus · 29/10/2020 10:18

I'm assuming you mean local supermarket? Never heard of a pub with parent and child parking!

Not acceptable on any level. Assuming they looked OK (not a hot day/not in distress) I'd speak to customer svcs to get a tannoy announcement out for the dickhead to go back to their car/kid immediately. Otherwise I'd be inclined to call the police.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 29/10/2020 10:24

Never left them in the car alone, regardless of where we were or the weather. Surely you do online shopping if you don’t want to take children to the supermarket and supervise them?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/10/2020 10:26

Depends on the age and circumstance.
3yr old, petrol forecourt = fine
7yr old, newsagent= fine
11yr old, supermarket = fine

FatGirlShrinking · 29/10/2020 10:27

I've allowed my 6 yo to stay in the car on the iPad for 2 minutes while I nipped into the petrol station a handful of times in the last few months, I park near the front so I can see her at all times. I wouldn't leave her in the car for longer than that or if she was out of my sight.

Wyntersdiary · 29/10/2020 10:36

No, Under 8-10 and they come inside. 2 definitely not.

Rosebel · 29/10/2020 10:38

I leave my baby in the car to pay for petrol because I can see the car (and did the same with my older children). Anything else always take him with me.

BootNoot · 29/10/2020 10:51

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request

Bookriddle · 29/10/2020 10:55

Nope, i would never leave my 1 year old in the car, even if it is just to pop in the shop, she will come with me, sometimes it takes longer getting her out and then back in again!

About 4 weeks ago we had 2 reports in our local area that 2 men was going round trying to snatch kids

Devillishlypicklypickles · 29/10/2020 11:01

I've only left them in the car when I've gone to pay for petrol and I can still see the car. My stepdad used to leave me in the car a lot when I was small while he went off to see people about work, had long chats on building sites etc, I'd be left for long periods sometimes. He'd make such a fuss about telling me to lock all the doors and not to talk to anyone that it completely terrified me that loads of creepy weirdos were going to attempt to get into the car the moment stepdad was gone, I would curl up into a ball in the footwell and hide with my heart thumping away in my chest waiting for a knock on the window.

BootNoot · 29/10/2020 11:05

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request

KarmaStar · 29/10/2020 11:07

No I'd never leave a child,or an animal,locked in a car.totally irresponsible.

DipSwimSwoosh · 29/10/2020 11:34

How would a kidnapper get into a locked car? I have left my kids occasionally when they are not alone (more than one child) and old enough to call for help if needed. Only for a few minutes - postin bnf a letteror something.
I did used to worry about a baby being kidnapped but looking back, wonder how anyone would manage to do that?

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 29/10/2020 11:40

A family friend looked round and noticed her toddler wasn't by her side anymore once when shopping. She told the manager, who closed the shop (it was a small shop). Her child was found within 10 minutes in the toilets with a stranger, who'd already cut her child's hair and changed their clothes.
It's amazing the number of 'family friends' this happens to. It really should be headline news! It's almost as many as the number of mates of mate who's pet snake was eyeing them up as dinner.

Urban myths aside, a 2 year old is too young to be left in a car imo.

VapeVamp12 · 29/10/2020 11:41

A family friend looked round and noticed her toddler wasn't by her side anymore once when shopping. She told the manager, who closed the shop (it was a small shop). Her child was found within 10 minutes in the toilets with a stranger, who'd already cut her child's hair and changed their clothes.

That is so scary.

LittleTiger007 · 29/10/2020 11:43

If this was reported this parent would be in serious trouble. It is never ok to leave a small child unattended.

Devillishlypicklypickles · 29/10/2020 11:45

I unlocked the car for a stranger when I had been left in the car on a residential street for a while, a little old lady had seen me and seemed to be worried, she was talking to me through the closed windows, I remember telling her I was desperate for a wee and she said I could use her loo. I unlocked the doors and went with a stranger into her house to use the loo, next thing I remember is my mum and stepdad banging on this ladies door frantically looking for me, they weren't happy!

BootNoot · 29/10/2020 11:45

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request

pandaeyes36 · 29/10/2020 11:47

I once asked if I was BU to be annoyed that my ex did this with our then 8 year old and got my arse handed to me and was repeatedly told I was being overprotective and it's fine to do this.

AriettyHomily · 29/10/2020 11:51

Only on the petrol forecourt. When DTs were small I tried to get to pay at the pump but it wasn't so popular then. I wasn't going to wrangle two baby carriers across the forecourt.

They're ten now, I wouldn't leave them if I went into the supermarket but I would leave them to pop into a petrol station shop or newsagent.

greeneyedlulu · 29/10/2020 12:01

I have and will do it at petrol stations where I can see the car but not anywhere I can't, it just doesn't sit right with me as I did once have a policeman knock on my door asking if I'd seen a car being abandoned outside my house. It was stolen from outside the local Co-op and the thief then quickly dumped the car once he realised a toddler was in the back so it does happen. I didn't see anything as living room was at the back of that house. Apparently the mother left the car with the toddler in the back as she was only going to be a minute in the Co-op. The kid was fine, no harm done but that has always stuck with me, the ending could have been very different.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 29/10/2020 12:58

They're ten now, I wouldn't leave them if I went into the supermarket but I would leave them to pop into a petrol station shop or newsagent genuine question, what age would you given that most secondary school kids travel to and from school without their parents?

gobbynorthernbird · 29/10/2020 12:58

Do you know if the child had been left while someone was doing a full shop or if, eg, the parent had left the child whilst returning a trolley or nipping to the cashpoint?

Coffeecak3 · 29/10/2020 13:03

I never left my dc in the car because my dp's knew a family who left their sleeping baby in the car on their driveway.
The car caught fire and the baby died before they could get him out.
Just not worth it.