Stuck in the car park AIBU?

[CindersCatsSister]

Well this is annoying. Just got out of my car at the car park in the (small) town centre and noticed in the car next to me a child, looks to be about 4 or 5, by themselves. Quite happily reading a book but all alone. I thought oh I’ll just hang on here until his parent gets back but it’s been 15 fucking mins now and I’ve got shit to do. But I want to keep an eye on him in case (of what, I don’t know). Am I being (too much of) a busybody?

I'd say 25-30 min is too long to leave a child young enough to need a car seat with straps... my kids would have let themselves out of the car

Hands up who left their child age 4-6 who was reading large picture books, in a car seat with chest straps, in a public car park for upwards of 25 mins.. really? No it's not normal.
If it was you'd see it frequently.
You don't. So the vast vast vast majority would not think it was acceptable.

@JFD0201

Jesus Christ, the posts on here are awful! IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO LEAVE YOUR CHILD IN THE CAR ALONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. call 101 this should not be up for questioning on here as the answer is an obvious one. Is this the state of parenting in the UK?

It is the state of parenting in the UK in 2021. In certain areas at least. In other areas, there would be uproar.

I don’t know if this has been said, but I would have phoned the police! I hope you got the reg number! That is terrible neglect. The poor child was alone in that car for 25 mins that you knew of, goodness knows how long before that!!

@smidgeonofapigeon

MM was not snatched from a car. She was allegedly taken from her bed in a holiday apartment while her parents went out for a meal.

I am just nipping to the shops for a loaf. It will only take me 20 mins. My 5 year old doesnt want to come so I have left them in the house alone. Told them not to answer the door until I get back.................is that OK?

Oh! 5 year old has changed her mind she is now coming with me, will only be in the shop 20 mins. Get to supermarket and she says she doesnt want to come in. I will leave her in the car alone. Lock all the doors and tell her not to open them until I get back ....is that OK?

Back from shops. Friend telephones to say come round to pick up a parcel. 5 year old doesnt want to come. Will only be gone 20 mins. Tell her not to answer door until I get back...............is that OK?

To me it is not OK to leave a 5 year old alone and unattended for 20 mins for any reason.

@MakeMathsFun you have mixed me up with another poster- I’m well aware MM wasn’t taken from a car

OP, Inoring some of the utter crap posted since your original post, I would like to thank you for your concern for the child.
No matter what anyone else says, if you hadn't been there - well, who knows? Really, who knows? Bless you.

@streamside. The car may have been locked using the key rather than the remote control fob. I do this if i have to leave my dog in the car - stops the alarm from triggering.

@whoopsabloominbuttercup

Back from shops. Friend telephones to say come round to pick up a parcel. 5 year old doesnt want to come. Will only be gone 20 mins. Tell her not to answer door until I get back...............is that OK?

Back in the 80s I left my 5 year old home, as he was ill and lying on the sofa in his pyjamas, while I popped up the road to collect another child who had been sick at school. He had a comic to read and strict instructions not to answer the door. When I got back there was a parcel in the hall! He had answered the door to a ‘man with a van’ and signed for the parcel. I never did it again! 🙈

Totally not ok and if I did that I would want to be reported - to prevent the child coming to some future harm as will not be an isolated incident. A child strapped in car seat with a large picture book for at least the 25m the OP was there?!
If OP noticed, someone with less noble intentions could also notice, especially if habitual.
A young child can’t look after themselves nor make decisions - like if the car started rolling (which actually happened to me in a car park when the driver popped out).

[quote pam290358]@streamside. The car may have been locked using the key rather than the remote control fob. I do this if i have to leave my dog in the car - stops the alarm from triggering.[/quote]

Must be gratifying for both child and dog to know that as their discomfort rises (overheating, distress at being left alone) at least there isn't the chance of a pesky alarm to alert anyone to their movements

Agh wrong thread, will report.

My eldest sister took me to a pub when I was a kid left me in car while she and her boyfriend went in , she was gone a good hour or 2 ( really) and all I had to amuse myself was a vw beetle book I eventually went into pub to see how long she'd be, back in the day (70s)was quite normal to be left in car while parents went pub or shop be left with pkt crisps and drink , the main issue with sis was no drink or crisps lol, and would have bought something to read or play with, still bugs me now lol decades later , but apart from that no harm done. but unless i know I'm not going to be long and i can see car and child wouldn't dream of leaving kid these days u done right thing

I agree, it is not acceptable to leave a young child alone, locked in a car. Just because you have done it previously and got away with it, isn't a justification for doing it again.
Lets face it, you could conceivably cross a busy road blindfolded once and get away with it. I wouldnt advocate either doing it in the first place or repeating the exercise.
Isn't your child precious enough to care?