To leave baby alone in the car?

[irishfarmer]

Please don't slate me for this!

I am currently pregnant with DC no 1. Is it safe/ normal to leave a baby alone in a car while going into the shop? Not for long, e.g. if you have filled with car with diesel and are going into pay? Or you've stopped at the local shop to go in for milk and bread, baby is asleep and you won't be longer than 5 mins. I'm not talking about stopping off at the shopping centre and going in for an hour.

My DH said he doesn't think so. I said yes. I minded nieces/ nephews all my life and when I learnt to drive I often had to bring them places. I remember leaving them in the car, really at any age to go into the shop for 2 mins. The car was locked and this was over 10 years ago so things might have changed. In fact I remember them being left outside in cars by their own parent if they were asleep when visiting the home house. Granted I grew up in a cul-de-sac which is very quiet and have known all of those neighbours my entire life.

Honestly what is the done thing these days? If it makes a difference I live now outside a small town (approx 1,500 ppl) it is a farming/ agricultural community.

I never once did. Petrol station always used pay at the pump. Quick shopping, DC came in with me. I'd never risk it.

I agree absolutely fine for petrol, I can't use pay at pump. I also used to leave mine asleep on the car locked in our back garden but I wouldn't leave anywhere else even now they are older.

Only at the petrol station (and even then I’ve only done it once or twice). Never at a shop.

@Ohmych

I worked in a shop on a main road. A lady had parked her car with two young children in right outside the shop. A van crashed into her car and pushed it really far up the road. Thankfully they were ok but I wouldn't risk it.

And if the van had crashed whilst she'd been getting them out... it would have been a very different story!..

Safety.. its all relative!

the car insurance doesn't cover the pram

I am fairly confident you can only make that claim about your own insurance policy - and not universally.

It’s a no from me to either

@Lazypuppy

Petrol station is normal, most parents leave kids in cars. Shopping definitely not

No they don’t. You aren’t supposed to leave your kids in petrol station. Just go to a station where you pay at pump

I think it’s one of those things that you won’t really know until the time comes. As you’ll see from the replies there is no consistent feelings on this. It depends on your area, the set up of the petrol station or shop, even on your baby themselves. I had a terrible sleeper really would only sleep after being soothed in car but would spring awake immediately if I attempted to move the car seat. Just didn’t work. They often got so overtired I was just desperate for them to nap. I would go to my DF’s house sometimes as they had large private drive with side window which you could see into car perfectly. I’d let my child nap and take a rest and sleep whilst keeping eye via window. I also set up FaceTime leaving my phone in car and using my DFs in the house. Basically a baby monitor. Sometimes my dad would be pottering outside too. So my baby slept like that often as it was into way (even or a didn’t help!) I feel they were as monitored as if they were napping in a cot and always checked temp of course cold/hot weather etc needed considered.

I did not however do this at my own home. Although a quiet street I just didn’t feel I could see into the car enough from my window and the FaceTime reception never worked well. So my approach was inconsistent itself. Similarly, I left them in car going into the petrol station as it had big windows and I could monitor car. I found like less risky than taking them across forecourt with me. I wouldn’t go into a closed off shop though where I had no view of my car or no idea how long the queues were etc.

OP relax about it. You’ll know what you want to do and what feels right for your circumstances when your baby is here. Everyone had different opinions and different environments so I personally don’t think there is a “right” or “wrong” to the napping or petrol station query. Other things I’d say are more cut and dry eg going into a big supermarket for a couple of bags worth of shopping and leaving baby napping in car (which one of my baby group mums use to do quite frequently - I was a bit shocked at that one to despite me leaving my same age baby in the circumstances described above).

I wouldn’t. You can pay at the pump at most petrol stations now and oh put baby in pram and walk to shops

@Getyourjinglebellsinarow I had spectacularly misunderstood your post then 😂. Thanks for explaining!

I used to, but I wasn't in my right mind - on my own, trauma, loss of perception / judgement etc, no support. Looking back I was just lucky, I wouldn't do it again with hindsight.

You aren’t supposed to leave your kids in petrol station.

Says who?

Just go to a station where you pay at pump

What about petrol stations without pay at the pump, or those who are paying cash?

On that note, do people think that if these spontaneously combusting cars explode when you’re pumping, that anything can be done? You’d probably just die as well TBH

@MajorCarolDanvers

the car insurance doesn't cover the pram

I am fairly confident you can only make that claim about your own insurance policy - and not universally.

Well, I can make that claim about the last 7 insurers I've had.

No they don’t. You aren’t supposed to leave your kids in petrol station.

According to who?

Just go to a station where you pay at pump

And if you don't live anywhere near one of those? None of the petrol stations within a 30 mile radius of here let you pay at the pump. One still has one of those attendants who fills your car up for you - you're not allowed to do it yourself

I know someone that left their baby in the car outside local shop, running (because baby would wake up if it was turned off) they had done it before. A car thief stole it with the child inside.

Petrol station - fine, lock the door, pump are always in line of sight.
Shopping - never.

Fuel of course I do - I'm Not bloody unstrapping 1 year old twins and carrying them in for a 3 mins trip - I can't carry both of them at the same time anyway

Only time I ever do it is in the nursery drop off.

I will park right infront of reception and I don't actually do in so I can see the car at all times. Just abit easier when it's cold.

Hi no you will probably not want to do it anyway once your baby is here but if advise against it having seen the consequences.

Does no one's car alarm go off if you lock the car with kids inside it??

@Knockoneofftheshelftowin

I know someone that left their baby in the car outside local shop, running (because baby would wake up if it was turned off) they had done it before. A car thief stole it with the child inside.

But isn't that because the car was left running rather than because she'd left her kids unattended in there?

Leaving your car unlocked, unattended and running in public is just stupid - whether you have kids in the back or not!

@HalloHello

Does no one's car alarm go off if you lock the car with kids inside it??

I can switch the internal motion sensor off on mine.

I think this is one of the oddest questions I have ever read on MN, especially as the OP doesn't even have her baby yet (but says she is pregnant.)

Is it the kind of thing you ask on a forum?

I'm waiting for the Daily Fail to pick it up as a feature by a journalist.

@SnoopyLovesLucy so I have to wait until after the baby is born to ask any questions I might have? Granted something might become glaringly obvious to me once I have the baby.

The site is called mumsnet so I thought it would be a good place to ask mums their opinion on something baby related! And I have gotten a lot of helpful answers. Forums I follow to do with my profession, no, not the right place to ask.

Thinking about logistics before the baby is born is a good idea.