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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To leave sleeping child in locked car?

312 replies

Wouldyoudothisiwonder · 04/12/2022 11:05

Went to supermarket to get prescription for DD(2) and she fell asleep on the way. Would you lock the car and leave her sleeping while you run in? Or not?

OP posts:
lookersnoopy · 04/12/2022 12:36

A couple of minutes to run in a shop
for calpol or milk, or nappies if everyone is more honest here they have all done stuff like it.

Why do you think people are lying?

I have never left mine in these scenarios.

Don't assume I'm a liar because you can't understand we are not all the same.

BeanieTeen · 04/12/2022 12:37

What if something happened to you in the shop? No one knows your child is in the car. She could be locked in there on her own for hours 🤷‍♀️

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:39

lookersnoopy · 04/12/2022 12:36

A couple of minutes to run in a shop
for calpol or milk, or nappies if everyone is more honest here they have all done stuff like it.

Why do you think people are lying?

I have never left mine in these scenarios.

Don't assume I'm a liar because you can't understand we are not all the same.

Ok here’s another example, you come back from the supermarket lots of shopping bags, plus a small child, is your child never left alone for a few minutes whilst emptying car?

SavingKitten · 04/12/2022 12:40

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:39

Ok here’s another example, you come back from the supermarket lots of shopping bags, plus a small child, is your child never left alone for a few minutes whilst emptying car?

Show quote history

Your own home with you coming backwards and forwards grabbing shopping bags is clearly different to a supermarket car park when you are heading inside and queueing.

Herejustforthisone · 04/12/2022 12:42

Why would the car suddenly spontaneously combust? Why would someone drive into the car? The risk of these things is utterly minuscule. But an unwell child who is sleeping is going to be much more comfortable left sleeping in a secure seat for five minutes than they would be hauled out of their seat, woken up, and lugged into a fluorescent-lit supermarket full of people.

Tell me everyone doesn’t lug/lead their kids across petrol station forecourts as well?

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:43

SavingKitten · 04/12/2022 12:40

Your own home with you coming backwards and forwards grabbing shopping bags is clearly different to a supermarket car park when you are heading inside and queueing.

Show quote history

Your child is still on their own at some point

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:43

Most babies did not die from SIDS, but most parents now put their babies on their backs to minimise the risk.

The likelihood of something happening is rare when you take each possible incident individually.

Added up, though:
Car catching fire
Someone crashing into the car
Child overheating
Child choking
Child vomiting
Child waking, distressed
Child escaping from carseat
Car rolling away
Parent reported for neglect

Suddenly, those rare incidents add up to a much bigger risk of something happening while the child is alone in a locked car.

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:44

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:43

Most babies did not die from SIDS, but most parents now put their babies on their backs to minimise the risk.

The likelihood of something happening is rare when you take each possible incident individually.

Added up, though:
Car catching fire
Someone crashing into the car
Child overheating
Child choking
Child vomiting
Child waking, distressed
Child escaping from carseat
Car rolling away
Parent reported for neglect

Suddenly, those rare incidents add up to a much bigger risk of something happening while the child is alone in a locked car.

There is more chance of something happening in the home

Herejustforthisone · 04/12/2022 12:44

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:43

Most babies did not die from SIDS, but most parents now put their babies on their backs to minimise the risk.

The likelihood of something happening is rare when you take each possible incident individually.

Added up, though:
Car catching fire
Someone crashing into the car
Child overheating
Child choking
Child vomiting
Child waking, distressed
Child escaping from carseat
Car rolling away
Parent reported for neglect

Suddenly, those rare incidents add up to a much bigger risk of something happening while the child is alone in a locked car.

Why would a stationary car with the handbrake on roll away in a car park that is likely flat?

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:45

Why would the car suddenly spontaneously combust?

Usually an electrical fault. Other causes might be the hot engine, or the child setting the car on fire, as has happened several times.
You may say you never leave lighters or matches in the car, but most cars have a cigarette lighter on the dashboard.

oakleaffy · 04/12/2022 12:45

Definitely not!
I'd not even leave a dog in a car.

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:45

Herejustforthisone · 04/12/2022 12:44

Why would a stationary car with the handbrake on roll away in a car park that is likely flat?

Show quote history

Exactly

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:47

Why would a stationary car with the handbrake on roll away in a car park that is likely flat?

My brother once managed to start the car as a child. Perfectly possible for a child to take the handbrake off.

thelobsterquadrille · 04/12/2022 12:47

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:29

My son was completely safe

Show quote history

No, your son was lucky. Big difference.

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:48

There is more chance of something happening in the home

Presumably, you also manage risk at home?

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:49

thelobsterquadrille · 04/12/2022 12:47

No, your son was lucky. Big difference.

Show quote history

No he was safe thank you, I don’t believe it luck

Dreamsoffreedomjoyandpeace · 04/12/2022 12:49

I’m the most over-protective mother ever and some of these posts are ridiculous. Cars don’t randomly burst into flames. They just don’t!

I would never have left my child in the car but can people not see that leaving a child for five minutes in a car is far safer than a trip to the park?

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:50

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:48

There is more chance of something happening in the home

Presumably, you also manage risk at home?

Shit happens at home, child can roll off sofa, fall over when learning to walk.

thelobsterquadrille · 04/12/2022 12:51

Herejustforthisone · 04/12/2022 12:44

Why would a stationary car with the handbrake on roll away in a car park that is likely flat?

Show quote history

Well, it depends on the age of the child, doesn't it? Most children older than toddler age can release a handbrake with not much effort, and most car parks aren't completely flat.

I visibly remember turning the engine on when I was about eight (so old enough to know better) and giving myself a fright. My mum had left the keys with me so I could listen to the radio/have the heating on and I'd never turned them before, but I guess I was bored/curious and I wanted to know what would happen.

Obviously as the handbrake was on and I didn't have my foot on the pedal, it just stalled but you can see how quickly these things can happen and go wrong.

Dreamsoffreedomjoyandpeace · 04/12/2022 12:51

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:45

Why would the car suddenly spontaneously combust?

Usually an electrical fault. Other causes might be the hot engine, or the child setting the car on fire, as has happened several times.
You may say you never leave lighters or matches in the car, but most cars have a cigarette lighter on the dashboard.

They did maybe 20 years ago….now they have a charging point surely?

thelobsterquadrille · 04/12/2022 12:52

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:49

No he was safe thank you, I don’t believe it luck

Show quote history

He was safe because, luckily, nothing happened to him.

If you'd left him and someone had driven into your car and damaged it, he wouldn't have been safe.

It was just pure luck/chance that he stayed safe. Nothing to do with you.

ClaraThePigeon · 04/12/2022 12:52

Why would the car suddenly spontaneously combust?

A quick Google shows how cars are regularly recalled due to a fire risk as a result of some manufacturing problem and it isn't just when the vehicle is in use.

www.cbsnews.com/news/hyundai-and-kia-suv-recall-fire-risk/ From the U.S but just one example of many.

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:52

Cars don’t randomly burst into flames. They just don’t!

Any car manufacturer or insurer will confirm that they do, usually due to an electrical fault.

holierthanthou73 · 04/12/2022 12:53

thelobsterquadrille · 04/12/2022 12:52

He was safe because, luckily, nothing happened to him.

If you'd left him and someone had driven into your car and damaged it, he wouldn't have been safe.

It was just pure luck/chance that he stayed safe. Nothing to do with you.

Show quote history

Are you still going on

Tanith · 04/12/2022 12:53

They did maybe 20 years ago….now they have a charging point surely?

Electrics again...