Is it okay to leave a child in the car to pop into a shop?

[loveisanumber]

Local mum.

She has a baby/toddler who's recently celebrated her 1st birthday.

I've noticed on a few occasions now that she leaves the baby in the car whilst she pops into the chemist for prescriptions, pops into the little Tesco for a few bits etc.

Most of the time she's roughly a few minutes but the reason I'm starting this thread is because today she was talking to me whilst waiting for a prescription. We were standing there for a good 15 minutes before her name was called because mine was called just before

When I was walking by me said bye again, she opened the car door to get in and was saying 'It's okay darling, I'm back' and I heard the baby crying

AIBU to think it's wrong?

Reminds me of the whole car seat discussion.
You do it at your own risk, and people judge risks differently.
It's certainly not a 'it's neglect, report to SS situation'.

@kindercup

Yeah that wouldn't have bothered me either. Kids get upset.

Presumably it wasn't when she got out

Perhaps you don't, but unless you're not using your eyes correctly, there's nothing remotely scary about walking across a forecourt.

I don't think it's a great parental choice but what do you want to happen? I'm sure social services would have bigger fish to fry than dealing with this. Maybe you could tell her about the risk she's running but it might come across very judgey.

15 mins for the prescription is awful, I bet that would feel like forever to a 1 year old who didn’t know where mum had gone.

Not okay!! Just lazy. If you don't want to get baby out of the car, run errands at a time they aren't with you. Or, if possible, go to drive thrus, pay at the pump for fuel, etc. So many different options. Choosing to leave a baby in the car is just laziness.

When mine were small (10ish years ago) it was advised to leave babies/toddlers in the car at petrol stations only especially when you had two or more... greater risk from cars maneuvering.

With Pay at Pump, parking sensors etc that advice appears to have changed.

What r u ? Her stalker ? How do u know how often or where she does it ? I’ve left my child of similar age in the car while I’ve very quickly ran into a shop if they are fast asleep. I wouldn’t leave them awake and wouldn’t leave them longer than 5 mins but I hardly think this is a crazy risk and I am naturally a worrier

It's a service station with dual entrances and HGV pumps with awful road markings, and is often used to cut out a roundabout. But thanks, I'll just open my eyes to stop being hit by a car 🤨

For petrol I leave them. I take them for everything else until older

Hardly neglect. Fool hardy yes. Paying for fuel I would but not going into.a shop for bits. Remember in the old days,people used to leave pram and baby outside shops.

Bit long for a baby but I don't really like to run around judging strangers.

Yanbu she definitely is.
What a risk she is taking through sheer laziness.
Child stolen car stolen,rtc,baby choking.

My kids are 8 and nearly 5 and I have only just started to leave them in the car to pay for petrol (if I couldn't use pay at pump) or to nip into our very small corner shop to get a couple of things. I only do this because I can see the car from the shop and I know I will only be a couple of minutes. I wouldn't do it otherwise, until they are much older

Another vote for yes at the petrol station (especially as you can still see your car from inside) but a no to somewhere where you couldn't see the car.
I forgot my bank card once and literally legged it into shop to pay for shopping, I was 2 mins & baby was fast asleep but I thought never again!
I have a friend who leaves toddler in car while she takes older child into school, that's her call, I'd be too scared of something happening.

Wow. How fucking awful.

Depressing shitty attitude towards small children

@kindercup

I think the attitude of never (or trying to) allowing children to get upset is the wrong 1

Just leave her alone, it's not neglect, it's her choice. She probably didn't expect the wait to be 15 minutes, and her baby probably would have been crying in the chemist as well.

I thought the same, also the use of "it". Says it all really.

YANBU OP, it's not very safe and horrible for an upset baby to be left to cry.

Lazy and unnecessary

I've done this with short things when baby was definitely asleep.
I think 15 mins at the pharmacy is a bit much, I would have taken baby in for that. I always leave them at the petrol station though.
I think YABU to judge though. The baby was probably asleep when she left her.

The way I see it is most parents wouldn't leave £1000 cash on the car seat for all to see so why leave a child? I wouldn't do it even if for 2 minutes.

I’ve only ever done this to pay for petrol and I feel guilty doing even that.

In my town someone left 3 year old while he nipped into the bookies. Child unhooked car seat and tried to follow his dad. Jumped out on roadside, was killed by on coming car.

We all take risks out of a bit of laziness sometimes. Every single one of us.