to leave kids in a locked, alarmed car in broad daylight, and dash to cashpoint for 2 minutes

[cilitbang]

Is it realistically, really dangerous to do this? Has anyone ever heard of kids coming to any danger in this situation? Its a very occasional habit that I am trying to stop doing at all but am interested to hear of anyone who knows,realistically what danger a child could come to in this situation if its just for 2 minutes. Some nosey cow had a go at me for doing it this morning and I now feel so, so guilty.

Crokky have you tried undoing one of those carseats? I have enough trouble myself!! There is no way a toddler could escape from one, really.

That's fine, presuming you take the keys with you.

I just remember reading a horrible site with dozens of stories about parents who had left their children in cars for a few minutes, and what had gone wrong.

I don't have a strong opinion on this, but I don't think I'd leave them if I couldn't see them from the cash machine. If I could I'd probably be fine with leaving them for a minute or two.

But Falcon I think I need to read that site because I just can't imagine what could go wrong in 2 minutes?

If I can find it I'll post a link
if you like, it's pretty graphic though.

I think what you did was fine. And I have done it lots and lots of time with mine. It may depend where you live, whether it was a busy, fast road you were parked on (but then you being in sight will not help on that one) but presumably you took these considerations before doing what you did. Mine are 7 and 4 and now often ask to be left in the car. Oh the other factor is that you stated both children were happy to be left.

But falcon what about all the things that could have happened if she did get them out?

Personally I would have tilted my head, smiled pleasantly at her and said clearly "you're really quite mad aren't you?" then carried about my business

you may use that next time if you wish

Personally I would have tilted my head, smiled pleasantly at her and said clearly "you're really quite mad aren't you?" then carried about my business

you may use that next time if you wish

I would have done it once though because doing it twice would have been a bit odd

although I suppose I could have added 'that deja vu's a bugger isn't it?"

I don't have a dog in this fight. As mentioned before I don't really have a strong opinion on the possible risks.

What I do have a strong opinion on though is the exaggerated risks of child abduction at the detriment of consideration of the other risks that are much more likely to happen, and which should be given greater consideration than child abduction.

I only do it if I can see that car. Saying that in nearly 6 years I have probably done it twice, even being able to see the car. I just don't like doing it. What if I trip over and knock myself out and no one knows my kids are in the car? (Can you tell I suffer from anxiety disorder? ).

Totally agree with you there falcon. Which is why I think there is greater risk dragging a bunch of babies/toddlers across a petrol station for example than leaving them strapped in, in the car. And why I let my DS play out but only on our culdesac which is quiet, although has out of sight bits.

I can't remember if this is the exact site but it's close enough.

www.kidsincars.org/m_incidents/power_window.html

www.harrisonshope.org/

Btu fleur what happens if you fall down the stairs at home and no-one knows?

Well thats a consideration but my 5 year old knows how to use the phone so could probably ring someone. Thanks bozza now I am even more anxious .

And there is much less likely to be child abductors lurking in the vicinity.

I do agree that depending on circumstances, it could possibly be more dangerous to take children across a petrol station forecourt than to leave them in the car, assuming appropriate precautions have been taken.

Fleur, I strongly suggest that you avoid reading that site. It's enough to make anyone paranoid.

Thefalcon - all these cases are either if the keys are in the car or the car is unlocked / running, or else the child overheats in a car having been left there for hours. There are no cases there of anything happening to a child left for a few mins in a locked car with the key removed.
We all assess risks differently. I would probably only do it if I could keep an eye on the car, but don't think it's a really big deal. On the otherhand I wince whenever I see people give toddlers sausages that haven't been halved lengthwise as I think the risk of choking is far far higher than anything happening in a locked, parked car.

I go out of my way to go to a cash point that I can park right next to (at a petrol station), otherwise I take my DS out with me. But I do often leave DS in the car when I get the pay and display tickets, because I can see the car almost the whole time. (If it's really full and I can't see the car clearly I take him with me).

But then again, I only have the 1, if i had more... well... ?

I do it with a nearly 7 year old and a nearly 2 year old, but only if they can see me at the machine. Also I would not do it with the LO only, as he can easily come with me.

I agree, we all assess risks differently, and I tend to use the petrol station that I can pay at the pump, or get petrol or cash when I am out on my own - it is just easier!

That's why I said it's different if the car keys have been removed from the vehicle.

There were a few cases on that mentioned children starting a fire if a lighter was left in the car, but again that's common sense.

I do think one's car being stolen, for the purposes of taking a vehicle not because the thief wants your child is a possibility though and is reason enough for me to say I wouldn't feel comfortable doing so if I couldn't see them from the cash machine/counter.

PS Yes toddlers can escape from their carseats, I have a few friends whose children are experts at this and reguarly do so while they're driving.

I always leave my ds in the car when paying for petrol or getting cash, as others have said it's dangerous and time consuming to haul them out of their car seats..

Although I did dump ds on drivers seat with doors closed while loading the boot with stuff from B&Q let him drive and jam pennies into the cd player rather than play dodgems in the car park.. He had found my Rennies and his mouth was full of a crunched up Rennie tablet.. As soon as I opened the car door my eyes on stalks he took my hand and spat the remnants of it out into my hand..

Just make sure they are tied down before you leave the car!!!

My DH's colleague's car (two years old) caught fire in the car park earlier this week. Stationary. Locked up. He couldn't get his stuff out of the car either, because the central locking had jammed on. Luckily he wasn't trying to get his kids out of it.

Probably a rare occurrence but why risk it?

I couldnt agree more Kbear.

Also that is so so scary . Doesn't bear thinking about.