to think it is irresponsible to leave your kids in the car while you do the shopping?

[Momdeguerre]

Superkarket shopping today - DS was asleep so DH shopped and I stayed in the car with DS.

As I waited a car pulled up next to me with a lady and two children in seats in the back. Both were strapped in and awake - one was very young - probably under 4 months ish and the other between 2-3.

I was surprised to see the mum get out, crack a window, and head off towards the supermarket but assumed that she had gone for a trolley. Didn't really pay much atention aftter that till DH came back to the car about 40 mins later and I got out to help him pack the car and noticed that the kids were still alone in the car. The baby was asleep but the toddler was crying.

While we packed the mum came back with a full trolley having obviously done a full shop.

I can't say the kids were definately alone the whole time because to be fair I was reading but I am pretty sure that they were. I know they came to no harm and were strapped in but I just feel it was wrong - as much as anything else it was a sunny day and it must have been hot in the car for them but my worry would be of a car accident, fire, choking?

Maybe I worry too much?

I dont think this is acceptable at all( I would never do it!!) I can appreciate how difficult trying to do a shop is with 2 very young children, however she should have made alternative arrnagements if she didnt want to take the children shopping or if she has noone else to help out then she should have just tried her best to do a shop with the children as the majority of supermarkets do try to make life a bit easier when shopping with young children.

There's been alot of threads like this on here over the past few weeks.

May I suggest you either a) call the police or b) go into the supermarket and get security to find the mother and escort her back to her children?

I see you are a police officer OP. What should you have done? It's child endangerment no?

Def NBU.
Completely unacceptable!
Supermarket trollies available for two small children.
I can't beleive anyone would do this.

I don't like this, I read a news item in the paper a while ago and the mother left her two children in a car and went to visit her friend in a flat on the first or second floor. She could see the car from the flat, so therefore she could also see when the car burst into flames ! !

Its definitely not reasonable and agree with fluffy as to what action should be taken.

I felt bad enough yesterday rushing into chemist with children in car outside to get calamine and piriton for ds1 who has chicken pox and at the highly contagious stage.

That's awful. My sister lives in Italy and I'm sure she said it's illegal to leave children in cars there. She did it once when she had to rush into the hospital to get scan results and both her DDs were sleeping, she was terrified she'd by jumped on by the police when she came out.

Missed the othr threads on this. I did report the incident and would certainly have gone into the store if I had noticed sooner.

I don't know about the offence - neglect - possibly? Not inherently neglectful just irresponsible in my mind.

It should be the same in a legal capacity as leaving the children alone in her house.

There really is way too many threads about people doing this at the moment. Something should be done.

Ds is 10, he wants me to leave him for 5 minutes whilst I go to the shop at the bottom of the road, I feel uneasy doing this, I would never leave him in a car whilst I do the shopping.

Yeah, and I bet she used the parent and child space too, even though she didn't actually use the space to get the kids out! I saw a woman the other day driving with her toddler loose in the front seat, climbing around and she was talking on her mobile - I nearly called the police.

I agree, will be interested to see the follow up on it but I have no doubt it will be left with social services who are unlikely to take action unless their is significant other info on the family.

Makes me cross, I wouldn t leave my phone in the car let alone my DS.

Yes, it was in a parent and chid space.

Shine - agree - tough too because I can't statement that I knows the DCS were actually alone the whole time.

Annoying.

The education that is given to parents is poor, I trained as a paeds nurse so have seen some shocking and rediculous things. If parents were educated/given information on things like this, as well as things like what to do when your child has a fever then this will be a good start.

I don't have a care shine I don't think I would, even if I had one though, I'm a fusspot. I've only just started leaving him for 5 mintues whilst I pop next door.

This is terribly neglectful, what if someone had broken into the car and knicked it, it beggers belief that anyone would do this. I am very nervous when I leave my DS in the car to pay for petrol.

I'm working on it. He keeps moaning that I don't trust him. It's hard to loosen the reins IYKWIM. He's 10 so there's no hurry.

He has aspergers so is sensible (most of the time) and does as he's told. Maybe later.

course its wrong

lucky children didnt over heat/die

some people just dont deserve to be allowed the priviledge of being a parent!!!

leaving a toddler in the car absolutely not the same as leaving an older child

an older child will understand about getting too hot and in a dangerous situation can unlock the door and get out

also unlikely that an 11yo will get very frightened in a supermarket car park

but a baby and a toddler- that is just irresponsible