to leave DS in car at petrol station

[Elvisina]

I wasn't sure where to put this (couldn't find an appropriate place in the 'Being a parent' section). I just wanted to ask whether it's reasonable or not to leave a baby in the car when you buy petrol. My DH and friends say "Yes, of course" and so I do leave my DS in the car usually but today I was at a large Supermarket garage, in a long queue and felt really quite stressed as it seemed as though I was really far away from my car. My DM says "Well, what could happen to him?" and I do see what she means but it just feels a bit odd (he's 5 months). There are a few other situations where I'm also not sure such as leaving him in his bouncy chair in the garden or leaving him in the car while I go back in to get something from upstairs. I'm guessing I'm being ridiculously paranoid but just wanted to know what other people consider to be reasonable.

It is normal as a new mum to feel twitchy when you can't see your baby.

However he will be fine in the car, it will be much quicker and easier to get petrol, and the police/social services will not be the slightest bit interested.

MintHumbug -Hobbyhorse lady would want to know more - much more. Hobbyhorse lady just doesn't believe that there would be even the suggestion of police or SS involvement if children were left for 5 minutes in a car parked in a safe place and with the ignition turned off.

Seeker - as an ex cop let me explain - if we got a 999 call from a member of public saying that a child had been left for 5 mins with engine off and police got there in time then details would be taken of parents child etc and details passed to police child protection unit and as always when children are involved ( whatever the incident ) a copy to SS. Obviuosly officers would ensure that child is safe and well and that no further harm is likely at that time ( assuming we are talking about child left in car whuilst filling up with petrol)

If no other factors are flagged up with either police or SS then it woudln't go anywhere.

If polce didn;t attend then the computerised incodent would just be flagged to the approprite department (i.e child protection) and again nothing would be followed up unless anything was flagged up.

If Police not busy just after incident ( ha ha ) then a visit may be made to registered keeper of vehicle to make sure child was OK, again report would have to go to Child Protection Unit and copy to SS.

But nothing further would be done unless other issues flagged up .

Standard procedure to give a copy of police report of anything involving children to SS.

MintHumnbug - if you dont mind me asking .. did you get a follow up from SS ?

Captain Underpants - you're sort of making my point for me. Even if someone dialled 999 as the person in question's dh got out of the car, there is no way you (committed and fast moving police officer as I'm sure you were) could have got there before the aforementioned dh came out of the shop with his lunch, got in the car and drove off. So there must have been more to it.

Spot on Seeker

Saw that pub thread - may have even posted on it . Sorry for the confusion.

I'm sorry, MintHumbug - it just wouldn't have happened like that. If that was standard procedure, every Police Officer and Social Worker in the country would be devoting their entire working days to following up people popping in to shops, going to the bank, paying for petrol and letting their dcs sleep in locked cars in their drives while they had a peaceful cup of tea.

IMO YANBU - I also admit to leaving 3yo in car while I pop into shops sometimes, only if car is in a proper parking space near the entrance though, never on a street. I never did this until recently, but sometimes he really doesn't want to come in and it saves a lot of time and hassle. Is this very bad?

Can I just add that in nearly 20yrs in the police I never came across one report of a child being left in a car whilst parents filling up in petrol station( including time spent in police control room). That doesn't mean to say that I don;t know how police would deal with the matter .I think most public and police use their common sense in this matter.

I came across more incidents of dogs being locked in cars [shocked]