At what age did you leave your child in the car while you went into a shop for 15 minutes

[nappyaddict]

A) In a shop where you can see the car out of the window

B) In a shop where you can't see the car out of the window

Someone posted these articles on facebook and it got me thinking

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/17/yes-you-can-leave-your-kids-in-the-car-for-a-few-minutes/

http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/do-you-ever-leave-kids-unattended-in-the-car/

I've never lost one of mine when I've left them in the car. Just lucky I guess when you calculate the risk

I once left my dd and her 2 friends aged 6 in a car while I jumped out and got them an ice lolly on a hot day. I could see them from my car and never gave it another thought until my friend (other children's mother) stopped talking to me and I later figured it was because one of her dc had told her and she must have disapproved. I wouldn't do it now unless it was only my dc in the car.

Never. And my DS is 4.6 now.

from birth if i can SEE them and once they are old enought to know that you will just be 5-10mins and to stay sat in their carseat then from 5ish i guess? depends on the child of course, some will be fine being left, others not, generally they come with me but the elder 3 who are 7, 9 and 12 could be left in the car whilst i go into a shop and the elder 2 can be left at home whilst i go out etc :)

amillionyears - why would you be losing them forever???

At a petrol station, from birth. For 10 or 15 minutes, probably from about 6 maybe? If he was ok with it.

Not lost either of mine when left in car , never had petrol station blow up when left them unattended - never seen aliens land and fill up with premium unleaded - all about assessing risk .

amillionyears - sorry tp ask but have you had a bad experience from leaving a child in a car -or are you relying on some urban myths ?

All the time shrugs . Contrary to popular parenting opinion cars rarely spontaneously combust, random child abductors rarely loiter outside the local Spar and 10 month olds rarely start the car and let off the handbrake.

Do you know how many thousands of children are killed and injured every year being driven about by their parents? And yet every one of you is taking that horrendous risk.
Read Freakonomics, get perspective.

15 minutes is quite a long time, so probably about 12. However I regularly leave my 5 and 2 year old in the car outside shops like spar, londis post office etc and leave 2 year old in the car when picking up 5 year old if he's asleep or weather is bad. to me the risk and inconvince of getting them out, crossing roads, unable to get them back in due to tempers etc is greater than the risk of anything happening to them in a locked car. that said we live in what I would class a safe rural area, I don't think I would do it in a large town / city. As for petrol stations i think its very unsafe when parents take there children out of the car. I did hear of a case in England recently where a mother got cautioned for 'adbanoment of a child under 2'. She left a 1 year old in a public carpark In a locked car whilst she popped to the shops. A passer by rang the police who were waiting or her on her return. So maybe there is some law about it?

SueHeck So what age would you leave them for 15 minutes?

It is not illegal to leave your child/ren in the car while you go and pay for petrol. (Well, not unless you park your car half a mile away from the petrol station, and go and buy petrol in a jerry can. I suppose there'd be a potential abandonment question then).

[People do say some funny things on mumsnet emoticon]

Never. I usually try to tank when I am on my own or ask DH to tank. If that is not possible then I go to the station with pay at pump.

When DC where little I used home deliveries for shopping on a regular basis, now just take them with me.

I've left both my DS (5) and DD (2) at the petrol station from birth - never gave it a second thought until my DP mentioned it. He's very risk averse when it comes to the kids.

I've recently started leaving DS when I take my DD in to nursery but don't think I'd do it outside a shop for more than a couple of minutes where I couldn't see them. Probably ok in a couple of years though? Think it depends where you are though.

I agree with SueHeck. I do it sometimes with a 12 month old and 3.5 year old but I do feel scared and it is only for a couple of minutes.

Petrol station from birth: I park right next to petrol station window and lock the car, which is a difficult model to break into. I am gone for 1 minute tops and am no further than 10 metres from car during that time.

I wouldn't leave DC in car yet (age 4) while I went into a shop though, more because of the trouble they could cause in the car than the risk of kidnapping.

Imperfectionist, how do you manage to park next to the petrol station window? Is there always a space (esp if all parents did this?) Do the garage assistants think you are driving off without paying?

Never.

At what age are some of you planning to let your children out of your sight?

At a petrol station yes. Corner shop where I can park immediately outside, yes. I do leave a window or two open and the door unlocked (this is NZ - no one locks their car doors) on the basis that, if I was struck down dead with a heart attack or run over by a bus, he could call for help (if I was run over by a bus, I take comfort that he would at least still be alive and unhurt if I left him in the car).

I don't expect I'll leave DS (3) in the car to go any further afield until I'm comfortable he could safely unbuckle himself, open the door and cross a busy road to come find me - so maybe 8 or 9? Depends on the child really. Never on a warm day of course. No chance of that given it's the middle of winter here though.

I think I'm pretty conservative on this overall. I live in NZ and other parents generally seem to be a lot more relaxed than I am.

sue ds has walked to school by himself since year 4 which is a 20 min walk, walks to the shops,goes out to play etc for hours at a time, it's just the car is somewhere where I wouldn't leave any child.

Whilst paying for petrol from birth.
I also have poped into the shop, leaving DD in the car, from about 2. Soon she will be able to get herself out of her car seat so I think I'll have to stop then.

15 mins is quite a long time, probably will leave her around the age I feel she is able to/is responsible enough to walk to the same local shop. Maybe around 7ish?

I think when they start going to school at 5 their journey towards independence begins. That it's a good age to begin giving them little tastes of freedom, but a little too young for leaving them for 15mins.

Never.

I once read someone got done for it.

here

Dpends on the child. DS2 would be left in car seat while paid for petrol from birth. DS1 is 4 and wouldn't be left for a secon even while paying for petrol in full view. I'd never leave either of them while I went in a shop for 15 minutes to be honest. Anything could happen. What if someone out side scared them or the car got crashed into, caught fire etc etc. I know it's a bit extreme but I'd never leave either of them where I couldn't see for myself that they were safe and content.

Twobeds but what if an armed robber burst into the shop you'd taken your kids into? What if the shop spontaneously combusted? What if a ten ton truck drove into the window and blew up??

Ohmygod, don't leave the house!!! Wait, houses can burn to the ground! Run, run for the hills!