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/

What if ... what if ...

What if aliens landed while you were in the shop and abducted the children?

Yeah, you wouldn't be so smuggy cool then, would ya? Huh?

If aliens landed and abducted my two they would soon be spat at at the next time portal !

Never.

But then I don't drive and I think the bus driver would have something to say if I left them on the bus.

Ha, ha, this is getting more and more surreal. Let's all agree to disagree...

I'm 49 and was regularly left alone in a car by my parents while they were in the pub!! I used to get a bottle of pop and a bag of crisps. I must have been about 6 when they started! Beggars befief when I think back. I will pay for petrol when my 2 DGD are in the car but nothing more. They are 5 & 2.

What's the difference to them being on their own walking to school unsupervised for 20 minutes and being sat in a car where they are in ful view from a shop or petrol station window?

About 8 or 9 I think is ok to leave for 15 minutes. Same age that I would let them go to the shop by themselves, take the dog for a short walk etc. They are sensible enough to come and find you if they need to.

Paying for petrol - yes, from birth. Anyone who would wake a sleeping baby to pay for their petrol is barking.