Would you leave a baby in car while going into a shop?

[Birdiegirl]

I always take 12 week old dd with me when I go into garage or shop even if I know I'll only be 2 minutes. It's a bit of a pita taking the car seat in and out, especially if I have a few errands to do but Im just afraid that something could happen in that couple of minutes.

What do others do?

I used to leave DS in the car and lock it at a petrol station but not to go into a shop.

I wouldn't leave newborn DS2 in the car to go into a shop but would (and have) to nip into a garage to pay.

My theory is that it's much more dangerous to traipse across the garage forecourt and back with him in his car seat than to leave him slumbering soundly in the car for a few moments. I figure the worst that could happen would be that he would be crying when I got back. Have never worried about the pumps blowing up or anything like that (once read that on one of these threads) as I figure that that kind of freak accident could happen at any time.

I have left DS if I could see him the whole time - so paying for petrol when there is a full set of windows.

However, if it's for milk/shopping etc, then he comes with me.

i would at a push when paying for petrol (although I tend to pay at the pump to avoid that) but never when doing any proper shopping.

No.

you're right: do not leave a baby in a car.

it can take minutes for the baby to overheat and subsequently die.
it's an arse, yes, but i don't really want to lose my baby over something that is so preventable.

I would for petrol but never for shopping.

yes for at a garage, and depending on how close the shop is to the car ie right outside and i could see the car then yes i may do for a shop.

Only if the car is in view at all times, like paying at a garage. If it's warm weather i leave the windows open slightly but lock the doors. DS is 21 mo and i'm still really careful about things like this, if only because he's now a little nosey parker who doesn't want to miss out on anything and so gets grumpy and upset if i walk off without him in those situations.

Petrol - yes
Other shopping - no

Yes for petrol. No for shopping unless it's literally one or two things.

Petrol yes so long as I can see the car and the till is at the front.

Shopping absolutely not as there is no chance you'll be able to watch the car whilst shopping down various aisles

I leave DS in the car when paying for petrol - I figure it's safer than carrying him across the forecourt, and the car is in sight at all times from the garage shop at the petrol stations I use.

I never leave him in the car if I'm going into another shop, even if it's just for 2 minutes to get a pint of milk.

no

i would if i could see the car from the shop at all times and if it wasn't busy

petrol station (to pay for petrol and maybe buy a pint of milk; yes

parking right by cashpoint / postbox and nipping to that cashpoint / postbox; yes

parking on the road / someones drive to post a letter etc through their door; yes

anything else; No

Yes to petrol and yes also when I've parked outside village shop and run inside for milk.

I assess the risks and act accordingly.

Petrol station, yes. Petrol station and grab loaf of bread on way through, yes. Longer shopping trip, probably not. Car out of sight, no.

No
I don't leave any of my dcs never mind a baby

I did with DS, if
a) he was asleep
b) I could see the car at all times from wherever I was (garage, shop, so I had to park right outside)
c) it wasn't hot (he was born in December so mostly it wasn't)

If any of those didn't apply then he came with me.

Thanks for all the replies.

I can't think of any situation I could leave her in the car, as any petrol stations I use once you leave the car it's out of your site - due to layout of forecourt / shop etc.

In the bigger scheme of things whats a few minutes spent dealing with the car seat for peace of mind!

Well ok one baby but once you have baby, toddler and a 4 year old - traversing across petrol forecourt is in my opinion riskier than leaving them in the car whilst I pay for fuel.

And can see my car from pretty much most petrol stations when inside paying.

But we all assess risk differently

dd 10 mths
Petrol - stays in the car
Local shop park right outside the door - yes for few bits - can see her and my friend owns the shop and is usually gushing over her any way.

I do for petrol, at petrol station I can get milk, paper etc so it does me and I can see the car. I have lifted her in the odd time when its just us but usually I have at least 3 children with me. Like MrsCampbellBlack I think that leaving them in the car is less distracting, risky that getting 3-4 of them across the forecourt.

Yes at a garage or cashpoint by car but no to anything else

Sad cow that I am, I didn't buy petrol for years (used to send DH out to get it). I was always scared that someone would steal the car and run off with DS by accident.

Also I heard various stories of older DCs who thought it would be great fun to take the handbrake off and the car rolled and crashed.

Another thing I worried about was that if I was out of the car I might for example get run over I wouldn't actually be able to get back to the car.

I know it's really unlikely but these things do happen occasionally.

Now they drive themselves around because they are grown up!