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Original poster

Is it OK to leave kids in the car park while you shop in the supermarket?

45 replies

spidermama · 29/07/2006 18:37

The kids are 8, 6 and 4.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

angelclare · 30/07/2006 10:32

You only have to do a quick search on google to find out what can happen to babies and children left in cars. It doesn't make for nice reading.

donnie · 30/07/2006 10:35

not in a supermarket , no, because I can't see them. I leave them in to get petrol because I can see them.

This thing will kick off - but getting 3 kids including a little baby in and out of the car plus the shopping is a bleedin' hassle!

Thomcat · 30/07/2006 10:36

No wouldn't do it. I've run into my childminders house to pick up DD2 while DD1 was snoring in the car but I couln't leave my kids in a car park while I did a food shop, no way, never.

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SherlockLGJ · 30/07/2006 10:38

Am I the only one who is dying to know what the previous misdemeanour was ??

LIZS · 30/07/2006 10:39

no I wouldn't, even when getting a few bits from our petrol station supermarket - the queue can be horrendous and all sorts pass by.

Overrun · 30/07/2006 10:43

I tend to have rule of no longer than five minutes, usually less. Mine are one and three. I have left twins in car while picking up my three year old from nursery, but only yards away and I am quick, prob less than a minute.
Also would do this if doing a v quick local shop. would leave car locked and windows half open. all children would be in car seats. I wouldn't leave them with food to occupy them, as would be worried about them choking.

mrsnoah · 30/07/2006 10:52

no !

FanjoandZooey · 30/07/2006 10:55

I had to get involved when 2 children, about 3 and 6, were left in the car in the supermarket car park. The car alarm had somehow gone off and they were hysterical, trapped in the car with this infernal noise going off. I was furious on their behalf. The supermarket made an announcement over the tannoy and their dad (is this a trend Spider?) came out. I was too angry to trust myself to speak to him but I would hope he wouldn't do it again.

Callisto · 30/07/2006 11:20

To do a supermarket shop and leave kids in the car is a deeply irresponsible thing to do. Men can be so bloody thoughtless - my dp is definitely included in that category.

Blossomhill · 30/07/2006 11:22

Absolutely not. Not only could they get out of the car but they could also be snatched.

I wouldn't leave my 7 and 8 yr old in the car, no way!

edam · 30/07/2006 12:03

Spider, come back and tell us what the original cause for a row was!

Btw, think your dh was being irresponsible. In that special way that men are - and when you challenge them they act all hurt and accuse you of making a fuss about nothing. Grrr.

(Although dh and I did leave ds home alone once by accident - we were on different floors of the house, dh had taken ds for a nap, I thought dh had gone to sleep with ds and we both nipped to the shops, separately. Bumped into each other on the corner of the street.)

Original poster

spidermama · 30/07/2006 12:26

OK Edam.

The original misdemeanour has now been addressed, aired but not completely resolved. Talks continued through the night to try to thrash out an agreement. We need Acas.

Briefly, DH wants to go away from home for two months to do a badly paid job because it would be art and he is an artist.

Far be it for me to question his priorities, but as I now work from 6am - 9am, mon-fri, and we have no family living anywhere nearby who could help at all, I was keen to point out the practicalities of the prospect as it affects me and our four children.

As you might imagine this got quite heated. He'll have to make a decision in the next few days which could also be interesting as all six of us are travelling to a festival and sleeping in the camper van from Tuesday.

But that's a whole 'nother thread.

OP posts:

Uwila · 30/07/2006 13:24

I know someone who did this in Chicago. And she came back to her to be told off by the chicago police. The kid was about 2 or 3.

Agree that a trip into pay for the petrol and grab a couple of items is ok. Basocall, I thin kit's okay for about 5 minutes if the car is parked at the door of the store. But not a big superstore wher that car is miles away.

I always lock the car, even at the petrol station. What if someone came by to steal your car, and then realised they had your kids too... not that anyone in their right mind would want my car.

liquidclocks · 30/07/2006 14:29

We have an Asda near us where 3 kids (forget exact ages but all under 10 inc a 3mnth old) wereleft in a car while Mum did the shopping. Police were called and I think the mum got arrested.

Personally I'd leave the older two and take the youngest - that's what my mum did with us when we were little. But, younger bro was the most rowdy so maybe the advice is really to take the worst and leave the more responsible two in the car.

I'd never leave a baby/toddler if I went into a supermarket - though have left DS (21 months) while paying for petrol and nipping in to a spar for milk. Not so much because they could get into trouble but there have been incidinces of children being taken from car parks - and cars being nicked when the thief didn't realise there was a baby in the back.

liquidclocks · 30/07/2006 14:31

Spidermama - start that new thread and we can all write on it our opinions for your DH - ready for printing and leaving obviously on his easel...

ocd · 30/07/2006 14:32

"spill food all over the campervan "

arf

Original poster

spidermama · 30/07/2006 14:45

I toyed with that idea liquid, but am feeling a little disloyal.

OP posts:

edam · 30/07/2006 14:49

Two whole months?! Blimey.

Original poster

spidermama · 30/07/2006 14:51

Innit?

OP posts:

RubyRioja · 31/07/2006 16:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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