So does no-one else leave their baby outside the shop in the buggy any more then?

[KathyMCMLXXII]

Just wondered because I am the only person I know in RL that does this!

I wouldn't leave him outside Sainsburys for an hour or anything, but when it's a little shop and either I'm only going to be a moment, or I can see out of the window, it doesn't bother me a bit.

Surely it's the easiest thing to do?

I can't believe people leave their kids in the house.

didn't mean to sound annoying about only buying petrol when no kids around - but i only buy it once every two weeks or so - so its not that tricky - less hassle than taking them inside

OK, Here is a shocker for you.
Last Friday I did the weekly shop with DS1&2. Started to unload shopping when owner of neighbouring car turns up with what looked like a 2week shop in her trolley and her DS (pre-school age)walking alongside. Now there is nothing strange about that I hear you say, well what happened next has left me gobsmacked for the past week. Mum turns to DS and says "Oh look Holly is still asleep"
She had only gone into Tesco's leaving DD in car seat (looked about 9-12mths) asleep and by the sounds of it she was half expecting her to be awake when she got back to the car.
What I've been trying to work out was did she keep going back to the car to see if she was ok, or did she just leave her for what must have been an hour?
I have left DS's in the car when I've gone to pay for petrol so I'm not a saint but there is absolutely no way I would've done this.

i never leave my kids outside a shop, my eldest is 6 and youngest nearly a year and i never do it. too many nuttas about i live in one of the nicest areas i can think of , no shops about or anything and i dont even like them playing at the side of the house let alone outside a shop. i worry too much. i have a double buggy for my 2 youngest and even if its a tiny bakeries i either wont go in or ill squeeze it in and make it fit! im one of those annoying ones with the big buggies that takes all the room! but dont care what people think aslong as my 3 babies are safe :D

I used to leave mine in a double buggy sometimes outside shops. I figured even if anyone was tempted to take a cute newborn the associated snotty grubby toddler would put them off.

DP was stolen in his pram which had been left outside a shop, back in the 70's. His mother had to call the police and he was eventually discovered on the other side of town. Stolen by a 6yo girl with a propensity for stealing babies.

I leave my two (ds1 4, ds2 2 months) in the car when I run into the post office or buy a takeaway coffee. It's never for more than 5 minutes though. I live in Canada and you can pay for petrol at the pump.

I leave my keys to the house AND the car in the front door.
I find them the next morning when looking for them.
The postman must think I'm a looney

should add - by accident
when exH lived here, he obviously found them when he came home
now hes left, I dont have that extra check

I obviosuly live in a very nice neighbourhood

fennel, allthree of your children are VERY steal-able

I would never leave my children alone outside a shop or in the car. It's true that children are rarely harmed by strangers but it does still happen so why risk it? Most supermarkets operate a Pay at Pump system for petrol, or I go local where the nice chap does it for me so there is no need to leave them in the car. It only takes one loony or unfortunate event and all those times they were OK no longer count for anything. Our children are precious so is it really worth it?

never!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nope, never would

Oliveoil is dead right - it's the dogs that worry me and the bloody owners "he's only being friendly - he doesn't bite". Yeah, right - if a dog comes near my child, I'll snap its fecking neck.

I always take DD in with me (even if it means waking her up).

I leave them outside shops, in the car at petrol stations, in car while I pick up at nursery, school etc so think of myself as fairly relaxed but would NEVER leave them in the house alone to give someone a lift to the station as someone said above, even if it only takes 6 minutes. I can see the temptation to do it as mine are great sleepers and I know wouldnt wake up but just couldnt do it.

I have by accident oops

I think the risk is absolutely minimal but I'm afraid that the image of Jamie Bulger being led away by the two older children is engraved on my mind and emotionally I absolutely couldn't do it when mine were little. I would imagine that is true for many many people. I wonder if leaving children outside shops became less popular as a direct result of us all seeing that chilling footage so many times?

When shopping at asda I always silently rant to myself that there are no trolleys available in the trolley bays next to the parent and child parking spaces (the trolley bloke is too efficient at his job and keeps taking them back to the entrance). This means having to walk to the entrance to get a trolley with a baby seat and walk back to the car to get the DCs (apart from DS1 who won't stay, he's 4). Why can't they leave a selection of trolleys near where people park??!! I only leave the 2 younger ones in the car when visiting local corner shop where I can park right outside and see them through the window and when paying for petrol. DS1 can open the car from the inside and escape!

no way, too many sickos around

Omg! how could anyone leave their babies outside shops and think its fine. Why take the risk? I'm shocked{shock}

oops!

"snap the dogs head off!!" Motherofgod!!
ANYWAYS... When I was a teenager I saw a very small baby crying his tiny little head off in a parked car outside a chemist. I waited around for ages, and got really annoyed, as the parent was not coming out. Eventually I left a scathing note on their windscreen.
I don't leave my kids out. Two reasons 1) I think that there are other shops, and i would far rather give my business to a shop who is set up to allow pushchairs etc into their shop.
2) My mum used to do it (three of us kids were together), and i still remember feeling sad that she just didn't want us with her . I know thats not they case for the vast majority, but hey emotional scars are emotional scars-what can you do?
Can't believe the snapping the dogs head off...

Never, at least not in the part of town I live in....

One day I went down to the local shop and took the pushchair (not a little one) inside, on the way out there was another mother coming in and so we had a mini trafic jam.

I am shocked too that people think it's ok to leave their babies unattended in public like that.....

The most I would do is park a few spaces away from the parking ticket machine and leave them in the car when I got a ticket. I usually try to time petrol stops for when I only have one in the car (so not such a palavar to get them out) or use a petrol station where you can pay at the pump. However everybody has to judge their own situation.

However, what I find really is the number of shops that obviously have absolutely no wheelchair access - isn't this breaking the law? Does anybody know the regulations on this?

Actually, thought of one situation where I would do this - I can park car/buggy outside the dry cleaners and the counter is right by the door.

No way. I do leave them to pay for petrol (with the car locked) occasionally, but I'd rather not do that.

We always think these things happen to other people, what if one day you were that other person, you would never forgive yourself.