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Original poster

Would you leave baby in the car whilst you run into the shop?

90 replies

Ilovemybaby91 · 16/03/2018 16:43

I know this is a controversial one. I read a story recently that a dad almost lost visitation rights to his children after he left them in the car whilst he ran into the shop! I have just been sitting in my car, outside a shop, dying of thirst with an asleep baby next to me wondering whether I could just run in quickly? The cars locked right? I did... I was probably 20 seconds & she is fine. But I probably wouldn't do it if she was awake. Would YOU do it? Brew

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autumncolour · 16/03/2018 16:45

I was read the riot act by a traffic warden for doing a quick run into the shop and leaving DS in the car - and that was when Ds was 7!

IWantMyHatBack · 16/03/2018 16:46

No.

Drive through costa/McDonald's for this kind of thing.

Alexkate2468 · 16/03/2018 16:48

I leave baby in the car when paying for fuel. This isn't much different. I do try not to do it though.

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wizzler · 16/03/2018 16:50

No

InTheRoseGarden · 16/03/2018 16:53

Fuck no.

cadburyegg · 16/03/2018 16:54

I would do this if I had to pay for petrol. I have a baby and a toddler and I think it is safer to leave them in a locked car rather than carry a baby seat in one hand and toddlers hand in the other and run across a petrol station forecourt with lots of cars around. Plus I can see the car from the kiosk. In most other situations I would take them in with me though.

8DaysAWeek · 16/03/2018 17:04

No I wouldn't but I'm not 100% sure why not. What could happen in that 20 seconds that wouldn't happen if you were in the car?

Kursk · 16/03/2018 17:07

Yes I have left them in the car, sometimes I think it’s safer.

I have remote start on my car so I can lock the car then start the engine so they have the A/C or heater running.

Steeley113 · 16/03/2018 17:16

Yep, if it was a corner shop type one where you can park outside and run in. I wouldn’t go in a big supermarket.

PineappleScrunchie · 16/03/2018 17:19

Only outside very quiet village shop. Otherwise I’d go to drive thru or garage.

FirstTimeRound984 · 16/03/2018 17:25

I haven't ever left DS in the car to run in the shop but I have got out to run and give DP the list of shopping he'd forgotten - was 10 seconds max and DS was sleeping, hence why on DP was going into the shop alone as we didn't want to wake DS. I don't think I could leave him whilst I shopped though regardless if its just a pint of milk and i can see him every step of the way but ive never been in the position to make that choice

PineappleExpress · 16/03/2018 17:32

I would at a petrol station as you can always see through the windows and see the car at all times - if I was at one that I couldn't, I would take the child with me - plus as PP said, I think it's safer than taking them across the forecourt.
If the car is parked at the side of the road, I would always take younger ones in with me, use a drive through or go without. Responsible older one's (who know to press the horn if anyone is hassling them), I would leave, but only if there was no queue in the shop and I could be in and out within a couple of minutes

Rarotonga · 16/03/2018 18:01

No, I wouldn't. I don't even leave my ds in the car when I go for petrol, but use pay at pump. Not worth the risk IMO.

Sabistick · 16/03/2018 18:05

No, you never leave an unattended child, so many reasons.

Alexkate2468 · 16/03/2018 18:22

Sabi - "you never leave an unattended child" Smile. I'm not sure how that would work...(light-hearted, I'm not a dick really)

Agustarella · 16/03/2018 18:30

No no no! Although as a non-driver, it's obviously easy for me to say that. My dad used to leave me in the car when he went to the off licence and I had loads of nightmares where I dreamt I was alone in the car and it started to roll down a hill! I was maybe four or five and came to no harm, but I wouldn't do it myself because I didn't like it at that age. And everyone knows that babies should never be left anywhere in case they somehow self destruct. Shock

happymummy12345 · 16/03/2018 18:33

No. Never

feral · 16/03/2018 18:37

I did a couple of time when car was right in view from shop at all times. I now leave 5yo for same reason - and because he doesn't want to come in. As long as in view I see no issue!

Mybabystolemysanity · 16/03/2018 18:38

Gah. I hate if I have to do this. I read on here once that you don't do it in case the car catches fire (I know an auto electrician-apparently it does happen). That frightened me enough never to do it. Just another restriction once you have children. Not until you can be sure they can get out by themselves but be trusted to stay put.

Rainbowblume · 16/03/2018 18:50

No. 3 yr old son of a friend was left strapped into car seat asleep. In the time she ran across road to bakery, he woke up, got out his car seat, climbed to the front, unlocked the car and was about to run over the street to his mum
Luckily a stranger grabbed him before he ran into road.

BoredOnMatLeave · 16/03/2018 18:51

No I wouldn't. I've been really tempted before as DD went through a stage of only napping in the car but ended up in drive through McDonald's. I only leave DD in the car at pay at pump or a small local garage near me where the pump is next to the window you pay and even then I freak out a bit.

ItsuAddict · 16/03/2018 18:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CotswoldStrife · 16/03/2018 18:56

No, I never did this either. Not even for petrol, pay at pump or get child out of car.

SmileyBird · 18/03/2018 19:07

Yes. Yes I used to do this when DD was a baby. Ridiculous not to.

SmileyBird · 18/03/2018 19:08

even then I freak out a bit

Not normal.