Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
GaraMedouar · 18/03/2018 19:10

No, never did. Not even paying for petrol.

appleblossomtree · 18/03/2018 19:10

No and have never come across a situation where is was necessary. Annoying yes, but it's never been more important to leave a child unattended in the car.

lynmilne65 · 18/03/2018 19:16

40 years ago , yes. Now, not for a second

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting
ElsieMay123 · 18/03/2018 19:47

I'd probably do it, but then wouldn't tell anyone in case I was judged. I definitely wouldn't announce my intention on the interne...oh

But really, assuming it was a baby who couldn't somehow get out of their seat and try to drive off/run after you, what bad things can happen and what are the chances of those things happening? And has the risk gone up if I'm not in the car, and how does the risk compare to getting the baby out of the car and taking them with?

JKCR2017 · 18/03/2018 20:00

Never! Each to their own obviously but I use pay at the pump for fuel so I don’t have to get them out and always take them in the shop - even it will only be a speedy visit. If they’re asleep it can wait! Imagine if your little one woke while you were in the shop in a queue? They may freak out that you aren’t there.

I remember my mother leaving me in the car whilst she would run into a shop. I wasn’t that young maybe from age 5/6 up. But I remember hating being left! 🤔

Neither of my DC would let me go into a shop by myself anyway - clingy monkeys 😂

SmileyBird · 18/03/2018 20:12

If the car is locked... what do you all think might happen?

Thebluedog · 18/03/2018 20:14

I used to leave my dd in a car seat and lock the doors whilst paying for fuel but I’d nit do it whilst nipping it not a shop - not sure why tbh Shock

appleblossomtree · 19/03/2018 12:17

Baby might over-heat
Baby might be ill/vomit while unsupervised
Car might be ploughed into by another vehicle
Car might be broken into/stolen
Police officer might discover your unattended child and report to social services

All unlikely. But all totally avoidable

seabase · 20/03/2018 20:55

No no no .... most selfish act every

buckyou · 20/03/2018 21:43

I don’t really get these threads. People list a load of extremely unlikely events that you could list in any situation!

Get rammed by another car, could just as easily happen with you in the car
Baby could over heat, unlikely when it’s 0 degrees!
Baby could vomit while unattended, they could also vomit in their cot while your not stood staring at them 24/7
A racoon could steel your keys, break into car and eat baby, they could also break into the house and do the same!

Op would depend where obviously but yes I have done that before. Sure your DC will be fine.

DuRezidal · 24/03/2018 07:28

Yes I do this at petrol stations and when I am dropping my daughter off at school... my baby is usually fast asleep and if I get him out in the cold and wind he will wake up. So he stays snuggled asleep. I have timed myself and I am never more then 2 1/2 minutes, with the car locked and I always leave the window slightly open (I am a fan of fresh air anyway). Plus he has our dog in the car to warn off anyone!

My theory is that he sleeps in his cot in his own room and has done since he was 6 weeks old. 2 1/2 minutes in a car seat in the car is much less of a risk.

sahknowme · 25/03/2018 14:21

Park and buy stuff in a supermarket - no.
Paying for petrol in the forecourt - yes.
Run into a local corner shop (where you can park next to it) - yes.

I'd probably have a time limit of 5 mins, and be within shouting distance.

Hypermice · 25/03/2018 14:26

No, never.

If the car is locked... what do you all think might happen?

Well tell that to the woman whose car rolled into a river with her child inside the other week.

And yes that’s a one on a million. But they might wake and be upset, they might overheat, they might get out of the car seat (ds has done this) and come to harm. The car might be broken into, or stolen (and this has happened a few times.) or SS might get a report that youve left a child in ge car unattended.

You don’t leave a child out of sight/sound/influence EVER.

thenightsky · 25/03/2018 14:31

Mine were babies in the late 80s/early 90s, so no drive throughs.

When they were under about a year (not walking and too weedy to undo straps) I would leave in the car in some circumstances: Small local petrol station - yes. Big supermarket petrol station - no. Nipping to a shop - if there was a car park for said shop and I could see the car from the shop - yes. Big supermarket or roadside parking - no.

Once the buggers could walk they insisted on coming into said shops/petrol stations with me and whining for sweets, so there was no chance of me leaving them.

NewImprovedNinja · 25/03/2018 14:37

I think it depends where you live.
I would definitely do it here where I currently live.
When DS was a baby, I used to leave him asleep in his car seat and nip into my local Tesco for a few bits and a coffee. I used to park around the back in the shade. It was on the edge of a small town but I wouldn't have done it in a bigger town/city in the UK.

NannyR · 25/03/2018 14:38

I wouldn't leave a child in a car unattended. Last week I was parked in a supermarket carpark, when I saw a parked car set on fire, flames coming out from under the bonnet and thick black smoke in the car, it happened very quickly. Okay, it happens extremely rarely, but it can and does happen. link

appleblossomtree · 25/03/2018 15:37

Car crashes/thefts don't happen in small towns!?

villainousbroodmare · 26/03/2018 18:35

I did it today at a petrol station when tantrummy toddler was asleep, but asked a very respectable-looking petrol attendant to watch him while I flew in for milk.

DD2017 · 26/03/2018 22:41

Would you leave an open case of £5,000,000 lying in full view while you nipped in?

DuRezidal · 26/03/2018 23:39

I think £5,000,000 is slightly more tempting to someone than a baby 😂😂😂

MrsGloop · 26/03/2018 23:46

I have and do. I use pay at the pump and drive-throughs if possible, but being an adult, I can use my judgment about the current circumstances and go from there.

renegadebehaviour · 26/03/2018 23:51

I knew someone whose car was stolen from a petrol station forecourt with her baby in it. They got 100 metres down the road, stopped, put the baby in car seat on the pavement then carried on with the car theft. She didn't leave the baby unattended again.

Despite that I probably did (but going into a village shop not in a London petrol station), still doesn't mean they weren't at risk. Every situation is different though, I think you make a judgement as you go - but you aren't always going to be right sadly.

whiteroseredrose · 27/03/2018 00:10

No, never. But I'm a townie and have always been able to go to a pay at pump petrol station

ChocolatePodge · 27/03/2018 00:13

No never! And I'd always pay at pump