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Parenting

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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?

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Strokethefurrywall · 27/03/2018 00:40

Yep I would and did.

Strokethefurrywall · 27/03/2018 00:46

No No no... most selfish act ever

And the award for the biggest overreaction goes to....

LovingLola · 27/03/2018 00:53

No. Never.

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llangennith · 27/03/2018 00:56

Yes

VulvaNotVagina · 28/03/2018 10:31

I used to pay for petrol and leave DS1 in the car when he was a baby. Now, with two small toddlers, I wouldn't. They can get up to all sorts of mischief in 20 seconds.
I wouldn't go into a shop because you can't see outside, and you never know how you might get held up.

NoAngel1 · 28/03/2018 13:32

I know someone who popped into a small shop leaving her 3 year old in the car and her handbrake failed. When she came out and saw the car moving, her instinct was to try and stop the car rolling by standing in front of it(!) She got trapped underneath the car and the little girl wouldn’t open the door for the bystanders trying to help as she’d been instructed to never open the door for strangers. She was quite badly hurt.

It’s only really in mumsnet where I’ve read about cars that burst into flames though...

DairyisClosed · 28/03/2018 13:36

Why didn't you just drive to a drive through?

DairyisClosed · 28/03/2018 13:38

Oh and I was left in a car as am older child about 10. Parent forgot the hand break and the car started rolling. Fortunately I knew how to put it on but a baby couldn't. It's really not as safe as one thinks. There was that news story about the little girl who drown after being left in a car that rolled into water.

piercinggelo · 28/03/2018 13:40

No.

StormcloakNord · 28/03/2018 13:46

I did/still do... but I live in a pretty quiet area of Scotland and not much happens here. DD is 4, I can't remember if I did it when she was a baby, probably though.

If she's sleeping (which often she is on the drive back from visiting DP's parents) then we'll lock the car and run into ASDA if we need anything...

prepares for mumsnet wide meltdown I actually quite often take my dog with us and leave him in the car with her too...

piercinggelo · 28/03/2018 13:49

If she's sleeping (which often she is on the drive back from visiting DP's parents) then we'll lock the car and run into ASDA if we need anything...

What and one of you couldn't just like wait in the car? With her?

actually quite often take my dog with us and leave him in the car with her too...

Surely no one is actually that stupid

Freezingheart · 28/03/2018 13:50

No never. Not as a baby not even now as older children

PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks · 28/03/2018 13:50

No!

ForkIt · 28/03/2018 13:59

I don’t leave mine alone, it with all 3 I do (2,5,7). Getting 3 in and out isn’t easy by a road. I rarely have to but occasionally I do. The oldest can lock the car inside, I usually leave my phone in the glove box so he could ring someone if something happened to me. As a baby it was so easy to lift one there wasn’t really a need, though I let them sleep on the drive.

My kids are probably a tad more streetwise than many, if it came to it my older two would probably take a hand each of the toddler and bus/ walk home if truly lost.

In reality I sometimes sit in the car and send the 7 to old in the shop!

PellyBay · 28/03/2018 14:01

Jeepers. I'm a terrible mother. Pay at pump doesn't exist yet where I live and I have never, ever considered taking child/baby out of car to come with me when I go to pay. WHY? Parading children unnecessarily across a dirty, busy forecourt strikes me as far more dangerous not to mention time-consuming.

Also, I used to leave the baby asleep in his pram in the nursery playground (in full view of classroom window) rather than wake him up when I was taking older kids in.

StormcloakNord · 28/03/2018 14:22

piercinggelo

Aye, I am that stupid apparently. Been doing it for the best part of 2 years and nothing has happened so I'll keep my stupid hat on, cheers!

Also no, neither of wait in the car because we like traipsing around ASDA and she's safe in the car so there's no need for one of us to wait. HTH.

Freezingheart · 28/03/2018 14:29

Surely tho I depends where you live? It is very common in parts of Scandinavia to leave children outside shops and cafes etc but you’d never in a million years do that in many other places like the U.K.

The issue with cars specifically is that handbrakes etc can fail, kids can lock themselves in and temperatures can rise dangerously and also cars get stolen with a child trapped in back. All of these things can have devastating impact.

StormcloakNord · 28/03/2018 14:35

@Freezingheart I think it entirely depends on where you live too. I live in a tiny little town in Scotland, most people know each other and it's a safe place. I can say that with certainty. I wouldn't leave my child in the car if I was parked in somewhere like London, or even Edinburgh/Glasgow/any big city really as I don't know the area and it's obviously less safe than a small, familiar town.

I also only leave DD if she's deeply sleeping, I wouldn't leave her in the car awake and in the 2 years I've been doing it she's never woken up because, surprisingly, I know my daughter and know when she's sleeping deeply enough not to wake up. If I genuinely thought there was any risk of leaving her in the car, I wouldn't do it. Simple.

piercinggelo · 28/03/2018 15:10

Does it fuck depend on where you are.

As parents you are supposed to put your children first. I can't believe you both go into ASDA and just leave her in the car. Why is it more important to you both to be with each other? You can't be separated for 10 minutes while one of you actually you looks after your daughter

As for leaving her in the car with the dog, I genuinely have no words.

The mere fact that you think both of these things are ok is seriously worrying. I wish I knew where you lived because I would report you every day until the social work department stepped in and taught you how to look after your child.

StormcloakNord · 28/03/2018 15:28

I think the overreaction of the year award 100% goes to piercinggelo

I do put her first, by leaving her and the dog to both sleep peacefully and not piss my DD off by waking her up and carrying her around a bright, noisy ASDA for 5/10 minutes.

I know my kid, I know my dog. You could report me all you like to social services all you'd be doing is wasting your & their time.

user1493413286 · 28/03/2018 15:34

No way; I try to do pay at the pump but at least if I’m getting petrol I can see the car at all times

piercinggelo · 28/03/2018 16:03

storm. It's actually neglectful to do what you do. Sadly however i think it's a waste of time even trying to get you to comprehend.

StormcloakNord · 28/03/2018 16:11

piercinggelo I could possibly see where you're coming from if I did this several times a week, but it happens once a month/couple months at most and it's only when she's sleeping.

Not feeding her and giving her love and attention and ignoring her and not providing her basic needs would be neglectful, not leaving her to sleep in her car seat for 5 mins. I don't remotely agree with that and think you're absolutely bonkers for saying that.

piercinggelo · 28/03/2018 16:26

I'm bonkers, yet you leave your young child alone in the car (or even worse with the dog) so you can 'traipse' round ASDA with your OH

Shockers · 28/03/2018 16:33

The little girl who died when her mum’s mini rolled into the river Tefi lived in one of the loveliest, safest places. It was a freak accident which could happen anywhere

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