Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

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

Flip

1 2 3 4

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?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

StormcloakNord · 28/03/2018 16:33

Agree to disagree then shall we?

StormcloakNord · 28/03/2018 16:35

Shockers it's a good thing the ASDA I go to isn't near a river... and you could say the same about every day life. Should I not leave the house in fear of freak accidents? I could get crushed by a bus walking with DD to the shops or the park, no sense in not doing it cause something might happen.

Shockers · 28/03/2018 16:37

Sorry, it posted while I was trying to move that sodding purple bar.

That case alone would make me think twice now. I can’t imagine the pain her parents are going through .

And this is coming from a person who forgot her baby and left him outside the village butchers 30 years ago. Only realised after I’d put the kettle on and gone to get him out of his pram... which wasn’t in the house because it was round the corner on the pavement outside the butchers window.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

Shockers · 28/03/2018 16:38

No, but her mum had nudged the handbrake release by accident. That could happen anywhere.

Snoreyhell · 28/03/2018 16:42

I'm with you piercing. Absolutely madness and neglectful behaviour. I have an 11 year old and a 3 year old and have never needed to do this. It's about planning ahead- shop on line or time your shopping for when your child is not asleep. Pay at the pump for shopping or fill up when you are not the only adult in the car.
You leave your child in danger when you leave them alone. It's as simple as that. And being able to see them from inside is nonsense. What the hell are you going to do from a distance?

Strokethefurrywall · 28/03/2018 17:10

You leave your child in danger when you leave them alone. It's as simple as that. And being able to see them from inside is nonsense.

What absolutely horseshit. Jesus, it's a wonder some of you even make it out of your homes with the level of paranoia on this thread. How the fuck has the human race managed to survive as long as it has...

My baby was probably in more in danger when I carried him down our staircase than he was on his own in a locked car whilst I'm inside a corner shop or paying for petrol.

Honestly, the hysteria is laughable.

Crunkly · 28/03/2018 17:23

I would rather pay at the pump but there are no pay at the pump petrol stations near by so I do pop in to pay at the petrol station within clear view of the car at all times while my baby is asleep.

I wouldn’t pop into a shop in other circumstances though. Well actually if it was in clear view I wouldn’t have a massive problem with a quick step into the bakery on the same side of the road, but actually what has stopped me from doing this in the past (when I was really really hungry and thirsty) was the fear that someone would report me to the police or social services - so I woke baby up and got her out even though it was only a couple of mins at most.

Snoreyhell · 28/03/2018 17:27

actually what has stopped me from doing this in the past (when I was really really hungry and thirsty) was the fear that someone would report me to the police or social services

There's a reason why the police/social services would be concerned. To be honest, I think that it's really the most basic level of parenting to try to avoid doing anything that the police/social services might not approve of.

Crunkly · 28/03/2018 17:28

I would like to know what those who don’t go and pay for their petrol inside do when they are at home and need to quickly grab something from another room? or go to the loo? or shower? or sleep? You can’t possibly watch them like a hawk 24/7 can you.
I think the risks of leaving my baby in the car for a couple of mins in clear view are probably less than leaving her in my living room if I pop to the bathroom...

SnooSigh · 28/03/2018 17:28

Yeah, every single day on the farm to see to the horses. Quick pops into shops, paying for petrol. Realistically the worst that is likely to happen is they wake up and cry and it’s probably the same turn around to get to them from a quick visit into a shop that it is to pull over if i was driving.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 28/03/2018 17:30

If it would literally be 20 seconds I would do it. Even if it would be a few minutes but the car would be in sight the whole time I would do it, and occasionally did when DS was a baby (not when really tiny).

I sure as hell wouldn't do it now he is 3 and can get out of his car seat and thinks he can drive.

Snoreyhell · 28/03/2018 17:33

I think the risks of leaving my baby in the car for a couple of mins in clear view are probably less than leaving her in my living room if I pop to the bathroom...

How in the name of heaven do you work that out? Assuming the house is locked?

m0therofdragons · 28/03/2018 17:58

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

I must live in a different world to some mnetters. We only have one local petrol station with 2 pay at pump machines so most people round here pay in the kiosk, yet I have never seen anyone take their dc into the kiosk! Fine for pfb but with a toddler and newborn twins NO!

Op it would be fine but crazy people will tell you your car might combust or a kidnapper will steal dc through a broken window, as that happens all the time!

Oly5 · 28/03/2018 21:12

Yes, I leave kids in the car when I pay for petrol.

FOTTOSOFATFOSM · 04/04/2018 22:06

For everyone who thinks their kid is in mortal danger if left strapped in but unattended for a minute... I trust you also co-sleep with your kid, and have one parent stay awake all night watching your child with hawk eyes. It would, of course, be entirely neglectful to ever have both parents asleep, or for the child to be in another room. They could vomit, or overheat, or maybe some car's handbrakes could fail and the car would come crash into your house. Don't make me report y'all to social services.

You'll absolutely LOVE us - in winter, when overheating isn't a problem, when our DS falls asleep in the car on the way home from somewhere, we'll leave him in there on our driveway until he wakes up. Yup, that's right, sitting in a car with no adult present, for, like, an HOUR. Never mind social services, someone better call the police right this minute!

There's nothing whatsoever selfish about this - hell, it's totally the opposite, cos it's a total PITA to have to go constantly check on him instead of just having the baby monitor tell us when he's woken up. We do it out of love, as this way he gets a lovely undisturbed nap.

Flip

1 2 3 4