What age would you leave a child in a car for 3 minutes?

[ThatsGoingToHurt]

After dropping DS at pre-school was accosted my a parent who told me they were going to report me to the police for leaving my 6 year old child for 3 minutes in a car. I left DC1 in the car whilst I dropped DC2 to pre-school (DC1 school doesn’t have a pre-school). It was not hot this morning and the car was locked. School is on a quiet residential street not a busy main road. I was parked maybe 20/30ft from the school gates. Quickly walked DC2 to the pre-school entrance and handed him over with no chit chat. When I got back DC1 was still sat happily in the car and asked me why the lady was staring at her.

I do the same with my 5.5 year old. Drop the baby into nursery and leave her in the car in the car park watching her kindle.

Have done this since the start of the summer holidays. To me its no different to leaving her in the car in the petrol station

Could you see your DS and him see you at all times?

Could you see the car the whole time?

i think personally 6 is too young to be unsupervised

The woman sounds nuts.

If you can’t see the car then they need to come with you.

If you can see the car the whole time then 6 should be fine. As long as it literally is 3 minutes and you don’t get distracted.

I used to have to get out of a car for a security checkpoint....
No one ever took the kids with them, especiallywhen it was raining. If it was busy you could be gone 5-10minutes!

What suddenly happens if it is 4 minutes instead of 3 minutes?

Its absolutely fine

I’m not sure as I’m not at that stage of parenting yet but 6 feels way too young to me. Why not just take them with you? I have a DC a year younger than yours and his car seat uses the normal seat belt which he can fasten and unfasten himself in seconds.

From birth when I paid for petrol (they are now adults so no pay at pump in those days)

Depends if you can see them or not. If not. No.

I think this is fine at any age unless you’re in a really dodgy area or it’s a blazing hot day.

What world do some people live in that they think leaving your child unsupervised isn't necessary sometimes, especially if you are a single parent. I left my DS playing with his lego when he was 2 while I dashed to the post box 200 metres away to post an essential letter. Mea culpa

I think this is absolutely fine. I do it fairly frequently with my 4 year old if I have to quickly nip in to the shop for milk or something, I park outside and lock the car and I'm back in maybe 30 seconds? Like he waits longer in the car on the driveway for me to finish locking up the house on the way to school, what's the problem?

I don't think this is a big deal.

You chose to leave him, it wasn’t necessary.

In a safe ish area I 'd be fine with that. At 6 I wouldn't have locked them in the car , just doors closed with windows open.
I'd have left it so that they could open the door and get out if need be. Mine were sensible at that age and living in a safe area I would only have to judge their road safety skills rather than external factors.

Can't see a problem with this at all. Let her report away, they'll thinks she's a bat shit crazy busybody

I was reported to supermarket customer services for keeping my 10yo in the car recently. They had just been told small child, but seriously... she was happy reading her book after her Rugby game.

It’s on a small no through road. Ironically, the headteacher stands at the school gates every morning so I’d they were concerned about DC1 they could have walked to the school gates 20ft away and spoken to him.

According to MN, around 25 should do fine! 😉😅

Is the risk that the car gets stolen with the child in it?

I'd do this too. When I had 2 non walking babies I used to walk as far as that to put one in the car on the drive then back to the house to get the other one. Every day!

I wouldn't - why not just take them with you if it is just 3 mins?

It might be a small chance of something happening but I would not take the risk.

Lol. Ignore her.