Leaving kids in the car

[Niddlynono]

I was listening to the radio this evening and they had a discussion about the woman who had left her kids at home while she went on holiday. They had someone on the show who ran a parenting website (not Mumsnet) who was commenting on various situations where children might be left and was basically saying that it's not necessary to take a baby, particularly one that's sleeping, out of the car at a petrol station while you go in to pay.

I just wondered what other parents do in that situation. My view is that if I wouldn't leave a £5 on my dashboard when I go to pay, why on earth would I leave the most precious thing in my life in my car? When DS was a baby, even if he was asleep I'd get him out of his car seat and take him with me.

I'd be interested to hear what you all think.

[pabla]

Apparently in NZ it's illegal to leave your kids in the car. My brother lives there, my parents visited recently and a policewoman came to the door one day - someone had reported that SIL had left their baby in the car earlier that day. (I suppose they reported the registration number.) SIL denied it but my parents suspected she had nipped in somewhere for a couple of minutes. Crime levels must be pretty low if they can afford police time on something like that!

[Lonelymum]

Blimey! I leave my children in the car all the time - I don't even consider it leaving them if they are in the driveway - but no way would I leave them at home to go to the pub even with a baby monitor, even if it were next door!

[lemonice]

I find this a weird one as I don't remember what I did with my own, but when dp and I have been out with dgs we have taken turns to go to the garage shop so that he wasn't left on his own (12mths plus). It just would have been strange leaving him on his own, didn't really think about it to be honest so it's not an opinion but an instinct...

[TracyK]

I leave ds in the car at petrol station and is the only easy way to grab a couple of shopping essentials like milk, bread and chocolate.
I wish I could do a telephone order to Tescos or M&S and they'd bring it out to the car park for me to pick up.

[TinyGang]

Someone I know (with one child) gave me quite a long lecture about the perils of this once.

At the time I had 3 aged 3 and under - two newborns and a three year old. He had no clue what it was like to handle that many children safely at a time and I was annoyed to be critisised for not doing it his way. Having one child allows for far more flexability and choice when it comes to matters like paying for petrol.

[Jimjams]

Hear Hear TinyGang. I have a 6 month old, a 3 year old and a severely autistic 6 year old. I can't manage them around cars, I certainly can't queue with ds1 and what am I meant to do with the baby? DS1 needs full attention from one adult to be safe in public. They're far far safer in the car. During school holidays the only way I can get a pint of milk when I have all of them is drive to the nearest garage, lock them in the car and run in. I've even been known to leave thme and run into the post office (although I would leave if the queue was long).

[spidermama]

My mum's generation left babies in prams outside shops. Shame we can't do this any more.

I wouldn't dream of getting all 4 kids out of the car just to go and pay for petrol.

[Skribble]

I've never bother taking them out at the petrol station, now they are 5 and 8 they want to come in but thats just to get a drink or sweet. I will now also leave them in locked car to nip into supermarket (for 1 or 2 things only) but only recently as I can trust them not to open the car or to open the car if they need to. I return to find thenm engrossed in their books.

[kgc]

spidermama good post as still today in the town I live in....mind being small seaside town.....mothers leave their children outside shops in prams and especially ones with twins or more and double buggies who cannot get into shops.

[Skribble]

I'm glad I live in a village where mums still leave them outside the shop or in the garden. I used to leave them in the pram in the porch with a baby monitor balanced on top that I would hear if there was any movement and annouy the hell out of local shop keepers by squeezing my pram in the door.

[kgc]

totally agree with this skribble

[giraffeski]

Message withdrawn

[ScrewballMuppet]

I have always left ds1 and ds2 in the car when paying for petrol in not using a drive through. I got them out once and was told that they had to stay in the car due to health and safety reasons fumes off the petrol and that. I'd rather leave them in the car when paying for petrol obviously with doors locked and in sight as cars are driving about and they could be knocked over or anything.

[kgc]

LOL zubb and twirlaround said the same thing giraffeski and others

[purpleturtle]

Mum left me in the supermarket car park while she did the weekly shop - never mind 5 minutes!

As a result (?) I leave both of mine locked in the car when I pay for petrol, despite dd (4) spending the whole time on the forecourt with her finger placed daintily under her nose while she whinges about the smell!

[kgc]

too right purpleturtle would do the same as posted if I needed too

[mumfor1sttime]

I do not drive, but when me and dh are loading car to go out we will leave ds in his car seat for few mins while we get our coat/purse/etc but we can see him on driveway. I often leave ds asleep in his pram outside back door (with door open) in garden.Depends where you are I suppose.

[kgc]

yep it does depend on this mumfor1sttime....totally agree and my chldminder does the same and also have seen the women opposite living to me do this...

[feebie]

not to freak you out but... about 15 years ago one of our neighbours left his toddler in the car while he ran into a friend's house to drop off a package. He was standing at the door for a couple of minutes talking to his friend and the car burst into flames and the child died. Poor guy was just devastated. I know the chances of that happening are probably a million to one, but after that I would never take the chance and take dd out even if I'm only going to be a minute.

[FairyMum]

I think it depends where you live. I would never do it in London.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I've just asked DH, as I don't drive. He leaves the kids in the car. As would I, I expect.

Oh, and I often leave the pram outside shops. Not big shops, not shops I'll be in for ages, but I have a big old 3-wheeler, and I hate trying to cram it into little tiny shops. I do put the brakes on, so it won't roll into the road, or get pushed by someone else's kids. But I don't even really worry.

I live in London.

I also don't believe in the hoards of ravening perverts that follow mums around waiting to steal their kids. Nearly all sexual abuse (like nearly all rape) is by people you know.

[NotQuiteCockney]

And I leave the pram, with baby, outside our house if the baby's asleep. But we do live in a tiny mews and almost nobody goes by our front door.

[philippat]

feebie, I think the real moral of that sad story is keep your care well maintained rather than don't leave your child in it...

[WideWebWitch]

We've had this discussion loads of times! Yes, I leave children in the car while I pay for petrol. I'm with Senora on this.

[nutcracker]

Dp usually uses the drive through petrol things at Asda but if it were a normal forcourt where you had to get out and pay, he would leave them in the car and so would I.

IMO it is more dangerous to take them with you.