Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Only in my driveway or if I'm pumping gas.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

I guess I'm a bad mother. I've thought nothing of leaving DS in the car to run back in the house, use an ATM, drop off/ pick up dry cleaning, pick up a pizza, etc.... I always lock the doors and have the car in sight. To me, it doesn't make sense to take him out of the car just for a 1 min stop. I guess I'm a rare case........ I also leave DS in the car while I unload groceries and possibly use the bathroom before taking him out and bringing him in the house. Again, doors are locked. I don't see the big deal....

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

I've seen one too many lifetime movies where babies are kidnapped from cars, and scared sick.. never ever, not till they are school age or older.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

I voted other, because I think the age of the child is relevant. At age 3 - never, at age 13 probably all of the above.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

My mom has been leaving her kid alone in the car for 25+ years!!!!




It all depends on the child and the age. If they are strapped into a seat, then never. If they can routinely unbuckle themselves on their own to get in and out of the car, then it starts become a "maybe", again, based on the age and the child.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Posted by skinny

I've wanted to run into 7-11 and leave them in the car, but am scared that someone from LIF will see me and post about it.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

I voted never ever but have done it twice

once to drop a letter at the post office (car was in front) and once when I left something in the house- both times I locked him in and was gone about 30 seconds.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Ive done it but they are never more than 10 feet from me or there is never a closed door between us!

Like if in our driveway, I leave the car door open..if I have to run in and get something!

to drop off dry cleaning..but I park right in front of their door and the desk is 1 ft from the door - so I am like 6 feet away.AND the store door is open so I can still hear them them talking in the car - it is that close...

gas station - but I always pay at pump so not really a problem!

I pull up to library book drop off (It is a bin outside the library) so I am only like 5 feet away from that too so I find it pointless to get them out of the car for that!

I dont think I have ever dont it except for the above 3 examples!

If I have to go into a store, I take them!

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Posted by MaMaTeenie

Posted by katiebug

Posted by nrthshgrl

I voted "other".

In my ideal version of parenting, the answer is no, it's not ok.

In my realistic view & as a BTDT, I'm going to say "it's ok." It's ok because nothing has happened yet. It depends on so many factors. It depends on age, it depends on season, it depends on location, it depends on how much stuff you are carrying along with your babies.

It's winter, it's icy. You've loaded the car, the baby if finally settled in the car seat & you need ot run back into your house. You hesitate with the "I should never leave my child in a car alone." and then you real. Taking an infant out of a car seat, navigating icy steps to carry the infant & the stuff you forgot is something most parents wouldn't do. And once you have two children, I can assure you someone is left in the car.

This. There are so many variables, like age, location, if you can see the car, etc.

Yes, there are many variables and they are different for everyone, most people defined those variables in their response. So what variables make it ok for you, if there are any and IF you want to answer.

There are always what if's, but i'm talking run of the mill day, running errand and you don't want to take the kid(s) out of the car.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Posted by katiebug

Posted by MaMaTeenie

Yes, there are many variables and they are different for everyone, most people defined those variables in their response. So what variables make it ok for you, if there are any and IF you want to answer.

There are always what if's, but i'm talking run of the mill day, running errand and you don't want to take the kid(s) out of the car.

Geesh Christine. Make me work for my answer.

With just E, I have left him the car to run back into my apartment for something I forgot, but I am in a two family house on the first floor so I can see the car the whole time. So I guess anything where it is quick and I can see the car the whole time I would leave E in the car.

As for leaving a kid in the car without me being able to see what they are doing, probably 11 or 12, but depends on the location.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Only in a driveway where I am right there, doors locked.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Posted by MaMaTeenie

Yes, there are many variables and they are different for everyone, most people defined those variables in their response. So what variables make it ok for you, if there are any and IF you want to answer.

There are always what if's, but i'm talking run of the mill day, running errand and you don't want to take the kid(s) out of the car.

Message edited 4/18/2011 2:16:32 PM.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

For me, the weather is a variable. I would never leave DD in a running car so if it were hot out and the AC needed to be on, Id never do it, not even for 2 minutes.

Another variable is the parking lot/ car in sight. I will only do it if i can see the car. Like PP said, I run into 7-11 for an ATM or into the cleaners but the car is right there. I would not go into a CVS or go shopping around a store with DD in the car.

For me, its just easier because every time I need to put her into the car seat its a WWF wrestling match these days. Im not gonna go through that to run into 7-11 for money or to the cleaners for 2 seconds to drop off.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

i have left DD in the car to run back into the house for something I forgot.
I have also left her in the car to pay for gas, run into the dry cleaners, run into the shoe repair shop and to pick something up at someones house at the front door - in all of these situations I can see the car the entire time.
For me, I would never leave DD in the car if I could not see the car the entire time I was completing my errand.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

I have left them in the car in the driveway while I run back in the house to get something I forgot. For me that's my comfort zone-- I feel relatively safe doing this on my quiet street.

I have never done it to run into a store/library/drycleaner, nor would I even do it in front of my house if I lived on a more heavily-trafficked street. Just not comfortable with the odds there.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

In public, I have not. But at home, I park my car in the garage, which has a door that connects to our kitchen. I have left them in the car, while I unload stuff from the car. The garage door is shut, so I feel that is the equivalent for them being inside our house. Ditto for running inside when I forget something, etc.

When I run errands, I am the queen of finding a drive-thru so I don't have to schelp them both inside. Starbucks, DD, drive-up post office mailboxes, CVS drive thru for prescriptions, even found a library with a drive-up for returning items and picking up items on hold. The dry cleaner actually brings the stuff to my car.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

I have left DS in the car alone ONLY if i forgot something in the house like a cup, diaper bag, etc and I have to run in to get it. Otherwise I dont leave him in there.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

I've run into the house and to the library book drop with him still in the car - the car was in sight and locked and it wasn't long.

ETA - I also leave him in there to bring back the cart at the supermarket.

Message edited 4/18/2011 2:31:44 PM.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

When *I* as their mother feel it is appropriate and safe and *I* am comfortable doing it b/c I am a well educated, intelligent person perfectly capable of making a rational, responsible decision for myself and my children -

If you see me and feel the need to post about it - so be it.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

Posted by MarisaK

When *I* as their mother feel it is appropriate and safe and *I* am comfortable doing it b/c I am a well educated, intelligent person perfectly capable of making a rational, responsible decision for myself and my children -

If you see me and feel the need to post about it - so be it.

Re: When is ok (if ever) to leave your kids in the car?

In most situations, for me, it's not okay. The only time I have ever left either one of my kids in the car was picking up at my previous day care. It was in a private house with a driveway and the entrance was in the back so I would drive the length of the driveway and park right next to the front door to pick up whichever child was not in the car already.

There hasn't been another situation where I'd feel comfortable leaving them in the car yet. I don't anticipate doing that until they're much older.