Wwyd?

DD is in pre-k and I have to drop her off and pick her up each day. I also have a baby and I'm thinking ahead to the very bitter cold winter days when I will have to drag him out twice a day. The door where I sign her in and out at drop off and pick up is about 15 or 20 steps from where I park, and my car is completely in my line of sight the whole time. With that in mind, do you think it would be ok to let him stay cozy and warm in the locked car (i would not be leaving the car running, it would be turned off but still warmer than the winter air) while I ran up to the door, signed dd out and ran back. Or should I still drag him out into the cold? I'm hugely against leaving babies and kids in the car unattended, but if I can see the car the whole time, will be only steps away from it, and gone for maybe a minute, is that still a big no-no?

Wwyd?

I went through the same thing. I'm way too neurotic to leave my baby in the car even for a minute, even if the car is in my sight.

She was very bundled up and it was fine to get her in and out. She was in the infant car seat so she wa cozy with a blanket over her

Wwyd?

I say its fine and I would likely do the same thing if I were in your situation.

Wwyd?

Are you friends with any of the other moms that can sign out your dd and walk her to your car? I did that a few times when it was pouring.

I also did valet in the morning so that was once less time dd2 was in and out, although she was still in and out of the house to the car.

Re: Wwyd?

These situations are so annoying. I want to say yes, I would leave the baby in the car because it's practical and easy. But then the other part of me thinks about 1. judgmental people and 2. some weird freak accident that would probably happen if I didn't have the baby with me. So I don't know what I would do. If it was icy, I would probably leave the baby.

Wwyd?

I would not leave the baby in the car. I had a cover for the infant car seat (JJ Cole- the shower cap style that fits around the outer edge of the seat) and dd was snug and warm in there regardless of the weather.

Wwyd?

Can you talk to the teacher? I'm sure you're not the first mom in this situation. Maybe they can suggest something.

Re: Wwyd?

I always offered to stand by other moms' cars with the baby inside so they can run the big kid into school. I'm sure people would be willing to do that for you. I wouldn't leave the baby in the car unattended, I just get nervous about that kind of thing. And with my luck someone would call the police!

Wwyd?

at my DS's preschool, there were 2 moms with younger babies. they would take turns. one of them would stand by the cars keeping an eye on the babies, while the other mom ran the bigger kids into the school. so maybe you could do that if you know another mom...
i would be tempted to leave the baby in the car for that 2-3 minutes, too... but i probably wouldn't just because i'm too paranoid LOL
it would be nice if preschools did a drop-off line like elementary schools do!!! ( my friend's preschool did that- the teachers would get the kid from the car for you...)

Re: Wwyd?

I had to drop my dd off and I always took the baby with me. Yes it's a pain, but not worth the risk of leaving her in the car. Sucks but I would.take the baby.

Wwyd?

I always took the baby in with me. It's annoying but not as bad as I anticipated. Occasionally I asked someone I knew to watch the car if they were right there at the right time although on the coolest days I wouldn't ask that of them. There were other parents that left little ones in the car and just flagged the teacher down from the door. Also,the director always said we could call the office and ask to have the kid brought out which I did a few times.

Re: Wwyd?

Many moms are in the same situation. I would say no unless you have another mom stand by your car or have another parent walk your child to the door. I brought my newborns out every time just for a few steps to the door in all types of weather. The kids would most likely be fine for a minute unattended in your car but it is technically illegal and who knows who might would be in ill mood to report you that day.

Wwyd?

I would not leave the baby in the car. At my DD's preschool, parents could call and a teacher would walk the kid out to the car. Or if you're friendly with other moms, you can ask them to bring your daughter out to you. I've brought other kids in and out for my friends.

Wwyd?

i left ds in the car the other day. I was a few mins late but I knew dd would be ready to go and she was being dismissed from the playground 5 feet from where I parked. I literally ran to get her and ran back. I could see the car the whole time. But every other day, when I have to go in to get her, I would not, unless I knew someone there to watch the car. I alwaya want to, lol, b/c hes heavy to carry but I don't.

Re: Wwyd?

I would leave the baby in the car. I would probably even leave it running, in park with the park brake on If the situation is as you described, the REAL risk is pretty much non existent. If you ran the statistics, the risk of the baby getting injured walking with you in the parking lot is probably higher.

I recently read this article which is very fitting for your situation: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived - But Unreal - Risk?

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/08/22/490847797/why-do-we-judge-parents-for-putting-kids-at-perceived-but-unreal-risk

Re: Wwyd?

I would leave the kid in the car with the car parked, off, and locked.

What is the risk to the child if you are right there 15 steps away?

Re: Wwyd?

I would not. There will be times you'll get into conversations with a teacher or other moms and those 2 minutes turn into 10 or 15. Just keep the baby in a carrier. It will take 10 seconds to pop the baby in and out.

Re: Wwyd?

Re: Wwyd?

If you can see the car at all times. I would leave the baby in the car. I have done this as well - our kids school they let them out of the front of the building and we would just run up and get him and come back to the car.

Re: Wwyd?

Re: Wwyd?

I wouldn't leave the baby in the car. I know a lot of moms that would report you for it. I can understand and I would want to do the same thing, especially because there is probably no real danger (because your only steps away) but all it takes is one mom in a poor mood to report you and it will open a whole can of worms.

Wwyd?

I am as lax as you can be with 99% of the things we do. But I would not leave my child in the car even with it being in eye sight.

My DS was born in the winter so he was constantly being shuttled around and in and out of the car. He was fine. Its actually easier for a baby when they are still in the infant seat then when they are older and its in and out of the buckles!

Re: Wwyd?

Posted by CL2012

I would leave the baby in the car. I would probably even leave it running, in park with the park brake on If the situation is as you described, the REAL risk is pretty much non existent. If you ran the statistics, the risk of the baby getting injured walking with you in the parking lot is probably higher.

I recently read this article which is very fitting for your situation: Why Do We Judge Parents for Putting Kids at Perceived - But Unreal - Risk?

http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/08/22/490847797/why-do-we-judge-parents-for-putting-kids-at-perceived-but-unreal-risk

Re: Wwyd?

15 steps is nothing and if all you're doing is grabbing her and running right back to the car I would think this would take literally less than 10 seconds. You're not even technically leaving the car if it's that small of a distance. Turning off the car and locking the door, and watching the car as I walked the 15 steps, would be enough peace of mind for me. I'd do it. If something happened where you actually had to go inside the building or it was going to take any longer than anticipated, I'd go back and get him but otherwise I wouldn't take him out.

Re: Wwyd?

I left infant in car when I did preschool drop off. Preschool was in a stand alone building with its own parking lot. I parked like 5 steps from the front door. I was in and out in 2 minutes.