Would You Feel Okay to Leave Your LO in the Car? - Page 5

[YayJennie]

I truly do not understand what the risk is?

Well, let's look at this thread and weigh risks vs benefits.

Pros to leaving your child(ren) in the car for a short period of time while you do something within sight of the car:

• potentially convenient (not convinient if someone calls the police or harrasses you for it)
• potential for extended nap (not if baby wakes up when you stop the car, as some babies do)
• potentially safer (when you have multiple children and need to do something quick, such as put a shopping cart back)

Cons to leaving your child(ren) in the car, for even a short period of time:

• potential for you to get hurt and child to be alone in car and no one knows they're in the car alone (if you were knocked unconsious or something like that)
• potential for a car jacking/kidnapping (rare, but obviously does happen)
• potential for child to feel abandoned/get scared and be alone
• potential for someone to call the police/authorities on you (pretty big risk
• potentially illegal (in some states)
• potential for you to get in a bad habit and then later forget that child(ren) is in the car (seems weird, but clearly has happened)

Am I missing anything? Obviously it's a personal choice with what you're comfortable with and what your cost/benefit analysis is, but to me, it just doesn't seem worth the costs for the minuscule benefits.

And yes, I would call the police if I saw a baby/child in a car alone for more than 30 seconds. I'm sorry, but I have no idea how long a child has been left in the car alone, if they're sleeping I might not even be able to tell if they're alive or not, and there's just too many instances of children hurt/dead because they are left in cars for me to not call the police in hopes that a parent shows up soon. Wouldn't you rather I call the police and then you come out of the store and we know your baby is safe and it's a hassle but not a big deal, compared to me not calling the police when a baby is neglected in the car and needs help? Better safe than sorry in my opinion. But hey, maybe I'm overly cautious. Just seems to me you can't really be too cautious with babies when people are negligent and leave young ones to die alone in cars somewhat frequently.

[nolansmummy]

Originally Posted by Teensy

But this thread is about locked, not running cars. I truly do not understand what the risk is? Yes there is always the bizarre - anything bad could happen at any time (our paper this morning had an article mentioning a mom who was shot in the head - in her bed - with her son sleeping beside her - killed in a drive-by - while co-sleeping).

But really the big risk is that you drive anywhere with your children in the car. If you are so paranoid about risk - you shouldn't drive your children anywhere that isn't absolutely necessary because car accidents are a major cause of deaths of children. I'm not suggesting this. But the same line of risk assessment would mean you shouldn't drive your children to the library or playground or a friend's house because you might be involved in a car crash and how could you ever forgive yourself? Is the risk of death really worth that little outing?

I agree with this.

[confustication]

Maybe it's different around here, but I suppose if I were concerned that a child had been left in the car, I'd walk into the business to find the parent first, and call the police only if I couldn't find a parent...

I live in a town of 600 people though, without strip malls etc, so if the car is parked somewhere, the driver is inside THAT business... if I were still concerned at that point, I might call the police.

Of course, since a family was not in trouble for having left 4 kids alone in the car while the Dad went gambling at a bar for hours a couple months ago (7yo, 5yo, 18month old, 6 month old) I don't expect you'd get too far...

[MamaMelis]

I wish that a poll had been included in this post, as I would LOVE to see how many who are horrified by the mere thought of leaving a child in a car for a moment while in visual contact only have one child.

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by YayJennie

Well, let's look at this thread and weigh risks vs benefits.

Pros to leaving your child(ren) in the car for a short period of time while you do something within sight of the car:

• potentially convenient (not convinient if someone calls the police or harrasses you for it)
• potential for extended nap (not if baby wakes up when you stop the car, as some babies do)
• potentially safer (when you have multiple children and need to do something quick, such as put a shopping cart back)

Cons to leaving your child(ren) in the car, for even a short period of time:

• potential for you to get hurt and child to be alone in car and no one knows they're in the car alone (if you were knocked unconsious or something like that)
• potential for a car jacking/kidnapping (rare, but obviously does happen)
• potential for child to feel abandoned/get scared and be alone
• potential for someone to call the police/authorities on you (pretty big risk
• potentially illegal (in some states)
• potential for you to get in a bad habit and then later forget that child(ren) is in the car (seems weird, but clearly has happened)

Am I missing anything?

Yes, you are missing the very significant risks of moving a child through a parking lot. I promise you more children are killed in parking lots by people accidentally backing over them or hitting them then there is risk of carjacking. If it's illegal, than it shouldn't be. There is no significant inherent physical risk. There is a much greater risk to the parking lot.

[hotharmony]

I don't ever leave my child alone in the car. If I am out of dog food I go somewhere that I can buy a small bag until I have a better chance to handle a bigger bag. If I get gas I do pay at the pump. If my child falls asleep on the way home from somewhere I will sit in the car while he sleeps and I will read.

[bjerme]

Probably not... but I do leave my older children in the car while I pay for gas.

[Abraisme]

It would depend where I was. I wouldn't do it where I live now (Portland, OR), but I would do it where I grew up (in the middle of nowhere, in a town of 2,000).

[Just1More]

Haven't read the responses, but, for me, nope. I have 3, and we all go in, and we all go out. I'm not above finding scraps for the dogs for supper, though, and doing that errand another day! Oh, and I don't buy dog food on amazon, but I handle lots and lots of my errands on the phone and online, partially for that very reason. Today I used the ATM with my kids in the car right beside me, locked, in a very safe neighborhood, and I was uncomfortable with that. Maybe I'm weird?

[confustication]

Originally Posted by MamaMelis

I wish that a poll had been included in this post, as I would LOVE to see how many who are horrified by the mere thought of leaving a child in a car for a moment while in visual contact only have one child.

It does change things, I have three- the mere thought of getting them all out for something as small as a 30 second gas payment when I'm parked *right at* the door blows my mind. They'd all be cranky, and the chance of the middle one running off somewhere would be far greater than the chance that someone would carjack my old minivan.

[mamadelbosque]

Yeah, I would and have, especially when doing something like paying for gas & maybe grabbing a pop or a candy bar or something like that. Actually going shopping? No. But for a minute while I run inside & pay for gas? Absolutely. And I also definetly leave them in the car while I unload groceries assuming their asleep.

And honestly, yeah, while I pay for gas, somebody could run up and steal my car... but they could just as easily do that while I'm filling up the tank, or washing the window, or cleaning out the trash. Should I put DS2 in the sling while I fill my tank and lead DS1 around by the hand while I clean out the car??? Or should I just not go *ANYWHERE* without another adult, when I might need to you know, get gas or something??

[GEEKLOVE]

PLEASEEEE....
do not leave your kids(or animals!)in the car.
even for a minute.
this is a photo of the remnants of my car after just running in to get a to go bubble tea.
i shut my car off...went into the store and someone came running in after me to tell me my car was on fire.
my car was completely destroyed within 5 minutes.
all i could think of was my daughters blankie in the back seat
the firefighters think that something seized and had seen this happen before.
if my child was in that car she would have been severely burned or not alive.
http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img0019ho.jpg/

[Amandamanda]

the only time i leave my kids alone in the car is when i've gotten them all buckled in their seats and i close the door and walk over to the driver seat.

seriously.

[2xy]

Originally Posted by GEEKLOVE

PLEASEEEE....
do not leave your kids(or animals!)in the car.
even for a minute.
this is a photo of the remnants of my car after just running in to get a to go bubble tea.
i shut my car off...went into the store and someone came running in after me to tell me my car was on fire.
my car was completely destroyed within 5 minutes.
all i could think of was my daughters blankie in the back seat
the firefighters think that something seized and had seen this happen before.
if my child was in that car she would have been severely burned or not alive.
http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img0019ho.jpg/

Well, that's scary and I'm sorry it happened to you, but it still doesn't worry me with regards to leaving kids in the car. Weird things happen. Friends of mine lost their house about a dozen years ago....a gas line broke and the pilot from the water heater ignited it. Their house exploded in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve. Luckily, they were away visiting family for the holidays or someone would have been killed. But I can't let that scare me into thinking I shouldn't sleep at night because my house might explode. KWIM?

[Ldavis24]

Originally Posted by GEEKLOVE

PLEASEEEE....
do not leave your kids(or animals!)in the car.
even for a minute.
this is a photo of the remnants of my car after just running in to get a to go bubble tea.
i shut my car off...went into the store and someone came running in after me to tell me my car was on fire.
my car was completely destroyed within 5 minutes.
all i could think of was my daughters blankie in the back seat
the firefighters think that something seized and had seen this happen before.
if my child was in that car she would have been severely burned or not alive.
http://img269.imageshack.us/i/img0019ho.jpg/

Have to agree that while that is one of the craziest and most bizarre incidents I have heard of involving a car, that is not in any way likely to make me not leave DD in the car for a minute. There is far far greater chance that I would be in a car accident with her in the car than something like that ever happening and yet I still drive with her in the car.

[sebarnes]

Originally Posted by MamaMelis

I wish that a poll had been included in this post, as I would LOVE to see how many who are horrified by the mere thought of leaving a child in a car for a moment while in visual contact only have one child.

I have more than one, and I don't leave them in the car.

[askew]

I do. For just a second type thing. To return a shopping cart, pay for gas, go to the ATM. Once I left my sleeping newborn and 3 yr old in the car for a minute to pick up my CSA box. In a private driveway at the farm, no one around. That made me a little anxious, the other times do not. I mean to me it is common sense. If I can see them, and my car is locked and off, I think they are safer inside than dragging them both into a gas station, or up to a ATM. I grew up in the late 70's. My Mom always left us in the car to run into the grocery store. I don't think for like 30 minutes, but for sure to run in and grab a few things. By the time I was 4 she let me stay home alone to run to the corner store.

[MissinNYC]

I do,and I think it's silly and another symptom of the paranoia of our society that so many people worry about this practice. I PROMISE you that actually driving somewhere with your kids safely strapped in is much more dangerous than leavingthe car for a minute. I mean, thousands of kids are killed in car accidents every year, but no one says "I would NEVER drive to the grocery store. Is it worth your child dying?" The chances of kidnapping are minute, and even if it did happen, it's just as likely to happen when I am in the car, too.

[Quinalla]

Since it is illegal here (I've had Mom's in this exact situation ask me to take their $10 or $20 in to get their pump started at the gas station since they didn't want to wake their baby), my biggest concern would be someone calling the police. My baby isn't here yet, so I may feel differently afterward, but right now I don't see this as a big deal except for the illegal part in my state

[Erinz]

What the OP is describing sounds just fine to me.

I had to read through this since my sil and I were talking about this yesterday and how we think a GREAT service would be "car nannies." College kids who just need some money and need time for homework. They could sit in the car and study and earn cash while busy (and who isn't?) moms run errands here and there! We both thought it was brilliant It would be so awesome to be able to pick up an adult during the day to do such a thing. As in stellar. As in I'd pay some money for that! Dreamy