Another baby-in-car thread

[myhoneyswife]

Soo, I ran in to this situation the other day... I was at Costco and couldn't park near the cart return, I could park maybe 5 spaces away. So I parked, did my shopping with baby in the ergo, and because I have to get in and out of the truck bed and into the toolbox to put my groceries away, I put babe in her car seat in the truck, lock it, and do my groceries in the toolbox. That part doesn't bother me. THEN... what do I do about the cart? I don't like to leave the cart out where it doesn't belong, but will if the parking lot is empty. But it wasn't so I felt like I needed to put it away. Do I pull baby out of her seat and out of the truck to put the cart away? See, I feel all nervous leaving her in the truck for the 30 seconds it takes, but I probably had a bigger chance of slipping on ice and hurting her than her being hurt in the truck. Oh, it was about 15 degrees that day, if it was warm I'd have just pulled her out and not thought about it.

Thoughts? And no, it's not an option for dad or anyone to go with us, really.

Cara

[UnskulinMama]

5 spaces away and in plain sight? I'd absolutely leave the kid in the car and not feel the slightest bit bad about it.

[myhoneyswife]

Okay, I guess I'm just paranoid!

[sunnysideup]

Originally Posted by UnskulinMama

5 spaces away and in plain sight? I'd absolutely leave the kid in the car and not feel the slightest bit bad about it.

Me too.

[MelKnee]

Originally Posted by UnskulinMama

5 spaces away and in plain sight? I'd absolutely leave the kid in the car and not feel the slightest bit bad about it.

:

[JamesMama]

5 spaces away? Yeah, I just push it back. Sometimes I have to park quite a ways away from the cart corall, in those cases I dump the cart and don't feel the least bit bad about it.

[sophmama]

I think the 30-40 seconds it takes to return a cart are A-OK to leave the baby in the warm vehicle.

[mazi'smom]

As long as she was in hearing distance, I would leave my daughter in the car. especially in the winter. in warmer weather, i would just leave her in the cart while i unloaded and then took her with me to put the cart away.

[Momma Aimee]

i leave the cart -- no matter what.

Baby comes first -- and anyway I don't think I should have to cart the stuff outand deal with the cart ANYWAY -- with or without baby -- the store should pay a teen age boy to so that.

I just leave it -- i push it up on a curb or whatever.

I always put ds in car seat before unlaoding, would not leave him to take the cart back, and will not unload him again.....

The store can fetch carts -- and if they get tired of that -- can p[ay someone to load my stuff and retun the cart.

I think it likely IS safe -- butttttttttttttttttttt I make my desions based on "if soemthign DID happne to happen, would i feel gulity?" If I heard about somethign happening in this situation on the news what woudl i say" in eather case -- i don't leave the baby in the car alone in such a situation.

Aimee

[annethcz]

Originally Posted by UnskulinMama

5 spaces away and in plain sight? I'd absolutely leave the kid in the car and not feel the slightest bit bad about it.

Me too. I'm in MN, so I understand cold winter weather. Definitely better for the babe to be in the sheltered vehicle, rather than exposed to the elements.

ETA: I am so annoyed by the people who voted to ditch the cart where it was. I have 4 kids! I know what it's like to schlep kids in and out of the car, and worry about them in the car. I still find it incredibly annoying that others choose to put themselves above others and leave their cart out in the middle of the parking lot. As if they are more important than other people. When my children are locked and buckled inside the car (especially in the winter when it's cold), I know they are safe.

[myhoneyswife]

Yeah, I don't mind leaving the cart like if the parking lot is empty and I see an employee around collecting carts. But if it's busy, then it's likely the cart is going to free itself and/or I'll be the one to hit it and ding the truck so I return...

[ThreeBeans]

I am a total carseat/car safety NUT....and I would leave the car five spaces to push a cart back in

On a related note, thank you for being considerate. People who leave their carts all over when there is a perfectly good corral a few feet away tick me the heck off.

[Redifer]

I do it. It's Buffalo, NY... freezing cold and slippery. And I cannot just leave my cart: because then, I get irritated when I take DD into the store and have to put her in a cold, wet cartseat because people leave their carts in the snow.

[lifescholar]

I usually just leave him in the cart while I unload the bags, then we both go to take the cart back.

If it's really cold, I put him in the sling, and do it that way.

But, if I don't have him in the sling, then yes, I will put him in the car and go put the cart back.

Leaving the cart in the lot is not an option to me...I've worked in retail, and I know how hard it is for someone to get outside to round up the carts, and I hate seeing people leave their carts!!

Fortunately, I can always get a spot right near the corral. I almost always can park 1 or 2 spots away....so I'm very lucky!

I think you are totally fine leaving your kid in the car for a moment....I do it every time I come HOME from shopping!! I gotta get the bags in the house somehow!

[MountainLovinMama]

Originally Posted by UnskulinMama

5 spaces away and in plain sight? I'd absolutely leave the kid in the car and not feel the slightest bit bad about it.

I completely agree, and I would add that I never leave my child in the cart while unloading groceries - they are so much safer in their car seats. A minor parking-lot bump would be of little consequence if they are secured in their carseats, but if a shopping cart got bumped by a car? See, I am paranoid too!

[lalaland42]

If the cart return area is 5 spaces away, I also would leave baby in the car and walk it back. When DD was a month old or so, I went to Whole Foods and this particular one didn't have a cart return in the parking lot. I was deciding what to do when a nice guy offered to take it back in the store for me.

[AlbertaJes]

Originally Posted by Aimee21972

The store can fetch carts -- and if they get tired of that -- can p[ay someone to load my stuff and retun the cart.

So many people have had this attitude where I live that I now have to "rent" a cart. I have to put a dollar coin in the handle to unlock it from the corral, and if I leave it in the parking lot, there goes my dollar.

And if I should happen to need my dollar for something else? Guess I don't get to do my grocery shopping, or I have to drive across town to the bank to get a new one.

I would just take the cart back.

[Jwebbal]

Nope, not gonna take the cart back no way, no how. Too far. Not leaving my baby in the car alone. Sorry folks. Usually I shop stores where they help me to my car, I do it only so that they will take my cart back. That or I try and pawn it off on someone going into the store.

[lalaland42]

Originally Posted by Jwebbal

Nope, not gonna take the cart back no way, no how. Too far. Not leaving my baby in the car alone. Sorry folks. Usually I shop stores where they help me to my car, I do it only so that they will take my cart back. That or I try and pawn it off on someone going into the store.

Just curious, where is it that you always get help to your car? That never happens here with the possible exception of really old ladies at high end grocery stores. I don't mean this in a rude way, I really am curious.

[Jwebbal]

My grocery store clerks always ask if you need help out. When my kid was not walking, I always said yes. Now he is 3, so taking the cart back isn't an issue usually. Hmm, let me see, other stores that use carts? I have asked for help at Costco when he was smaller and I had a lot of stuff (mostly again just so they would take the cart back, I can load my own car). Target, hmm, no help there usually. Grocery store is THE place I went the most often alone (my partner works nights so if need be, she could come, or take the baby), and I always got help there.