Leaving Infant in the car.....

[shoney]

Originally Posted by design_mom

There have been several threads of this nature during my time on the DIS, and general consensus is that some people would. Some people would not. Some people would call the police if they saw someone else do it.

I don't think it's "typical behavior," but I also don't think taking the video monitor in while you pee to monitor a newborn is "typical behavior" either... but everyone does what they feel comfortable with.

As for whether or not I'd do it, probably not. But if I knew I'd only be a few minutes, could see the car/child from where I'd be and could leave immediately if my child needed me (all of which sound possible in the scenario you mentioned), I might. I would always lock the car and turn the motor off though.

Well said!

If parenting has taught me one thing, it is to not be so judgemental of other parents.

I know I've had wonderful days and some pretty crappy ones. My kids have had good days and bad. I've had compliments on their behavior and glaring looks on other days.

[BernardandMissBianca]

A guy just did that here in CT last week, ran into the store to grab chips and a drink and his car and child were gone.
Thankfully the thief brought the baby to a friends house and the friend took him to the police station.

I never left my kids in the car, I will now if DS16 is with them but he locks the doors as soon as I shut my door. I won't even leave them in the driveway if I need to run back in the house for something.

ETA: I did rip apart a lady once for leaving her kids in the car with it on to run into our local Starbucks. The kids were sleeping was her reason for leaving them. Wanna know the kicker? The Starbucks had a flippin' drive-thru!!

[luvmy3]

Originally Posted by BernardandMissBianca

A guy just did that here in CT last week, ran into the store to grab chips and a drink and his car and child were gone.
Thankfully the thief brought the baby to a friends house and the friend took him to the police station.

I never left my kids in the car, I will now if DS16 is with them but he locks the doors as soon as I shut my door. I won't even leave them in the driveway if I need to run back in the house for something.

ETA: I did rip apart a lady once for leaving her kids in the car with it on to run into our local Starbucks. The kids were sleeping was her reason for leaving them. Wanna know the kicker? The Starbucks had a flippin' drive-thru!!

So you moderate parking lots too

[mjkacmom]

I'm sure I've done it before, in a similar circumstance (car in my vision, locked, quick in and out). However, I've never felt the need to monitor my kids while peeing. Honestly, I don't get how new parents can't shower. Put the baby in the crib - worst case scenario is the baby cries a bit. I'm glad I had my twins last - I don't even think I owned a baby monitor by that point!

I probably put my kids in more harm's way dragging them through parking lots when they were little!

[BernardandMissBianca]

Originally Posted by luvmy3

So you moderate parking lots too

LOL yep!!! I'm a hard core moderator!

[wishing4PA]

Originally Posted by BernardandMissBianca

ETA: I did rip apart a lady once for leaving her kids in the car with it on to run into our local Starbucks. The kids were sleeping was her reason for leaving them. Wanna know the kicker? The Starbucks had a flippin' drive-thru!!

Sure, but does it have a drive-through bathroom? jk

I remember having to leave DD in her carseat one time because of a pump problem. I always did pay-at-the-pump, so it freaked me out to have to walk up to the counter for whatever the reason was. I guess I could have taken her out, but it was literally no more than a minute or two and I could see the car out the window the entire time! Still made me nervous, and what I do remember is thinking they will think I am a robber or something because I look so nervous and am in such a rush! Some of us may be overly cautious these days.

It's a tough call sometimes.

[pigletgirl]

Growing up I can remember my own mother leaving us in the car when she was running quick errands. That being said, I wouldn't leave my baby in the car alone. Too many crazies out there these days.

[zokaluse]

I leave mine in the car when I go to pay for petrol if the pump pay is ooo, I lock the car though & she's strapped in her 5 harness seat..she is 4 in January! I keep my eye the whole time on the car. I'll also run into a local shop if I know I'm only getting two or 3 things and the queues are not long, again I lock the car & keep me eye on it! Prolly 2 mins max each time for both scenarios & that involves walk to & from car.
If DS 11 is in the car I do the same but don't rush as much..he sometimes prefer to sit in the car & read when I do a big shop & he's had to come with me, I usually let him but take DD with me.
BUT do you know what??? I don't like my OH doing the same!!!! But I know he is not as observant as me so that's my reasoning!

[Imzadi]

Originally Posted by scrapquitler

Personally, I would NOT do it. In many places it is, in fact, illegal to do so. It is illegal here in CT to leave a child unattended in a car. Last Friday, in Hartford CT, a Dad left his two year old son in the car with the car running while Dad ran into the convenience store. He was out of the car less than two minutes, when the car was stolen with the child in it. An amber alert was issued and the child was found safe several hours later. The guy who stole the car was high at the time, and left the child with a friend of his in a not-so nearby town and then went to the Civic Center for a holiday concert, where he was apprehended. Since then, the guy has told the police he stole the car to teach the parents a lesson that they shouldn't leave the baby in the car. Nobody knows if he really thought that or not, but it's an interesting defense argument (LOL). But can you imagine being the parent of the child while they were searching for him? I would NEVER want to be in that position of having that worry and fear, not knowing where your child was.

Was the guy charged with kidnapping then? Since he admitted that he knew the kid was in the car and deliberately took the kid, I hope the DA charges him with kidnapping and not just car jacking. Two wrongs do not make a right.

I also hope the father, (while wrong for leaving the kid,) files a case in civil court for mega-zillion bucks of personal distress for the hours his kid was taken, so that the guy can never pay for even legal, over the counter drugs again.

I'm not saying the dad deserves money, just that if the kidnapper is stupid enough to say he was teaching the dad a lesson, he should know his "deed" is not without consequences.

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I did it a couple of times when my daughter was younger but only in situations where I could see her in the car the entire time. I wouldn't leave the keys in the car, so I did it when there wasn't any extreme weather (hot or cold).

However, it isn't something I made a habit out of and I wouldn't recommend a parent to it all the time. If nothing else, you might end up with someone who calls the cops on you.

[ilovefh]

I've left my son in the car when I had to return or rent a movie from Redbox. I park right in front of it and keep the doors locked. I also have an automatic starter so I take the keys with me and leave the car running so the air stays on. I'm about 6 feet from the car but even if someone were to break into it it would shut off when they put their foot on the brake.

[ronandannette]

Originally Posted by minniebride

Today when I was shopping, I saw a woman run into the pizza place we were eating at to pick up take out. She was parked right up front, steps from the store. I noticed her child still buckled in the carseat in the car-the child was sleeping. The lady was gone from her car all of 5 minutes to pick up her food.

I am a new mom and I am so paranoid about leaving my baby even for a minute so I can use the bathroom & I bring my video monitor with me!!

Is it typical for people to do what this mom did?

Parked right outside the window, mere steps away, baby strapped in safely and asleep in a locked car with the engine turned off? Absolutely...somebody please give one GOOD reason why I shouldn't. (Or why a 16 y.o. can't stay alone in a car with younger sibs while parked in his own driveway? Rough neighbourhood?)

[goofyintoronto]

I didn't read the replies but i have to say, i have not once left my son in the car alone. Im way too paranoid of the what ifs. I couldn't live with myself if something happened.

Reminds me of a story. Kinda related but a bit different. This one guy forgot his infant son was in the back seat of the car. He parked his car at the train station and went to work like he usually does. Hours later i think his wife called and thats when he realized the baby is still in the car... In the scorching summer heat. Needless to say, the end result was not a good one. Poor baby.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

[minniebride]

Originally Posted by goofyintoronto

I didn't read the replies but i have to say, OP if youre appalled with the lady for leaving her baby in the car, youre no better by taking the video monitor with you. What exactly will that do? Someone can steal your car while you're watching. By the time you get outside the car is gone.

For the record, i NEVER left my son in the car alone. I was way too paranoid.

Sent from my Galaxy SII

Ummm.....I know you said you didn't read the replies, but how about reading my actual original post before you get your panties in a wad

Where the heck did I say I was appalled??? I was just wondering if it is a typical thing to do and I really haven't formed an opinion either way on the matter-hence the reason for my thread.

[aprilgail2]

Originally Posted by mjkacmom

I'm sure I've done it before, in a similar circumstance (car in my vision, locked, quick in and out). However, I've never felt the need to monitor my kids while peeing. Honestly, I don't get how new parents can't shower. Put the baby in the crib - worst case scenario is the baby cries a bit. I'm glad I had my twins last - I don't even think I owned a baby monitor by that point!

I probably put my kids in more harm's way dragging them through parking lots when they were little!

I never understood that either- you want to shower, cook, pee- you put the baby in the crib and go do it- they can survive 10-15 minutes in the crib without you watching them the entire time!

Originally Posted by zokaluse

If DS 11 is in the car I do the same but don't rush as much..he sometimes prefer to sit in the car & read when I do a big shop & he's had to come with me, I usually let him but take DD with me.

Since my daughter was 10-11 she has been staying in the car because she would rather hang out there and read than be dragged around the stores with me. She locks the door and is much happier in there than coming with me. Now if I was going to just go out shopping and wasn't stopping after being out somewhere with her she would have just stayed home alone but if we stop while we are out she stays in the car.

When she was little if she was sleeping in the car I would just leave her in the driveway in the locked car sleeping until she woke up- I would be glued to the living room window though LOL.