I swear sometimes I think I am imagining things!!!

[Makdyn]

Not sure if I should say this or not but I leave my girls in the car if I am paying for gas or running in for milk while paying for gas. Now I will not leave dd 3 alone I will always take her in if dd 6 is not with us. I also leave them in the car in the driveway while I need to run in the house cause I forgot something.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Not sure if I should say this or not but I leave my girls in the car if I am paying for gas or running in for milk while paying for gas. Now I will not leave dd 3 alone I will always take her in if dd 6 is not with us. I also leave them in the car in the driveway while I need to run in the house cause I forgot something.

I'll stand with you...

Of course, I am not going to bake my child, and I wouldn't leave them in a dangerous area. But at our local convenience store, or gas station, you bet. In my drive...no concerns. I love living where I live.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I've made a few Mom mistakes myself!!!! One of the worst.....I had just transferred my DD's car seat back to my car from my DH's car. I had forgotten to actually strap the carseat into the actual car... Anyway, on my next errand, I remember going right at a light--I look in the backseat, and my DD, safely strapped INTO the carseat was sliding clear across the backseat in her carseat I stopped the car immediately and strapped the whole seat into the car, but boy oh boy---It scared the CRAP outta me!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'll stand with you...

Of course, I am not going to bake my child, and I wouldn't leave them in a dangerous area. But at our local convenience store, or gas station, you bet. In my drive...no concerns. I love living where I live.

I know you think this is safe but many cars have been stolen with the kids in it while Mom or Dad ran into the store to grab a cup of coffee or milk. This did not happen in a dangerous area. You just never know.

ETA- In one case they stole the car with the kid in it and it was the middle of winter. They left the child in the car after the joy ride but took his coat leaving him in single digit weather. This was a toddler. Thankfully the child was okay.

 

[Teacher03]

As many of you mentioned, this is illegal. I know a woman who left her two children (6 and 2) in the car while she ran in to get a gallon of milk. Someone saw her, called 911, the police were waiting for her when she came back out. She was charged and after a trial, spent two nights in jail.

I know it is inconvenient, but I would never leave my children in the car to pay for gas or anything. You just never know what might happen.

 

[Whosemom]

I totally agree. There is no reason why this child should have been left in the car...none...especially when the DH was in the building and could have watched the child while she unpacked her items. I don't care if I'm unloading bags of groceries or going to get together. The kids always go in the house first...theres always someone (family member) that could watch them. No excuses for this one. Everyone from time to time is "out of their mind" busy but there are no excuses for this...children depend on us to keep them safe!

Sometimes I think the dad being there too makes it easier to mess up. You each think the other has the child. This is not the same as deliberately neglecting the child. I know of a lady named Mary and her husband Joseph that lost track of there 12 year old just this way for three whole days.

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

I'm just curious, at what age DO you think it's safe to leave a child in the car while you run into the store for milk or pay for gas or something of the sort?(I'm not talking a shopping trip, but say 7-11 or Wilson Farms for milk, parked right out front, etc)
Not trying to start a debate or arguments or anything, I'm just wondering, because my daughter was nagging me the other day because I dragged them out of the car in the rain to go in the store with me.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm just curious, at what age DO you think it's safe to leave a child in the car while you run into the store for milk or pay for gas or something of the sort?(I'm not talking a shopping trip, but say 7-11 or Wilson Farms for milk, parked right out front, etc)
Not trying to start a debate or arguments or anything, I'm just wondering, because my daughter was nagging me the other day because I dragged them out of the car in the rain to go in the store with me.

I don't know- 25 maybe? I don't know what age I'd feel comfortable with it as my kids are still young but maybe 16? I think I'd have to play it by ear. Depends on where and what time I suppose.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'll stand with you...

Of course, I am not going to bake my child, and I wouldn't leave them in a dangerous area. But at our local convenience store, or gas station, you bet. In my drive...no concerns. I love living where I live.

I live on the west side of Michigan, not exactly a hot bed of crime. But you would not believe how many times it is on the news that someone has left their kids in the car at a gas station, and someone has driven off with them. How on earth would you feel if, God forbid, something did happen? Is your child's welfare worth even that tiny bit of unnecessary risk?

 

[lonegirl]

Sometimes I think the dad being there too makes it easier to mess up. You each think the other has the child. This is not the same as deliberately neglecting the child. I know of a lady named Mary and her husband Joseph that lost track of there 12 year old just this way for three whole days.

Whosemom...I posted the story about the birthday party lady, and your points are well taken with me. I just saw this little scared child and the mom through the window gabbing away with other moms, and it blew my mind. You were right, though, it was not deliberate like these other actions. Thank you.

 

[dfarner]

To anyone who thinks it is okay to leave a child in the car, even for "a minute", should take a look at this website http://kidsandcars.org/.
It takes an experienced car thief 7 SECONDS to break into a car and less than 1 MINUTE to break into a car and actually get it started. http://www.shellne.com/stolencar.html#ques5

 

[dfarner]

To anyone who thinks it is okay to leave a child in the car, even for "a minute", should take a look at this website http://kidsandcars.org/.
It takes an experienced car thief 7 SECONDS to break into a car and less than 1 MINUTE to break into a car and actually get it started. http://www.shellne.com/stolencar.html#ques5

 

[meandtheguys2]

So far, my little town hasn't seen a lot of experienced car thieves. My children have made it to the ripe old ages of 12, 10 and 7 without being kidnapped, or baked. Common sense goes along way in life.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

So far, my little town hasn't seen a lot of experienced car thieves. My children have made it to the ripe old ages of 12, 10 and 7 without being kidnapped, or baked. Common sense goes along way in life.

I am glad for you that you have been so lucky. Others have not unfortunately. I was just posting a little warning. Things can happen when you least expect it.

 

[Makdyn]

I've made a few Mom mistakes myself!!!! One of the worst.....I had just transferred my DD's car seat back to my car from my DH's car. I had forgotten to actually strap the carseat into the actual car... Anyway, on my next errand, I remember going right at a light--I look in the backseat, and my DD, safely strapped INTO the carseat was sliding clear across the backseat in her carseat I stopped the car immediately and strapped the whole seat into the car, but boy oh boy---It scared the CRAP outta me!

I have done this a couple of times after switching the car seat. Most of the time I did not realize until I was turning and I see the car seat tipping.

I'm just curious, at what age DO you think it's safe to leave a child in the car while you run into the store for milk or pay for gas or something of the sort?(I'm not talking a shopping trip, but say 7-11 or Wilson Farms for milk, parked right out front, etc)
Not trying to start a debate or arguments or anything, I'm just wondering, because my daughter was nagging me the other day because I dragged them out of the car in the rain to go in the store with me.

It all depends on what you are comfortable with. I am comfortable with leaving my dd 3 and dd6 in the car to run in an pay for gas or/and get milk. The car is right in front of the door I can see it the whole time I am in the store. The doors are locked, and I have the keys. I am not talking about running into a super market were I cant see the car all the time.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm sorry but I just feel really strongly about this. Even if you can see the car does not make it safe. I cannot even begin to tell you the multitude of things that can happen. If you feel okay with it then that's your perrogative but leaving young children in a car even to run into a store for a minute is dangerous. I would never risk it. JMHO.

 

[barbmouse]

My dks are 10 and 13 and I can't imagine leaving them in the car while I go into a store!! What is the big deal about taking them in?

 

[meandtheguys2]

What is the difference of sending a child off to school everyday, to ball practice, or music lessons, and leaving them in a parked car while grocery shopping? (10 and 13 year olds.) Heck, my son will be 13 in 2 weeks, and driving on his own in just a few years. If they want to sit and listen to music rather than going into a store, I could care less. Usually, they choose to stay home, but sometimes we are errand running when they need they have guitar, etc.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Because a car can be stolen and/or hijacked. A car is also something to be operated by an adult. A child doesn't always have the correct judgement and things can happen. A friend of mine had a child that knocked the car in gear in the driveway and the car ran out into the road and across the street. Thankfully he wasn't hurt. There were also no keys in the car.

 

[kinntj]

I'm against leaving a child in the car when out shopping or paying for gas. You just never know what will happen in those few minutes it takes. Just yesterday I had to take the kids into the gas station to pay because the credit card area was frozen from sleet coming down. They didn't like that their movie was interrupted, but their safety was a concern to me. How many people leave their purses in the car? or could you leave a large considerable amount of cash in there? I can't believe some people leave their kids in there like they are a purse. or something that's not valuable.