Leaving Kids in the Car

[Ashmeade]

The only time I have ever left my kids in the car is while getting gas and I am standing RIGHT next to the car. If I went in to pay, my kids came too.

I never would want to risk it. And even if you are in plain sight from the store or wherever you are in, all that is likely going to do is get you a better description of the kidnapper if that situation arises...

 

[the4heathernsmom]

There are so many times with four kids that it would have saved me so much time, nerves, and trouble to have left a sleeping kiddo to pay for my gas, or drop a movie etcetera but I didn't and haven't even living in a small town. In the state of Texas if you leave your child unattended for any reason ie; running in or dropping off etcetera it is against the law!! They then have to by state law report you to cps who then can remove the children from you for endangerment of a child and or neglectful supervision and injury to a child even if no injury occured. It is a punishable offense to the degree for a first time violation cps can remove your children from you and mandate they not be returned until you take 4 weeks of parenting classes to teach you NOT to leave your child unattended. Crazy but I have always been scared to leave my kids the "what if's" were and are just too much. Makes me mad sometimes that kids are being beaten and abused in so many ways for whom very little is done if even noticed but a mom who is in a huge rush and has a huge load gets the downfall because she left them for 30 seconds to pay for her five dollars of gas. What a world what a world!

 

[dntd]

I think CPS write's thier own laws and follows no set of rules. as an example because my Daughter who's 4 got hurt in her brother's bedroom when her brother jumped off his bunk bed and accidently landed on her( he's 7 and there was also a 8 year old in the room) that was considered neglect because she was unsupervised though I was in the kitchen and could hear what was going on. I think that CPS atleast in ontario is on a witch hunt, There has even been ads on the radio telling people to call and not to even second guess, so right now non of my kids(4,7,8,10,13) will play anywere except for the backyard because of CPS . I try to not leave my kids unattened in the van but when I have too my oldest is there and he's 13 and the van is in sight.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Nope. Not okay, ever, to leave kids alone in the car if they're under 12. And if I see someone do it, I say something and if they don't get their kiddos, I call the cops. I am a hardbutt about this and proper carseat use.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

The bittersweet reality of raising children is that they grow up too fast. It may not seem like it when you're in the midst of diapering & shoe tying & tushie wiping & hand holding. But it lasts for a sweet short season and before you know it, they're grown & gone. And then you'll be at liberty to do all your errands quietly alone. Until that time, you just have to be creative & resourceful. Many places have everything you need available under one roof, or at least several of the essentials like groceries, prescriptions, stamps, housewares & health/beauty aids. Or you can buddy up with another mom or two when you need to run errands.

You also need to know the laws in your area, and then go with what feels comfortable for you. What one mom considers reasonable another may find extreme. I was not comfortable leaving my guys alone in the car when they were little because my mind was filled with the "what if?"s. One thing I was concerned about is what if someone loses control of their vehicle & crashes into my parked car with my boys inside?

I don't like to leave the car parked with the engine running, it's a wasteful use of gas and it really pollutes the air. I don't like when I'm trying to load a big pile of grocery bags into my car and there's an idling car parked next to ours filling the air with smelly exhaust fumes. And I think it's dangerous to leave a child alone in a car with the engine idling, there's temptation for car thieves as well as potential for injury to the child.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
And then the grandkids start coming and grandma becomes the babysitter and you start all over again!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Only if you're very fortunate!

 

[Katy]

I do believe I'm very lucky to be able to do it for my kids & grandkids.....just never thought I'd be closer to 60 than 50 and doing potty training again!!

 

[StupidBird]

One of the many reasons I didn't leave the two DS alone in the car is the many memories of all the stuff I did while "babysitting" the 2, then 3 youngers in the car while mom went in for doc appts, etc. The one and only time I left the baby in the car, having gotten it to sleep the first time in two weeks (me, no sleep two weeks) and ran into the post office to get a tirade from the first person in there about leaving the baby alone. Looking back, in that neighborhood she was correct. Just too brain fogged myself. Its a hard, hard thing, having children - - -

 

[BarbK]

I only ever left my DD (now 6) in the car when she was a toddler (befor she could unbuckle herself) and was asleep. I would do it when the car was in sight, it was a run in and back out errand AND my my over protective dog was in the car. Never on really hot or cold days because I would take my keys with me. I ran in the gas station one day because the pump wouldnt take my card. The whole time I was in (maybe a min) I was watching out the window and saw the cop walk over to the car. He nodded at me and I waved as a rushed out (anytime I am even a few feet from the car I always get close to where my DD is when a stranger gets close) then he started laughing. I got to the car he told as soon as the dog saw him she put her butt up against DD seat and started snarling. He had never seen a dog so protective of a child. He had come over because my DD hadn't moved at all and he wanted to make sure she was ok. He also said he was gonna chastise me for leaving her in the car till he realized the dog was there and how protective she was. Of course I also got the dog out and gave her the command to settle down and let him pet her.

I never left her for even a min after she started unbuckling herself and now that she is 6 even with a protective dog in the car I wouldn't think about it. She would be one of those that would get out of the car and get into things.
The dogs never go with me in the summer unless I can leave the ac on an leave them water in the cupholder. (for those worried about the dogs)