Leaving Kids in Car

I would never leave my car running with a kid inside. In her defense though, I can see leaving them in the car being ok - IF AND ONLY IF.... she is parked directly out front and can constantly see her vehicle and anyone near it, the engine is OFF and she has the keys, and she is literally just picking up and going right back out with zero wait.

I actually have left my kids in the car while I pay for gas (for those stations that STILL don't have pay at the pump) and also while dropping off and picking up at the daycare. My daycare actually has the school kids at my elementary school at the school, but the younger ones are at the daycare so I have to be in 2 places to pick up by closing. I usually pick up my youngest (4yo) and leave her in the car (engine off, doors locked, keys in my hand) and run up to the door of the school to get my other 2 kids. I don't have to go inside though because they're usually the last ones to be picked up.

Ok I guess that I am a LITTLE guilty on that one I have done that ONE time. I know that it is not right to do it and it doesnt mean that in any way that I dont care for my kids cause I really do. I dont feel that in any way that I was trying to be lazy, I can feel for this lady I mean it is a hassle but at the same time it is not right. I had to run in for just a second and I have three kids 5, almost 4 and a 2 year old and being that I am preganant (but not an excuse) I left them inside with the car off, keys in my hand and even prepared my oldest by telling her that she was not to open the doors for anyone only me, I made sure that I can visually see them at all times. I worried the entire time even though it wasnt very long. I dont think that you are crazy and beleive that you did do a good thing by staying there. Since then I try and go when my husband gets home.

Before I make this statement, let it be known that I do not leave my kids in the car for any reason (and I have 3 under 7), but....I have left them in my driveway while I ran into grab something I forgot, and I turned off the car, took the keys with me, and locked it. Did she leave the car running, cuz for sure that is asking for your kids to be taken. Or did she turn it off and lock the doors? My sister has done this once at the dry cleaners, and she had her oldest ,11, sit in the front seat so that if anything happened that made him nervous, he could honk the horn until she came. Of course she could see them in the window, I still thought she was crazy, but what can you do?? My theory is that if you have to prepare them if something happens, you shouldnt leave them, but sometimes I think I can understand why other people do it. I am pretty over protective, but I guess other people just dont see things the way I do...I think it is great that you stayed to watch them, so yeah for you!! ~A.~

Thats plain stupidity. I am guilty of leaving them in the car while in the driveway so I can run in to get something I forgot. But I do not do it in public places. I'm scared to leave them in the car while I'm pumping gas but sometimes I do but i pay with the card so I can pump and go. I usually leave the windows cracked. If I need to go somewhere I need to run in and out I wait til my DH comes home.

I don't think you're crazy at all. I don't care what I'm doing - I take my daughter into the store with me, even if I'm only going into the gas station to pay for my gas. There are so many bad things that can happen if you leave your kids in the car, and I don't want to take any chances.

It might be easier to leave your kid(s) in the car, but it's just too dangerous for me to take that chance.

Well, it is illegal for one thing. I depends how old the kids are too. So many people don't realize how many children die a year in hot weather, or are kidnapped or wander off from this form of neglect.

Under these circumstances, it is lawful to call the police. Running into a place real wuick is one thing, but I've even seen people go shopping for 30 or more doing this.

I've come across mothers leaving their childen young children alone in cars as well. Once I actually went to the nearest store to have the police called and they appologized purfusely and told me that they weren't allowed to get involved in activities not inside their store. I was shocked! I don't know how many times I've heard on the news that children have died even in a short period of being left anattended. You are not crazy at all!

I also see that happen alot I have three kids and yes it's alot of work getting in and out of the car but I allways get my kids down even if it's in and out of the store and some mom's just dont care or are too lazy but it only takes a second for some thing to happen.And no your not crazy your so right .

I agree with you. It's just dangerous! In certain circumstances, it may be ok if the weather, place, time, and ages of children were all appropriate. Other than that, I feel it's a bit lazy to just leave them in there. How many times have we heard on the news of parents just running in for something, and the car gets stolen with the kids inside. Ugh, it's not worth it.

We didn't have children in order to have uncomplicated lives. Children make it messy and chaotic, but that's the great thing. We'll all have those days back when we can actually run to the store for 10 minutes by ourselves. Those will be the days when our kids are at college, and we are begging for them to come to the store with us.

Not only are you not crazy, what she did is against the law!!! It is illeagal in the state of Texas to leave a child under the age of 12 unattended in a car (makes no difference if the car is running or not). The local police would have been more than happy to come and explain to that mother that if she has a problem bringing her children into the store with her that she should hire a sitter and leave them at home while makes the trip to the store.

You are not crazy at all. Leaving your kids in the car is asking for something bad to happen. I have three under 8 and i think about how easy it would be not to get them all out, manipulate my hand so i can hold their three accross the parking lot, wait the five minutes it takes for them to get situated and get their seat belts on . . . but it isn't worh the risk. I am lucky now they can all put on their own seatbelts, it was even worse when i had two to three car seats to buckle, or the dreaded "I can do it" so we all wait 10 minute while my daughter tries to show her independence, but you do it anyway cause its the right thing. Its irresponsible and just plain LAZY to leave them in the car.

No you are not crazy I am a mom of 3 and yes it would be easier not to have to get them out but you can't leave them in the car. Where i live i don't know about anywhere else but it's a law not to leave your car running or have the keys in it especially with someone in it. I guess what i am saying is you were right to watch them to many kids get taken now days and most out of cars or stores so it just makes me you a safe mom.

I agree 100% with you and would have done the samething. I would never leave my kids somewhere where they could get kidnapped. It is just called being a "good mother"!

Actually it's illegal because it's is dangerous.

We went to a shoe store the other day, and a mom came in with her daughter (probably about 8 or 9 years old). Anyway. . .we just happened to notice that her baby was still strapped in her nice Jaguar outside while she shopped for shoes for at least 20 minutes!! She then went outside to get the baby, but that baby was in the car all by itself (sorry I wasn't able to tell gender). I think that is crazy too!

No I don't think you are carzy at all. I think it is negelctful and dangerous to leave your children in the car. There are so many manicas out there you never know what could happen. It's good to know some moms out there think alike.

not crazy at all! i get a little nervous just leaving them in the DRIVEWAY to run inside and grab a fallen sippy cup or paci! i couldn't imagine leaving them in a parking lot somewhere!

NO I dont think u are crazy. I never leave my kids in the car, I always take them inside with me wherever I go.

L.

Of course you're not crazy! Isn't it amazing that it's illegal now to start your car and leave it running in your own driveway because someone might steal it from your property, but,,,,,these people can take their precious kids out to public places and leave them unprotected and it's ok? Duh,,,,,
I could rant for a very long time on that one! I would have watched them until the mom came back out too only I would have let her know that I kept an eye on HER kids in her absense!

You're NOT crazy. Check this site out for the facts.

https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/About_Child...

Ok, so I'm going to be the unpopular vote here...my mom used toleave my brother and I in the car starting when I was about 8 and he was 6...but only when she had to run in quick to do something, like pay for gas before the credit card things were at all the pumps, or if she ran in to grab a pack of smokes, or something like that...just quick little things, never lasting more than 10 min. She always said that it was for time, because the whole time we would be at that place would be doubled or more getting my brother and I back in the car. I also think it depends on the child/children. How well behaived they are. My brother and I knew we'd be in some serious trouble if we didn't do exactly what my mom expected of us. I will admit myself, that I have left my son in the car, while I have run in the house to grab something I forgot, or to grab a drink from a soda machine. It takes me a good 10-15 min to get him in the car and strapped in, because he likes to do it on his own, with a little help from mommy. Now, I would never just leave him in there tho to go shopping or anything like that. Sometimes, especially when your crunched on time, or not wanting to deal with the hassle, and frustration, I can see it for quick things, as long as you can see your child, or know that they're ok.