Do you leave your kids alone in the car?

neandermagnon

Both Factors are dangerous - Strangers and Dangers of a car. Period. Kids think they "know everything" and they don't. Period.

I agree about considering both factors... it just worries me that somewhere, one day, a very sensible, obedient 8 year old will stay in the car because mummy told her to, even when the car's on fire or someone's just driven into it, and mummy's not back yet.

Lisa1971

No, never

LOVE your avatar! What an adorable puppy!

rml_16

Both Factors are dangerous - Strangers and Dangers of a car. Period. Kids think they "know everything" and they don't. Period.

I agree about considering both factors... it just worries me that somewhere, one day, a very sensible, obedient 8 year old will stay in the car because mummy told her to, even when the car's on fire or someone's just driven into it, and mummy's not back yet.

That is not a sensible or intelligent 8-year-old and the parents failed that kid.

BlueBombers

No, never

LOVE your avatar! What an adorable puppy!

Thanks! That's my 4-1/2 year old Bulldog, Hulk.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

neandermagnon

Simply teaching your kid to stay in the car with the doors locked and only open the door to a parent is not sufficient to keep them safe in a car alone, especially on a busy road or a very hot or cold day.

And this is where that little thing called common sense comes into play.

Every time I ever was left in a car was in a parking lot and obviously my parents and friends' parents had the sense to not leave us on freezing cold or super hot days. Geesh.

I personally wouldn't leave an infant or toddler in a car. I do think that's far too young. And I probably wouldn't leave a single child younger than probably 8-10 in a car (multiple children is different). But this blanket "no kids should ever be left alone in a car" thing is silly paranoia.

I didn't say "no kid left alone ever" - I listed a bunch of factors that parents frequently fail to think about before leaving kids alone in cars. If the child's mature enough to handle all the potential situations, then yes. But huge numbers of parents don't think about those things and a small number of kids end up harmed or dead because of it, and if this discussion is about whether and in what circumstances it's okay to leave a kid alone in a car, then yes I should mention things parents need to take into consideration.

My main point in that post was that people only think about stranger danger and not other factors.

neandermagnon

Both Factors are dangerous - Strangers and Dangers of a car. Period. Kids think they "know everything" and they don't. Period.

I agree about considering both factors... it just worries me that somewhere, one day, a very sensible, obedient 8 year old will stay in the car because mummy told her to, even when the car's on fire or someone's just driven into it, and mummy's not back yet.

That is not a sensible or intelligent 8-year-old and the parents failed that kid.

yes, the parents failed the kid. My whole point is that there are a lot of parents out there who only think about stranger danger, and not the other potential dangers. So I'm not sure what your point is re the parents failing the kid.... because that's exactly what my point is.... the parents failed the kid because they only considered stranger danger and not the other things that could potentially go wrong....

SezxyStef

Simply teaching your kid to stay in the car with the doors locked and only open the door to a parent is not sufficient to keep them safe in a car alone, especially on a busy road or a very hot or cold day.

And this is where that little thing called common sense comes into play.

Every time I ever was left in a car was in a parking lot and obviously my parents and friends' parents had the sense to not leave us on freezing cold or super hot days. Geesh.

I personally wouldn't leave an infant or toddler in a car. I do think that's far too young. And I probably wouldn't leave a single child younger than probably 8-10 in a car (multiple children is different). But this blanket "no kids should ever be left alone in a car" thing is silly paranoia.

Just because our parents did it doesn't make it right.

Our parents also took us without seatbelts too...does that mean it's okay to not strap our kids in?
ETA I remember 9 of us in a 6 seat car...2 infants no child seats...none of us strapped in...just because my parents didn't use seatbelts or a car seat doesn't mean I wont.

They smoked with us in the car, house whatever does that make it right?

And if you are old enough some of our parents thought it was alright t drink too while pregnant...doesn't make it right.

Times change and it doesn't matter if it is one kid or 20 kids in a van the danger is still there.

As for it being paranoia perhaps but when it's the law it's the law.

Thumbs up to the police officer who posted about breaking the windows of cars to get kids out who were left alone. Good on you.

justal313

If it's just me, then when we get home I get out of the car, walk 20 steps up to the front door and unlock it before getting my daughter out of the car seat because she's much less of a handful if I don't have to stop to unlock the door.

That's it. If it's me and my wife then I unlock the door while my wife gets her out of the car.

TX_Thundercat

"Every time I hear an amber alert, and find out it's an aunt or the estranged father or whatever, I shrug and think "nothing to see here"

rml_16

Both Factors are dangerous - Strangers and Dangers of a car. Period. Kids think they "know everything" and they don't. Period.

I agree about considering both factors... it just worries me that somewhere, one day, a very sensible, obedient 8 year old will stay in the car because mummy told her to, even when the car's on fire or someone's just driven into it, and mummy's not back yet.

That is not a sensible or intelligent 8-year-old and the parents failed that kid.

yes, the parents failed the kid. My whole point is that there are a lot of parents out there who only think about stranger danger, and not the other potential dangers. So I'm not sure what your point is re the parents failing the kid.... because that's exactly what my point is.... the parents failed the kid because they only considered stranger danger and not the other things that could potentially go wrong....

My point is that if your kid is so afraid of disobeying you or is too stupid to realize that a car on fire is a danger to his or her life, you did something EXTREMELY WRONG as a parent and you have bigger issues than whether you leave your child alone in a car.

rml_16

Simply teaching your kid to stay in the car with the doors locked and only open the door to a parent is not sufficient to keep them safe in a car alone, especially on a busy road or a very hot or cold day.

And this is where that little thing called common sense comes into play.

Every time I ever was left in a car was in a parking lot and obviously my parents and friends' parents had the sense to not leave us on freezing cold or super hot days. Geesh.

I personally wouldn't leave an infant or toddler in a car. I do think that's far too young. And I probably wouldn't leave a single child younger than probably 8-10 in a car (multiple children is different). But this blanket "no kids should ever be left alone in a car" thing is silly paranoia.

I didn't say "no kid left alone ever" - I listed a bunch of factors that parents frequently fail to think about before leaving kids alone in cars. If the child's mature enough to handle all the potential situations, then yes. But huge numbers of parents don't think about those things and a small number of kids end up harmed or dead because of it, and if this discussion is about whether and in what circumstances it's okay to leave a kid alone in a car, then yes I should mention things parents need to take into consideration.

My main point in that post was that people only think about stranger danger and not other factors.

Who are these people? I've been a parent for nearly 20 years and I was a child. Every time the discussion of kids in cars has ever come up, people have talked about things other than strangers abducting the children. And we have all instructed our children on the "do not touch" thing and know better than to leave them to freeze or boil to death.

And I hope that my child is smart enough that I don't have to specifcally address, "Get out if the car catches on fire."

Lisa1971

Also one time I left my kids in the car and it got towed. I couldn't afford to get it out of the impound.

I wonder what happened to them.... I'll always remember you Jermey and Simon.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

SezxyStef

Simply teaching your kid to stay in the car with the doors locked and only open the door to a parent is not sufficient to keep them safe in a car alone, especially on a busy road or a very hot or cold day.

And this is where that little thing called common sense comes into play.

Every time I ever was left in a car was in a parking lot and obviously my parents and friends' parents had the sense to not leave us on freezing cold or super hot days. Geesh.

I personally wouldn't leave an infant or toddler in a car. I do think that's far too young. And I probably wouldn't leave a single child younger than probably 8-10 in a car (multiple children is different). But this blanket "no kids should ever be left alone in a car" thing is silly paranoia.

I didn't say "no kid left alone ever" - I listed a bunch of factors that parents frequently fail to think about before leaving kids alone in cars. If the child's mature enough to handle all the potential situations, then yes. But huge numbers of parents don't think about those things and a small number of kids end up harmed or dead because of it, and if this discussion is about whether and in what circumstances it's okay to leave a kid alone in a car, then yes I should mention things parents need to take into consideration.

My main point in that post was that people only think about stranger danger and not other factors.

Who are these people? I've been a parent for nearly 20 years and I was a child. Every time the discussion of kids in cars has ever come up, people have talked about things other than strangers abducting the children. And we have all instructed our children on the "do not touch" thing and know better than to leave them to freeze or boil to death.

And I hope that my child is smart enough that I don't have to specifcally address, "Get out if the car catches on fire."

What about smash and grabs?
Car Jackers?
Teenage jack offs who think it's funny to scare kids alone in a car for fun
off chance there is an accident and your car gets hit in the parking lot or on a street?
What about if the kids are scared but don't want to say anything?
What if you get delayed by a long line? a chatty clerk? god forbid a robbery in the store and you are stuck in there kids are outside not knowin what is going on
What if you slip, hit your head get knocked out... no one knows you have kids in a car....

Never mind abductions....

Yes these are all what ifs and might never happen but they could and this is why it is important as the "grown up" to do some forward thinking....

nikkylyn

Nope I wouldnt you never know what could happen.

lknjohnson

Also one time I left my kids in the car and it got towed. I couldn't afford to get it out of the impound.

I wonder what happened to them.... I'll always remember you Jermey and Simon.

I just bought a car that already had kids in it..... they might belong to you then

Collier78

My 13 year old stays in the car all the time. If I pick her up from a school event and have to run to the grocery store she stays in the car with the door locked and reads. I too, have automatic start so I will leave it running for her but take the keys with me. You can't take the car out of gear or move it when it is in that mode...My 7 year old and 9month old..not a chance.

MonicaA2013

When i was raising my kids i did leave them in the car if i could see them the whole time. With the car locked.NEVER on a hot day. Although i lived in a small community at the time. If i needed to be in the store for more than a minute though they went with me. Sleeping or not. All 3 of my kids survived and 2 of them have their own kids now. When you decide to leave a child in a car unattended you need to consider the situation. These days i am not so sure i would do the same thing i did back then though. But again that would depend on their age and the location i guess.

ladymiseryali

Yeah, I do it all the time. In fact, they aren't even my kids. I take them from the cars they are in and switch them around. It's quite a fun game as well. Baby seats can be a bit cumbersome, but it makes it more enjoyable.

You get bonus points if you keep the kids quiet whilst you're doing it as well.

So you play an extreme version of Chinese Fire Drill? Badass.....

ladymiseryali

I've seen people leave children in cars, dogs, and even grandmas/grandpas. The old people and dogs were more depressed looking. I wanted to let them out so they can be free.

MysteriousMerlin

I don't have kids right now, but honestly I cannot see myself as someone who would leave them alone in a car. I don't even leave my dogs in the car alone, no matter how long I'd be gone. I have far too active an imagination.

DawnieB1977

Never ever. I have a 2 and 4 year old and never leave them on their own in the car, even to run in and pay for petrol for example. I try to do things like fill up my car when I'm on my own, or have my husband in the car too. You just don't know what can happen in 5 minutes, it just isn't worth it.

thatgorsuchkid

Only if it's a bar that doesn't allow children.

That seriously made my day. That is the funniest comment I have seen on this site! lol.

TheRoadDog

I don't even leave my wife in the car alone, if it is going to be out of my sightline. Too many knuckleheads out there. Too many stories of carjackings.

LordOberon

Also one time I left my kids in the car and it got towed. I couldn't afford to get it out of the impound.

I wonder what happened to them.... I'll always remember you Jermey and Simon.

I just bought a car that already had kids in it..... they might belong to you then

We have the solution! Shut the thread down.

DamePiglet

I leave my kids in the car alone all the time. :happy:

ItsMeGee3

Only when they are my DD.

DSTMT

I've seen people leave children in cars, dogs, and even grandmas/grandpas. The old people and dogs were more depressed looking. I wanted to let them out so they can be free.

LOL I always think the same thing when I see that!

Therealobi1

Both Factors are dangerous - Strangers and Dangers of a car. Period. Kids think they "know everything" and they don't. Period.

I agree about considering both factors... it just worries me that somewhere, one day, a very sensible, obedient 8 year old will stay in the car because mummy told her to, even when the car's on fire or someone's just driven into it, and mummy's not back yet.

That is not a sensible or intelligent 8-year-old and the parents failed that kid.

yes, the parents failed the kid. My whole point is that there are a lot of parents out there who only think about stranger danger, and not the other potential dangers. So I'm not sure what your point is re the parents failing the kid.... because that's exactly what my point is.... the parents failed the kid because they only considered stranger danger and not the other things that could potentially go wrong....

My point is that if your kid is so afraid of disobeying you or is too stupid to realize that a car on fire is a danger to his or her life, you did something EXTREMELY WRONG as a parent and you have bigger issues than whether you leave your child alone in a car.

and what about the child that freezes in fear are they too stupid too.

Pirate_chick

I let her sit in a running, locked car, parked directly in front of the 7-11 while I ran in and got milk at the age of 13, because she was holding the puppy for possibly 2 minutes at max. First and only time.