Do You Leave Your Baby in the Car?

I NEVER did that with my son (who is now six). Absolutely not. It only takes a few seconds to unstrap the child and take him with you inside the store to pay for the gas or whatever. It's not worth it, I would wake him up and take him with me all the time. I was always afraid that something would happen to the car (like a crash or something) and he'd be in there by himself strapped into a car seat. No way!

no, no, no, no....i would NEVER leave my child alone in the car for even half a second....the closest i've ever come...i grew up on a dead end drit road and we knew ALL our neighbors very well, my mother grew up in the same house so no danger... a little girl i used to sit for had finally fallen asleep in the car and i just didn't have the heart to move her... she needed the nap (she was about a year a little less) so i rolled down all the car windows ( we had a TON of tress but i didn't want her getting hot) i ran in the house grabbed a drink a chair and a book and sat out side while she slept....but that was in MY driveway surrounded by people i knew and TRUSTED with my life and my mother with hers and her childrens, no one ever came down our street i KNEW she was safe.but i no longer live there and it is simply too dangerous.....aside from the heat (i live in florida) thier are pedifiles and people who abduct children all the time....how can u risk your child??

I feel any mother that would leave their child in a car unatteneded is taking a big risk. All kinds of crimes are going on nowadays from car jackings, petafiles, car set on fire, shootings.as well as childnapping. I doubt any mother could forgive herself if she would put her child in such a situation for this to happen. I have had children that were hard to get back to sleep as well but I would never left them in the car alone.

I am older and my children (gosh, even my grandchildren) are grown now. My advice to mothers would be to take that extra minute and arrange for the kids to come with you. When I was a young mother and the world was a gentler place, my friends and I could gauge each circumstance as it came up. We could sit together at the park within eyesight of the car because there were no such things as car-jackings! But today there are too many variables in the world at any given moment. It makes it a little less convenient, if your child is sleeping, but it's so worth the peace of mind. And you get to pat yourself on the back for being a really caring Mom! Rule of thumb: Think of the most precious material possession you own (a diamond ring, a string of pearls, an expensive camera, etc.) and, if you wouldn't leave it on the front seat of the car and walk away, don't leave that even more precious possession, your child!

Absolutely not, my boyfriend use to do that with his kids, until I yelled at him. If I see that someone has left their kids or pets in the car, I call the police. I don't understand how parents can do that. Is ist stupidity, or just is it that they are just too lazy to take them with them.
Jean

When my children were little and I had to go to the store and just grab a little something quick I always thought about leaving them in the car. It was an easy thought sense the oldest was 12, but then all the crazy things started crossing my mind and I would tell them to get out the car. My oldest would say it's ok mommy I got them, my reply to her was no because if something ever happened to you all I would never forgive myself. No it is never ok to leave your child in the car. If you don't want to take the child to the store with you then wait until someone responsible gets home so they could watch the child

you never leave a young child at home alone, even if you are only running to the neighbors to borrow a cup of sugar or something. My aunt did that with her first 3 children all of them were big enough to walk, but one of them couldn't get down the stairs. The house burnt with the youngest child standing in the door. My aunt was only 1 house up and could see the house as it exploded with her son in the door, Fortunately he only received minor burns on his back, but the children were taken away.

Better safe than sorry. Everytime I was tempted I thought about all the "what if's" and scooped her up - still do and she's 8 now. My ex had her one weekend and took her to Dunkin Donuts - left her in the car. Imagine my horror when she later tells me, "Mommy, another man got in the car thinking it was his car and I was really scared." It was an honest mistake on the man's part but for cryin' out loud he hadn't even locked her in! Needless to say her father got threatened with all the lawyer power I could muster, but he never seemed to think it was a big deal.

A long time ago, when my first kids were young, I was quick to realize that people like to steal kids like mine, blonde hair and blue eyes. So I vowed to NEVER leave them alone, anywhere, in the car or out. And I never did. I don't care if they get wet, or I have to wake them up, they go where I go, because I am no protection for them if I am not with them. I had 4 kids the first time around. Remember ladies, it only takes a moment to pick up a child and vanish into the crowd, around the corner, etc. And my kids loved everyone, they would not cry if stolen. I have no idea how many kids are stolen, or just vanish ever year, but it is way too many. They aren't going to be mine!!!
Tianca

Once I left my 3yr old daughter and 11mo old son in the car while I picked up Chinese food. I parked in the fire lane right in front of the storefront which is one big pane of clear glass. I could see them and they could see me. It was practically monsooning that night and the idea of parking and pulling them out of the car in that weather for something that would take me literally 30 seconds was just too much. I debated it for a while before I did it. Like I said, it took 30 seconds...we get take out from there a lot so the owners know us well... so I was in and out. I felt extremely guilty the whole time...that was the longest 30 seconds I have ever experienced!! The whole way home I played the "what if" game. I probably will not do it again. I'm feeling guilty just thinking about it.