Do You Leave Your Baby in the Car?

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.

No. Even though it's far-fetched, I am so afraid something would happen to me inside the store and no one would know or realize there was a kid/kids in the car. Not to mention the other, already mentioned dangers.

I wouldn't leave a child alone even in a good area. It's risking too much.

NO!!! The factual news surrounding this act of negligence are generally very sad. I must admit that I do not leave my girls anywhere alone. They are always with me!! :)

No, you can't do it - you'd never forgive yourself if something didn't work out as planned.

I would never leave the kids alone outside of the house. That said, I did once leave my sleeping infant son in his crib while I ran across the street to pick up his older brother from school. I justified it to myself a million and one different ways but it was not ok. I was a nervous wreck waiting for my eldest to walk out of school (which seemed to take forever). I was antsy waiting for the light to change so we could cross back over the street, and as I raced home I kept imagining my baby suffocating under his blanket. Of course he was still asleep and sound, hadn't budged, but I couldn't shake the what if's. I saw my neighbor (who now has a new baby) racing back from picking her eldest up from school yesterday sans baby. She was dragging her eldest as fast as she could and I could see from her stricken face that she had left her baby alone--maybe in his high chair or in his crib--and she was imagining all sorts of horrific scenarios. Of course we will never admit this to each other.

I'm too afraid to do it for multiple reasons. First, a car can become hot very quickly here in Texas. Second, I'm afraid someone would break in and steal him. Third, if he woke up alone, he might be scared. Now that he is in the big-boy car seat, he always wakes up when I move him, which is a real pain sometimes, but it's not worth the risk.

No, I wouldn't do this and I believe it's against the law in California. Besides, what post office are you going to where you can just pop in? I can't seem to find one without one employee and a 20 minute line.