Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

Just wondering..

If you have 2 or 3 children in their carseats and you forget something in your home, you would definitely not run in quickly to retrieve it?? OR do you get all kids out, in the house, grab your item, then buckle them back in?

I can't tell you how many times this has happened with the two boys...get in the car, ready to leave and my wallet is on the counter, or i forget something else of importance. I've also left them in the car to run up to a redbox to return a movie or get cash out of an ATM. All times the kids are right there, i can view the car and i have it off with keys in my hand...

I just don't see those things as being "bad" or neglectful..

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

Im not really sure what teh huge concern is over. If I lock my kids in the air conditioned car for 30 seconds, what could happen?

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

for me it's just that i won't do it in public-i have no idea. it's just a thing with me. i get what you're saying and all...but doing it in public makes me nervous. there are so many freaks and weirdos and crazy scenarios that play out in my head! lol
i have done it at home (kids locked in the car while i run in) a handful of times and it still makes me uncomfortable. i get that sometimes it is unavoidable. in public, i drag them out everywhere. just a personal thing i guess....

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

If i leave something in my house it either stays there or DD comes with me - reason being there is a pretty long path to our front door and (we live in a courtyard) and then I can't see the car once I'm inside, so I wouldn't want to leave her like that.

If I had a driveway or parked directly in front of the house where I could see the car, I dont think a 30-second run into the house to grab something is so bad.

I get mad when I see people leave their kids in the car, unbuckled, running to grab a coffee or something - IMO that's not ok.

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

I do it in the driveway. If I buckle her in and then realize- oh cr@p I forgot my cell phone, I will leave her in the car seat, LOCK the car doors, and run in my house for 20 seconds to grab my phone or whatever I forgot.
I don't see that as an issue.

It would take someone a helll of a lot longer than 20 seconds to break into my locked car, and get her out of that car seat. Trust me. That car seat is a nightmare to get her out of!

Message edited 8/12/2011 7:37:42 AM.

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

I do this all the time. I have a 6 month old and a 2.5 year old. No way I'm taking them both out so I can run back in my house or run right up to the store window for less than a minute when they're right there in front of me, buckled in their car seat in a locked, air conditioned car.

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

I still wouldn't do it in pubic. Not for an ATM (there are drive-up windows), coffee (there are drive thrus) etc. In my own driveway, where my car is five steps from my door, and we are at the end of a cul-de-sac...I HATE when I forget something! I get so freaked out running back to the house, that I have actually taken him out, and run back in with him.

I just think for something that is unnecessary, why take any chances.

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

These are the times I love the remote start on my car. If I forget something in the house, the kids can be in the locked car with the AC/heat on. I do the same thing at a Redbox (even though I park right in front of it). Other than that, I will not leave them in the car. I am a big checklist and drive-thru person :)

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

I would never get anywhere if everytime I forgot something, I had to unload both children.
1 child not so bad, 2 not happening.

I keep it quick & yes, it freaks me out a bit.

I had remote start installed on my car, I like that I can have the air on, but the car off if I need to run into the house.

I went to get gas the other day, both kids in the car. the pump wasnt working after it took my $. I had to run inside. Was I going to unload both kids and carry them thru the gas station to tell the attendant in 10 seconds "it's not pumping ?" NO
yes, it freaked me out but the other option seemed ridiculous.

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

I was just thinking about this yesterday and conflicted with whether I could run inside at the gas station to pay cash and leave DS in the car. I ended up just using my cc because a) I wasn't about to carry him inside b) I can't leave my car running AND lock it and c) I was in an area that I wasn't completely comfortable in.

This came up a few weeks ago about shopping carts and putting them back while LO is in the car. What are we supposed to do? Daily errands and chores were so much easier without a little one to tote around!

ETA: I would never think anything of a child alone in a car with the a/c on when you can tell they are safe and the parent is closeby. I think other people get crazed about that though and will call cps on me!

Message edited 8/12/2011 8:40:21 AM.

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

Re: Question for the moms that say its never ok to leave your kids in the car...

If I leave something in the house, then it either stays there or all 3 kids come back into the house with me.