Would you/Have you left your child/ren in the car for short periods?

**MummaBear03** · 28-02-2008 21:12

Just wondering how many people have left or would leave their kids in the car for short periods? I see it all the time when getting petrol, people leave their kids in the car while they run in to pay. I've seen kids left in the car while the mum runs in to shops to buy the paper or milk or something, or they leave kids in the car at daycare to run in and collect other kids, or at schools to run in and collect school age kids and pay fees. Would you do this? Do you feel safe doing this? Not judging, it's just something I've seen more often lately than ever before and it's not something I'd feel safe doing.

**bAaM** · 28-02-2008 21:17

If i need to get fuel and my DD is asleep in the car i will park at the closest pump to the shop and run in to pay for it (with the car running and aircon on) but i normally get fuel when i dont have the kids.

I would never leave them there to go into a big shop like woolies or to get DS from school.

I don't even leave DS in the car on his own unless at the the fuel station(as above)

**mummajuice** · 28-02-2008 21:19

I will always leave my kids in the car when I get petrol. It's way safer for them in the car IMO than trying to get them into the store and contain them while I pay then back to load them into the car and leave while people are waiting behind me.

Having said that, I have the child locks on, the windows up (usually my aircon has been running so the car stays cool (if it's a hot day i don't stop for fuel if I can help it). I have a select few service stations where I will fill up and feel secure and I only park at the closest pump to the door in plain view and I lock the doors if I think there's a need.

I have also run into the bakery a few times and left them in the car, but only because I'm about 2 metres away and they can see me and I can see them. I wat until the counter's free and all up I'm gone no more than 30 secs and never turn my back. Again I will lock the doors if it's a busy day.

**QTB** · 28-02-2008 21:20

i always leave DS in the car when im getting petrol. i park as close to the counter as i can so i can see him all the time... always lock the car...

but the petrol station is the only place i would ever do it... cos they have glass windows where i can see him at all times... shops and stuff, no way, not even just to buy bread or milk! he comes with me then!

**sam's mum** · 28-02-2008 21:21

oh boy, this discussion will end badly, it always does.

I personally don't leave my kids in the car. I work my 'little' errands so that I have either DH or DD1 with me.

**OJandMe** · 28-02-2008 21:21

I had to get petrol after dropping DH off to work last week.

And I had all 3 kids with me.. so yeah, I left them in the car. I could see them the whole time from the window.. and we pulled faces and blew kisses (more to distract them from climbing out of their seats and playing with the gears than anything else)

I locked the car before I went in, and I asked the other people in line if they minded if I paid first as I had my children in the car.. and no one had a problem with that. I was gone for maybe a minute.

But if at all possible, I avoid getting petrol with the kids. I prefer to do it by myself.

**Bibs** · 28-02-2008 21:31

No I haven't but I only have one child now so can't say for the future, hopefully I won't have to. But for now I don't get petrol for the car, DH always makes sure the car is filled up.

**Ana Gram** · 28-02-2008 21:44

If I have to get petrol, I leave DD in the car. It is safer for us that way.

**our little treasures** · 28-02-2008 21:52

I can also see this thread ending badly

I do leave all 3 in the car when getting petrol.I don't care what others think for us it's safer.

I picked dd1 up from kinder and left ds and dd2 in the car. They were asleep, sick with a very nasty throat infection (I know as they gave it to me

) and I didn't want to pass it around kinder. I ran in told the teacher I couldn't chat I had the 2 kids in the car, which was parked right out the front of the kinder. I could clearly see them the entire time I was getting dd and it was a rainy day.

I will not hesitate in doing that again

**Shanaynay** · 28-02-2008 21:54

I really do not understand why petrol station no longer have the attendants that will just fill up your car for oyu and you pay them.

Especially now there are even wireless eftpos thingys, you wouldn't even have to pay cash.