In 95° heat, how long is it safe to leave a baby in the car?

Question

My wife got a ticket once for leaving the baby in the car for only 15 MINUTES!!! What the hell!?!

Answer 1

unless the internal temperature reaches 185 you risk salmonella poisoning. I'm sorry you did say turkey right?

Answer 2

Here's the relevant information.

Even on a day with moderate temperatures, a car's indoor air can reach more than 160 degrees. A car can heat up to a fatal temperature within 10 to 15 minutes on a hot day. Children have died in cars even on days when the outdoor temperature was as low as 70 degrees.

It's not just the air temperature that kills. Heat radiates from windows and other surfaces, raising the effective temperature for anybody stuck inside, said Larry Baraff, a pediatric emergency doctor.

So your only 15 minutes could have been fatal. I hope she gets a fine and is required to attend parenting classes, and that you are forced to go with her. She could have killed your child, and your attitude is "What the hell"?

Answer 3

Even at 95 degrees farenheit, the average passenger car can reach over 121 degrees in only 20 minutes. That's certainly enough to give anyone heat stroke...especially babies, which are very fragile and are particularly lacking in the body mass department. In infants, even mild heat stroke can be permanently damaging. Median or sever heat stroke can kill outright.

Your wife deserved that ticket, and I hope it was expensive. Babysitters have been sued for less inattention. Children have certainly died from less inattention. Educate yourself--and never, ever do such an idiotic thing again. Parenting is just as much about common sense as it is experience--and you're obviously lacking in both.

Answer 4

You should be asking your wife WHAT THE HELL? the baby should never be left in the car that is just stupid. just because it is only 95 out it is hotter in the car the can get over 120 leaving a baby in there for any amount of time is just stupid. you are lucky the police did not call child protective service and have the baby taken away like they should have.

Answer 5

Sorry, but ARE YOU RETARDED???You NEVER leave a baby in a car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not only a matter of the temp, but also the matter of someone walking up and taking the car with the baby in it! There is a law against it because it is wrong. Period. I can't believe anyone would ever think about leaving their baby in a car alone! If it is that much of an inconvenience to take the 2 seconds to get them out of the car, maybe you should have just stayed home. Or actually, maybe shouldn't have had a baby at all!!!!

Answer 6

Your wife should have been arrested for felony child endangerment, pure and simple. In 95 degree heat, NO period of time is safe.

I have personally pulled three infants out of locked cars (after breaking a window to gain entry). Two survived, one did not. The one that died was left in a locked car for 10 minutes in 98 degree heat. The most heartbreaking moment of my life.

I hope your comment, "What the hell!?!" was directed at your wife. If not, you should be joining her in prison and your child would be in foster care.

Answer 7

Babies body heat dissipation system is very under developed, which is why babies tend to sweat profusely when their parents may not feel hot at all.
Never leave a baby in a car at that temperature or at any temperature for that matter. They're small, light and easy to carry around so do it.

Answer 8

in 95 degree heat for a baby it is dangerous even in a house that hot. I know having a baby is exhausting so please help your wife find a mother's helper because it sounds like fatigue is involved.She needs someone to help her when she runs errands. People take everything out on Mothers these days and some of us cannot find even a part time sitter . Instead of offering to help, these very nice people can't wait to hurt us even more. I am glad everyone is OK.

Answer 9

once you turn the motor vehicle off, it starts getting hotter. it ought to attain 20-30 ranges hotter contained in the motor vehicle than outdoors. have you ever sat contained in the motor vehicle even as someone placed gasoline in it? in only that short era of time the motor vehicle receives quite quite warm! And toddlers are even better weak to the nice and comfortable temperature because they're so little and there are such distinctive straps on the carseat that get warmth too! Your spouse is fortunate that she did not get the youngster taken away, because it truly is a sparkling and blatant push aside for the youngster's health. i am going to't even believe that she may be so inconsiderate and uncaring. She doesn't deserve toddlers.

Answer 10

in 95 degree weather man that baby could of died in those 15 minutes!! consider yourselves lucky for only a ticket i would of taken your kid away and shoved you both in jail!!!


unless a kid is 12 years or older NEVER AND I MEAN NEVER LEAVE A CHILD ALONE IN A CAR REGARDLESS IF THE CAR IS ON OR NOT!!!

people like you two should never have kids!!!

Answer 11

"the inside of a sun-baked car is a very dangerous place, as temperatures can rise 20 degrees in less than 10 minutes and reach 135 degrees in less than 20 minutes. Children -- whose core body temperatures increase three to five times faster than those of adults -- can die if their body temperatures hit 107."

From Ask Mr Roadshow, San Jose Mercury News, 7/18/06
< www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/15063315.htm >