Do you leave your child in the car??

Question

I live in Michigan and I just heard a story on the news about a lady's car being jacked while her 2 year old sat in the back seat. The mother of the child was standing only a couple of feet away when the man jumped in and stole her car.
A friend and I got into a debate about her leaving her child in the car. I told it that it isn't safe no matter how short of a time you plan on spending in the store. Do you leave your child in the car?

Answer 1

I always take my boys out (5 month old twins), even if I'm at the ATM right in front of my car. I'm just nervous about leaving them.

Answer 2

My children are grown now but, I never left them in the car if I was not very close by and could not see them and I had the keys. I would have never gone into a store without them.

Your question brings to mind the time, many years ago when I saw a 4 year old and a tiny baby left in a car. The baby was crying so hard and the 4 year old looked so stressed that he looked like he could have done something very harmful to the baby to stop the crying. I didn't do anything but, now I wish that I had called the police.

Answer 3

If I were to leave a child in the car, I would NOT leave the keys in there. The doors are locked, and the window only slightly vented for air. I would not allow this with small children, only with older children who understand what a stranger is. If they are young enough to need a car seat, they should never be left in a car.

Answer 4

I NEVER leave my son in the car. When I go to the gas station I pay at the pump and even then I lock my doors when I am standing right there and put my keys in the pocket. I am the only one and don't want to become a target standing outside with a credit card paying for gas. I don't know. I know my friends do it. She has 3 kids and leaves them but I am just to nervous. I would never forgive myself if something happened and it only takes a lil' more effort to just get them out if you do have to run in somewhere!

Answer 5

I don't leave my kids in the car no matter what, but if I am standing next to the car, say less than five feet, talking to someone, and it is cold, I will leave them in the car. But they are never out of my site, or to far away. only like a couple feet. But I guess, if my car got stollen, that would be very bad. Mabey I could revise even my couple feet??

Answer 6

Definately not. I was out for a walk last summer when I came upon this car with a young child strapped in outside of 2 stores screaming his head off. The first thing I did was go into the store the entrance nearest the car only to come up empty. No one in the store knew who the parent was. Next, I tried the next store which you had to go around the corner to enter. I found the mother inside chatting away with one of the cashiers. When I addressed them the woman was furious with me for putting my nose where it didn't belong and she highly certain that her child was not that upset. She went out to her car and returned moments later insisting her child was fine and I was lucky she didn't file harassment charges. Did I mention it took me close to five or six minutes to even find her? I also forgot to mention I had contacted the police and children & youth services to which both responded," Well, the mother was in the vacinity wasn't she and the child was alright wasn't he?"
Anyone who leaves their child in a car unattended is in my opinion a very negligent parent and does not deserve children.
That includes older children as well. My ten year old this evening just told me about how his father left him in the car by himself while his father went into the store for a short period of time. While in the store my ten year old decided to "pretend" drive the car where he took the car out of park and the car coasted backwards, endangering my son's life.
Once again:
CHILDREN OF ANY AGE SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE BECAUSE ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO THEM.

Answer 7

Absolutely not. When my girls were small I NEVER lefted them in the car. Children are much too precious to have them taken away from you in just a flash. We have gotten too much to a point where we don't want to be "bothered" with taking them out of car seats etc. to take them in the store with us. How long do you think you will lie awake at night blaming yourself if something did happen to them. I say either pay at the pump or take them in. If you don't want to be "bothered" by the things that is required to keep them safe then DON'T HAVE THEM.

Answer 8

I NEVER leave my son in the car - especially if it isn't running. The ONLY way is if I am pumping gas and I roll down his window and pay at the pump. It is rediculous how many people 'just run in the store and leave their kids - anything can happen, and what about all those kids that die from lack of o2 or heat??? Stupid people shouldn't have kids.....

Answer 9

Never while I went inside anywhere.....I have left my son whild I got out and dropped letter in the mail box or ran to put the movies in the slot in the door.....but I live in a town of about 300 people...so its a little different....I have never left him alone if I actually had to go inside the post office or movie store....I have left him in there while he was sleeping and stood just out side the car talking to a friend or something.....

Answer 10

I've left my daughter in the car when I run into 7-11 (liquor store). But I lock her in with the alarm on and if it's in the summer (I live in CA), I leave the car running with the AC on and I have an extra set of keys so she is still locked in. That's pretty much the only way. But the store is all glass windows in front and I watch the car the entire time.

Answer 11

Not if you are going into a store. It only takes a second! One of my friends put her child in the car and ran back in to get something. When she shut the door she realized they locked. It was a hot day and luckily the car and AC were on because she had to call a towtruck. Not worth it to take anhy chances with your children. Ever!