is it ok to leave your kids in the car?

Question

i was wondering if it was ok for me to leave my two small children in the car if they are asleep while i popped into supermarket and got a few things?

by this i mean pulling up at an asda or tesco, park near the front and quickly run in and get a few things rather than wake them up, put them into a trolly, run round the supermarket and struggle to get them back into the car again, while their crying because i woke them up.

i dont mean leaving them for hours or anything and id only do this if it was for a few things at the supermarket.

would it be ok?

Answer 1

I understand exactly what you mean, as I have small children too. I don't really think it's a good idea because although the children may be sleeping, they are unsupervised. Anything could happen including choking, someone could easily break the windows and kidnap them, etc. It is best just to wake them or wait till later and go back to the store. Their safety isn't worth risking. Be happy they are safe and that you are still able to hold and comfort them when you wake them and they cry. There are lots of unfortunate parents who've lost their children to either kidnappers or sadly, accidental deaths.

Answer 2

Usually i'm not that type of person - "Don't leave the child alone nowhere nowhen etc." but in this case I disagree with leaving the children alone in the car.Unlike most of the other people who answer here,I will explain my opinion.Imagine a small boy left asleep in the car.You go in the supermarket.The boy may wake up while you are in the supermarket(waiting a long queue for example) and open the door of the car.After going out of the car,there are somerisks - someone may have seen all this and decided to kidnap the boy,or the boy may go and cross the street and if he is too small a car may knock him down.There may be astranger who has seen you leaving the children alone and go to the car and ask them to open the window.After opening the window a lot of thing may happen.If it is summer and outside is hot,while you are in the supermarket(probably waiting a long queue) in the car may become hotter than in your oven at home.Also,children are very curious.The boy may go to the front part of the car and run the car(and probably crush somewhere).
Of course I understand you too - both the children are asleep and you very quickly go to the store and get back in a few minutes and nothing happened.Yes,that is like that in lots of cases but there is a risk too.I'd recommend you wake the children up and get them with you.Going to the store is always an interesting experience for a small child and they will feel better if they come with you and have fun instead of sleeping over that interesting time.

Answer 3

Well if you seen Oprah a couple years back there was an episode with doctor Phil where a women had left her sleeping son it the car along with the keys, she popped into a quick trip for just about five minutes and grabbed a soda and a can of oil, when she came out a man was getting in her car, and he took off with kid and all, the woman tried to save her kid and he was killed in the process.

There are stories like this all over. In the state of Texas it is against the law to leave a child under the age of fourteen in the car and there are heavy fines that come with doing so, but I don't know about some states.

If my son is asleep and I fear waking him and it is a must that I stop, I just go ahead and wake him, if I am only wanting a soda or something like that, I just go on home or if I am on a trip, I waite for him to wake.

Oh there was one other thing that had happened as well that I had seen on Oprah same show. A lady left her sleeping kids in the car but when she returned they had awaken, they were playing with buttons and breaks and the car started rolling down heal. The oldest a twelve year old got out of the car and tryed with his little body to stop the movement and was ran over and killed.

Just not a good idea, it is easier to do this, but in the long run it could be the worst choice we ever made.

Answer 4

No, it's not okay.

First, it's probably illegal in your area. (It is in my area, leaving your child alone in the car for more than 5 minutes can send you to jail here)

Second, it can get very hot in a car very quickly. What happens if you get stuck in a long line?

Third, what if someone steals the car? I've seen on the news at least six times in the last three years, in my city alone, a car theft where someone had left their infant in the car while they ran in the gas station to get one thing. The infants are always found abandoned a couple of blocks away...but still, how terrifying that would be.

Either take your children into the store with you or schedule your shopping so that you can leave your kids with your partner or a sitter when you go.

Answer 5

No, not even for a few minutes. Anything could happen in those few minutes, from something as little and most likely as your children waking up and becoming frightened because you are not there as well as to be in a strange place to the more extreme but still likely possibility of a car jacking or someone hitting your car. When my kids were little like that and would fall asleep in the car I would do one of three things:
1. Wake them and take them in
2. Return home, quietly and gently take them in to finish their nap, and return to the store later
3. Swing by a friend's house to see if they wouldn't mind going to the store with me and sit with my "Angels" (I put it that way because they are more like "Devils" now, God bless them) while I went into the store.
Good luck with them.

Answer 6

NO! Especially if you live in the city. On the news here in Las Vegas a car was stolen in literally 8 seconds (from the time the lady left the car). As soon as she walked into the store, the jacker jumped in the car and took off with her baby in the back seat. You saw her on the security cam running out of the store as soon as he closed the door, but by then it was too late!

Answer 7

no dont. what if another vehicle crashed into your car? i used to leave them like this i must admit but some git from saincburys reported me. never again. if you are DESPERATE then go to one of the petrol stations that also have groceries and whip in and out in a few mins. or ask a neighbour/relative to look after them while you go alone. just think if you went into the supermarket and they were in the car - imagine you slipped in the supermarket and banged yr head-got whisked to hosp-and couldnt let anyone know you had kids in carpark cos u were knocked out or something. yikes. i cant judge you as i always used to do this but i dont anymore.

Answer 8

No, its never alright even if it is for a few minutes. Someone could just grab them, or steal the car not noticing they are in it. To many things could happen. If you have to get out of the car then so do your kids. Id rather deal with sooky kids than have them stolen.

Answer 9

I'd say no, cos the car could get nicked, or the kids could start playing with the handbrake, or electric windows. You could quickly run in & get a few things, but the queue getting out might not be so quick. If you have to ask this question, you've shown you're not very good with kids anyway, so you shouldn't even be looking after them.

Answer 10

Never!!!!! and by this I mean Never!!!! all it takes is seconds for some one to see you aren't there and bam your kids are gone even if you live in a small town where you know everybody you can never tell if someone will be passing by that will take your child(ren) or even if they wake up and some how get out of their seat they can get hurt and you'd never even know if you must run a quick errand and don't want to wake them up see if you can get some one to ride with you to sit with them or just to watch them at home if you cant just remember kids will fall back asleep eventually but if something should happen you cant take that back