Thread: Leaving children in cars.

At what age is it considered safe or legal to leave children in the car? Yesterday I was in the car waiting for dh to run in the grocery store for something when a woman pulled up with her car facing me. She hopped out and left her child about 6 yrs old in the car. She walked around the car and opened the door and reached in and did something, I couldn't tell what she did. From what I could see it seemed the child wanted to stay in the car. Then she shut and locked the door with the motor running. The child sat very stil in the back seat reading a book or doing something of that nature.
She didn't appear to mind at all. Her mother was back in 16 minutes, I timed her. She was in and out faster than my dh and I was "babysitting" from my car. But I wonder is there a legal age when they are considered big enough to leave? I thought the child was about 10 yrs too young!!!

I am sorry but unless the child is sick and contagious, the kids comes with you. Too many things could happen in just a few seconds from putting the car into drive to having someone break in and take your child. I would not leave any child in the car unattended these days. Heck, I won't even leave my dogs in the car alone that long.

It is never safe!! It really bugs the heck out of me to see people do this and they do it all the time around here.

mmmm it's hard to say what age...some kids are just more mature then others....I have stopped at the convenience store and left my son in the car only 2 or 3 minutes tho..he must have been about 9....I won't leave the car running tho and I wouldn't be gone more then 5 minutes tops....he is 14 now and stays home alone during the summer vacation..he is very responsible and I have been teaching him how to take care of himself since he was 7..he won't answer the phone unless he knows the caller (caller id), he won't open the door...he can use the microwave but not the stove...but I will let him use the stove if I am home...etc....

Maybe this child had a cel with him in case he needed the mother? Who knows..it's really hard to say/tell what age is appropriate unless you know the situation

Yes I must admit to the gas station thing. But when I leave I make sure my eyes are on the car and I have the keys. My daughter is almost 5 and she knows if something is wrong in the 2 minutes im gone to come and get me. (she can see me the whole time) Just running in a gas station! Half the time my daughter doesnt want to get out because she wont get any candy if she goes in anyway.

All i got to say about running into a gas station for 5 minutes is ok in my book!! Why hassle with a car seat , carry the kid into and around the store with you then try to pay then try putting them back into a car seat. which would be a 15-20 minute ordeal

it is bitter cold here so i admit i do it. i have 3 kids and when i get gas i will pull up and park in front of the door and then go in to pay. doors locked engine off. i feel guilty but at -30 sometimes and with a sick infant i don't have much choice. it also has never taken more than 2 min because i have exact change and will pay more for full service next door if the other is busy.

My grandson and granddaughter are 6 and 5. I would never leave them in the car by themselves. Sure it's kind of a hassle to take their seat belts off, but that extra few minutes is worth it to me, to know I will be leaving with them, unhurt. Now my daughter is 16 and sometimes she refuses to go in with me, so I let her stay in the car if she is adament about it, but she usually keeps her eyes peeled for anything suspicious, and she has her cell phone on her all the time, and I have mine on me. I seen on the news where a person left thier child in the car and were in for just 2 minutes getting gum and their child was abducted. Of course they left the car running too. I just don't want to take that chance. I guess it's all on the parent's conscience, on how they want to handle the situation, but I prefer not to take any chances.