https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 25 Jun 2026 02:21:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2406268 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 19:46:17 +0000 MuzzyBee 2406268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in NZ not the US, but I leave both kids in the car when I get gas but only use gas stations where I can park at the pump closest to the door, or where it's serviced so someone is pumping the gas for me.<br /> Drop mail off, use the ATM - if I can park within 8ft or so, once in torrential rain I ran inside to pick up a grocery order (you can only pick up between certain times) and couldn't see the car for about 10sec and I felt terrible about it.<br /> At the gas station it seems safer to leave them both buckled in while I run in to pay rather than take a 3yo and 4mo across the forecourt with me - but I think that's fairly normal in NZ - it is at least amongst my friends. My local station is full service and the lady pumping the gas pulls faces at the kids through the window and makes them laugh so I use that one the majority of the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2406266 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 19:45:12 +0000 Andrea 2406266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Boogs: That's what all my mom friends have said after I told them what happened. LOL!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2406254 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 19:25:48 +0000 regberadaisy 2406254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: which states?</p> <p>We have sometimes in our driveway for like a minute while we go get the other kid in the mornings. Even that leaves me uncomfortable. DH has a couple times if our LO is sleeping and he's running in to grab takeout Etc and the car is right in front of the window. But even that makes me nervous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2406253 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 19:22:17 +0000 littlejoy 2406253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I leave LO in the car if I need to run back into the house. Our driveway is super long, and I lock the car.</p> <p>I did leave her in the car when she was an infant to run a few boxes into the UPS store. I was within 30 feet of the car, and it never left my sight - this took all of 15 seconds, too. DH scolded me (nicely, but still), and I won't do it again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2406150 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 17:04:30 +0000 JenGirl 2406150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I have a couple times when I forgot something inside the house. I would be okay with going in somewhere if it was quick and I could see the car the whole time. Honestly, I worry far more about somebody reporting me than any real danger to my child, which is a sad state of affairs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2406098 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 16:05:09 +0000 travellingbee 2406098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think only at home in our driveway. Not because it isn't safe, but because of busybodies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2406025 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 14:46:54 +0000 Foodnerd81 2406025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: @Applesandbananas: I always park near the cart return, even if it means parking much further from the store. Too paranoid. </p> <p>@Andrea: I just mean actually pumping your gas- like standing there and holding the gas pump. Not going inside to pay for it (which I have actually never had to do I don't think, but usually Dh gets the gas anyway). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2406017 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 14:39:54 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2406017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've let her sleep in my car in the garage, to run into the house for something I forgot, and to return carts.</p> <p>I'm afraid to do anything else in public not for fear of anything happening to my child but for fear of someone calling the cops on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405979 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 13:59:57 +0000 runnerd 2405979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In theory it doesn't seem like a big deal to run in and pay for gas, or go to ATM with LO in the car, but in the moment I can never bring myself to do it. The only time I've left him in the car is to push the shopping cart back to rack or run back in the house to grab something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405974 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 13:56:55 +0000 Applesandbananas 2405974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: this is the thing that always concerns me! I try to park close by that's not always possible, I'm always nervous someone is going to say something! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405927 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 13:21:11 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2405927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've left her sleeping in her seat to walk up to the ATM and to return a movie at Redbox. I leave my car running and locked and am out of the car for a minute or two. If I have to go inside somewhere, even for the same amount of time, I take her out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405898 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 12:58:05 +0000 Boogs 2405898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: I never understand why there isn't a drive through drop off! I'm going to assume that cop has never had to run errands with two kids. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405456 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 09:04:02 +0000 Andrea 2405456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: That would depend on whether you're paying at the pump or going inside to pay. If you're going inside without your kids, then I guess that's not acceptable! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405446 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 08:57:13 +0000 rachiecakes 2405446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When return the shopping cart at the grocery store - but I make sure to find a spot very close to the cart return, like max. 3 cars away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405445 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 08:56:53 +0000 lawbee11 2405445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't left her in the car. But DH is home a lot so if I ever need to run a quick errand I just leave her with him or do it on my way home from work when I'm alone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405436 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 08:48:45 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2405436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: True! Its always something. I guess my SIL and BIL always stand at the back of the vehicle with the kids inside. So technically the kids aren't "watching". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405435 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 08:48:20 +0000 Foodnerd81 2405435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: it takes less time to drop off a book than to pump gas and no one expects you to take them out for that! I would definitely pull up and drop off a book without thinking about it. I feel like it takes me longer to collect my coat and bag when I leave the car. </p> <p>I should also say if we had a house with a garage I would feel comfortable leaving them in there to finish a nap or go get something I forgot. I just don't have that right now and a building garage isn't the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car/page/2#post-2405429 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 08:45:01 +0000 Andrea 2405429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: then someone would walk by and judge about smoking in front of children. It's always something! So now I ask my husband to drop off library books on his way to work with no kids in the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405407 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 08:22:36 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2405407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At our house (big yard) all the time. Let them sleep/finish a nap if needed. </p> <p>Stopping to get a Red Box/ATM (I'm standing in front of the car) sure not a problem.</p> <p>I would consider it if I was running into a store that had a bunch of windows and I was just going in for less than a minute. But gas stations freak me out because there is always a lot of random/homeless people around. But like at the UPS store or something ok. </p> <p>@Andrea: Also, what about those parents that put their kids in the car and then stand outside to smoke before leaving (way better than smoking in the car). If you are standing in front of your car, its really no different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405399 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 08:12:37 +0000 looch 2405399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to return books to the library the other week, and wouldn't you know it, I actually went and found a parking spot and got my son out of the car. The conversation going on in my head was "I know my son is fine, but some person might not, do I really want to get involved in some long drawn out legal battle to prove myself?"</p> <p>So no, not even when in full view, but I've also got only one kid and he's 5 and can unbuckle himself and open the car doors, so he's not so "secure" in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405364 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 07:31:00 +0000 Andrea 2405364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I thought about that afterwards!! Grrrr!</p> <p>@honeybear: Yes, it would be great if they could have it by the curb. The police station is next to the library so they probably yell at people using the book drop all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405362 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 07:22:45 +0000 honeybear 2405362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: I do this a lot. Our library has a drop-off 'lane' that's like 10ft (from the passenger side!?!) from the book drop...I assumed that's (mostly) what the lane is for! Technically it's a passenger drop off spot, but everyone stops there to run up to the drop. I have a nagging worry that an idiot careening through the lot might rear end my car during the 10 sec round trip to the drop, but the lot is never very busy and the rude/reckless drivers aren't generally in the library parking lot! </p> <p>I do wonder why book drops can't always be made so that they're accessible from the driver's side. I've only seen two like that in multiple cities/towns I've lived in. All the others make it painful to return things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405353 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 07:06:13 +0000 BSB 2405353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: I would be so pissed. Did you ask him if he had kids or is he a cop with no kids spewing judgement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405350 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 06:59:57 +0000 Andrea 2405350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: his opening line was "I cannot believe you would leave your kids in the car!!!!!" :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405347 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 06:53:29 +0000 BSB 2405347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, I'll also add that I have remote start on my car so it will cool or heat the car based on the outdoor temperature and remote start will only work with the doors locked and you won't see my keys in my ignition. </p> <p>I still haven't left my twins but I could see myself doing this to drop books off at a library. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405344 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 06:43:35 +0000 catomd00 2405344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Andrea: what?!!! What did he say? Was it because you were double parked or legit because of the kids in the car?! Sorry but that is so crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405333 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 05:52:41 +0000 Andrea 2405333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it once to use the outdoor library book drop. I had my car locked and off. I didn't even have to go inside and it took a few seconds with my car right in front of the library and I could see my kids literally right there. Just my luck, a cop passed by and yelled at me. I was pretty annoyed and argued back, but I haven't done it again. It's ridiculous to look for parking, pay for parking (it's pretty hard to park by the library!) to take 2 kids out only to use the book drop and then get back into the car! He still thought it was wrong so there ya go, ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405302 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 01:14:34 +0000 anonysquire 2405302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only once. I'm a highly paranoid parent. And k also get scared that they will be locked in there or my key fob will stop working. I left them in there with the car running and locked and the fob in my pocket while I shoveled the snow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405284 Thu, 31 Dec 2015 00:41:01 +0000 mrskc 2405284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never would in the summer because it gets so hot here. But I have left them strapped in the car in the garage while I run in to get something I forgot. I don't know if that even counts. I also have done it to drop a package off at the post office &amp; UPS. </p> <p>@Golden: My mom used to leave us in the car while she grocery shopped all the time. We were older tho, like 7+ (I believe). I remember being scared of people walking by, and I would hide. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/leaving-kids-in-car#post-2405260 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 23:41:21 +0000 macintosh 2405260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is only 8 months, so I've only left him completely alone in the driveway for 1-2 minutes. I do sometimes leave him and DH in the car alone. DH rides in his wheelchair, so he's in the back to keep E company. I always lock the doors and in the summer I rolled down the windows. I would only do it for a quick errand, maybe 10 minutes. DH is more like an older child than an adult. </p>