Hellobee Boards

I've done it a couple times when running into the UPS store to pick up packages. I can park directly in front of the store, which has giant windows and is about five feet from the car. I'm never gone for more than a couple minutes and i can see her the whole time. But I just told my friends that I'm going to stop because I'm paranoid that someone will report me. To be honest, I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to be afraid of other than being reported. I would never leave her when it was very hot or very cold, so am i supposed to be worried about someone stealing the car with her in it? Seems like most car thieves in my area would be pretty deterred by a toddler in the back seat.

Yes!! There is no way I'm lugging the infant seat and toddler everywhere, especially in winter. I only leave them with the heat and/or a/c on in a locked car with both kids secured in their car seats in front of huge windows where I can see them at all times. I have left them to pay for gas the odd time I have to go in, and to drop my bag of drycleaning. I have also left them to grab a coffee if there is no line at Starbucks (not a 25 process blended drink), and just yesterday to grab my face wash from the spa. These trips take on average 5 minutes. And I can always see them, and my 3 year old knows mommy will be right back and is watching her IPad and happy.

I did once - I was at a farm stand, I was the only person there, it was a mild spring day, and I was inside for less than five minutes. I worried about it the whole time, though, and felt terrible about it later, so I wouldn't do it again. I totally think it's fine and I have no problem with other people doing it, I just worry too much to make it worth while for me.

Only in the driveway for a minute or when I pull up in front of a mailbox. I'm in nj so going inside to pay for gas isn't a thing. I've seen someone call the police because a woman double parked in front of janie and Jack and left her kids in the car to return something so I wouldn't risk doing anything else.

I do it all the time. I have remote start, so the car is always running and locked. I only leave him if 1. he says he wants to stay 2. the entire vehicle never leaves my sight, and 3. if the trip inside is less than 5 minutes. I'll go get him out if I get inside and think it'll take longer than I thought. Also, I don't know if I'd do it anywhere but the town I live. Not sure why I feel like it's fine here, and not elsewhere, but I don't think I've ever done it out my county.

i did a couple of times when DS was an infant when i got him into his carseat and i was about ready to drive then realized i forgot something inside my apartment. It required me walking back up 3 flights of stairs (no elevator) and out of sight, but would take about 3 minutes total to go and come back. I felt guilty after though so i stopped doing it and either would not go back for what i forgot or go through the hassle of bringing him back up with me.

I've done it a couple times - ATM and UPS store to drop off a package. They were in sight the whole time, the car running (I always hold the remote for keyless entry) and like 2 min trips. But it's nerve wrecking the entire 2 mins so I won't do it again.

I do let them sleep in the car in my garage though - car off, windows down, garage door closed and my inside door open so I can hear them.

So far only to run into the house to grab something. With infant twins, one of the babies is always left alone for a minute or so while I or we run in to grab the other twin.

No judgement here if it's for a quick trip and babies are safe.

I was just about to today, but then I didn't because I didn't want people to judge (or call the cops). We were parked in front of an empty Jamba Juice and it was cold outside.

I have before to grab something from the house or once when I had to pay for gas. I'm terrified that I'm going to get reported though.

Interesting - there are only 19 states with laws on the books regarding unattended kids in cars.

I've left them in the car in my garage to run in and get something. I also used to leave DD in her carseat in the garage if she was sleeping, with the door to the house propped open so I could hear if she cried.

I leave DD in the car when I drop DS off at daycare, parked in front of her house where I only walk up the front door and hand DS off, I don't go inside.

There are other times I'm tempted to do it, but like others, I am more afraid of what other will do/say

I haven't because I'm scared of the judgment or cops being called. I've thought hard about it in our building garage- climate controlled and you need a key card to access it, but there are 24 units in the building and our condo is two flights up. I have forgotten something upstairs and just decided not to get it. And if she falls asleep I stay in the car with her- but I've been really tempted to run up to pee! I'm more afraid a neighbor would see than that she could get hurt.

The ups store is the worst- the spots in front of mine aren't visible from inside but I hate getting her out of the car seat for that one minute. So annoying!!

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.

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.

@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!

@catomd00: his opening line was "I cannot believe you would leave your kids in the car!!!!!"

@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!

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.

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?"

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.