Child left alone in car

[miriam1]

Is it ever ok to leave a child unattended inside a car while you run in the store for a "minute"? Today when I left Walmart I noticed a child asleep in the car parked next to mine. When I looked in the front seat to see who was waiting with the child I was shocked to see NO ONE!! This car was parked in the parking lot, there was no way anyone could be watching the child to make sure he was safe. I sat and watched the car to see how long he would be left alone. I was giving them 10 minutes before I called the police. (Who knows how long he had been sitting there before I came out of the store!) When my watch was at 9 minutes I saw a woman come out of the store with a bag in her hand and head towards the car, she hopped in and off they went. I wished I could have told her how very close she had come to explaining herself to the police and possibly the CPS. This child looked to be preschool or kindergarten aged. What if he had woken up and tried to get out to find his mommy?

[HoosierHelen]

Is it ever ok to leave a child unattended inside a car while you run in the store for a \"minute\"? Today when I left Walmart I noticed a child asleep in the car parked next to mine. When I looked in the front seat to see who was waiting with the child I was shocked to see NO ONE!! This car was parked in the parking lot, there was no way anyone could be watching the child to make sure he was safe. I sat and watched the car to see how long he would be left alone. I was giving them 10 minutes before I called the police. (Who knows how long he had been sitting there before I came out of the store!) When my watch was at 9 minutes I saw a woman come out of the store with a bag in her hand and head towards the car, she hopped in and off they went. I wished I could have told her how very close she had come to explaining herself to the police and possibly the CPS. This child looked to be preschool or kindergarten aged. What if he had woken up and tried to get out to find his mommy?

Do you know Miriam if the car doors were locked?

[Mrs.Slotz]

It is NEVER ok to leave a child alone in the car. In this day and age, to many "wierd O's" are just looking for an opportunity to take advantage of a situation like this.
My daughter's grandma, just once, left my daughter in the car while she went in to "Owen's Super Market" (many years ago).
My daughter is like a one year old. She does not speak or understand what is being said to her.
Grandma went in to just get milk. The doors were locked, but, my daughter, some how, put the car into neutral, and the car started to roll about the parking lot and it ran into the shopping cart thing in the lot where people put their carts. The car got a dent in it. Thank God nobody got hurt. My daughter thought it was funny, she did not understand how horrible this could have turned out.
Helen, even if the doors were locked, there are child abductors out there that are very good at making children think that mommy and daddy told them to come out to the car because of an emergency, ie, "suzy" your mommy told me that you were out here and she needs you to come in to the store because she wants to buy you your favorite candy bar. A child's brain is not mature enough to understand that this "person" may not be my friend.
NEVER leave a child in the car, NEVER!!!

[HoosierHelen]

It is NEVER ok to leave a child alone in the car. In this day and age, to many \"wierd O's\" are just looking for an opportunity to take advantage of a situation like this.
My daughter's grandma, just once, left my daughter in the car while she went in to \"Owen's Super Market\" (many years ago).
My daughter is like a one year old. She does not speak or understand what is being said to her.
Grandma went in to just get milk. The doors were locked, but, my daughter, some how, put the car into neutral, and the car started to roll about the parking lot and it ran into the shopping cart thing in the lot where people put their carts. The car got a dent in it. Thank God nobody got hurt. My daughter thought it was funny, she did not understand how horrible this could have turned out.
Helen, even if the doors were locked, there are child abductors out there that are very good at making children think that mommy and daddy told them to come out to the car because of an emergency, ie, \"suzy\" your mommy told me that you were out here and she needs you to come in to the store because she wants to buy you your favorite candy bar. A child's brain is not mature enough to understand that this \"person\" may not be my friend.
NEVER leave a child in the car, NEVER!!!

I do NOT disagree with you Mrs. Slotz. I was just asking if the parent had at least taken that measure of protection for their child. The reason I asked is it would have made the difference for me between waiting to see that the parent returned in a short period of time as Miram did...or if I would have called the police immediately. It's just me. I know for sure I would have done what Miriam did and wait to be sure the parent did show up very shortly. If those doors were not locked....I'm pretty sure I would not have waited before making a call.

[TheBigB]

It is NEVER ok to leave a child alone in the car. In this day and age, to many \"wierd O's\" are just looking for an opportunity to take advantage of a situation like this.


Almost every study that is done on the subject indicates that kids are safer from abuse in this day and age than they were back in the good old days. There are a lot of reasons why kids shouldn't be left alone in cars, but this is way down the list.

[HoosierHelen]

Almost every study that is done on the subject indicates that kids are safer from abuse in this day and age than they were back in the good old days. There are a lot of reasons why kids shouldn't be left alone in cars, but this is way down the list.

I don't know about increased safety of our kids these days, however, leaving a child within an unlocked car isn't anything that I believe to be safe for our kids. As Mrs. Slotz mentioned...even if the car had been locked...the safety of this child was at risk. It is just not the same world we grew up in...unfortunately.

[Mrs.Slotz]

Almost every study that is done on the subject indicates that kids are safer from abuse in this day and age than they were back in the good old days. There are a lot of reasons why kids shouldn't be left alone in cars, but this is way down the list.

I do not have time to look up these facts; but I am, however, interested in seeing them. Can you post the stats for us please.

[Mrs.Slotz]

I don't know about increased safety of our kids these days, however, leaving a child within an unlocked car isn't anything that I believe to be safe for our kids. As Mrs. Slotz mentioned...even if the car had been locked...the safety of this child was at risk. It is just not the same world we grew up in...unfortunately.

Just wondering, Do you think parents should be smacked with a big fine for leaving a child in a car or futhermore, put in jail for one night and a fine?

[HoosierHelen]

Just wondering, Do you think parents should be smacked with a big fine for leaving a child in a car or futhermore, put in jail for one night and a fine?

I'm not in favor of government getting heavily involved in parenting issues. That being said, if a child is being neglected and/or endangered we do have laws that allow the government social services to remove a child from it's home or monitor the care of the child at it's home.

There is a big difference in my mind between leaving a child in your locked car at a gas station while you pay your bill and leaving your child in a car while you go into a bar to drink. I see no need for any penalty at the gas station. There should be a serious penalty at the bar.

[Mrs.Slotz]

I'm not in favor of government getting heavily involved in parenting issues. That being said, if a child is being neglected and/or endangered we do have laws that allow the government social services to remove a child from it's home or monitor the care of the child at it's home.

There is a big difference in my mind between leaving a child in your locked car at a gas station while you pay your bill and leaving your child in a car while you go into a bar to drink. I see no need for any penalty at the gas station. There should be a serious penalty at the bar.
I agree. If a child is found in a car while mommy or daddy or both are drinking, the child needs to be placed in protective custody while the parents are under investigation.

[TheBigB]

I do not have time to look up these facts; but I am, however, interested in seeing them. Can you post the stats for us please.

Just a recent one that comes to mind: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123287363

Most people think the world is a less safe place today because of a dramatic increase in media coverage of "bad things" over the years. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.

[miriam1]

Do you know Miriam if the car doors were locked?

I don't know if the car doors were locked or not. I DO know that there was no way the mother could have seen the child from inside the store, though.

[pixiegirl]

I'm not in favor of government getting heavily involved in parenting issues. That being said, if a child is being neglected and/or endangered we do have laws that allow the government social services to remove a child from it's home or monitor the care of the child at it's home.

There is a big difference in my mind between leaving a child in your locked car at a gas station while you pay your bill and leaving your child in a car while you go into a bar to drink. I see no need for any penalty at the gas station. There should be a serious penalty at the bar.

I really see no differance Helen. The risk is there, whether it is 1 min or 1 hour.
I also believe there is an age factor. I would NEVER leave my 4 year old in the car, even to run in pay for gas ( thank God for the pumps that take my bank card :) ) But I would leave my 10 year old for 2 min to pay for gas. I would not leave my 10 year old in the car to run in the store, but would my 14 year old, if he didn't want to go in. So I think that it is age and situation specific. I would NEVER leave ANY age child to sit in a car, while I went in a bar!!