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Babies: 6 - 9 Months
Do you leave your baby alone in the car in these situations?
Do you ever leave your baby alone in his or her carseat in the car
1. When you are pumping gas
2. When you have to get out of the car to use an ATM (Car is in plain view, the weather is moderate, or you leave the car running with the AC/heat on)
3. When you have to d b rop off some mail (in and out) really quickly at the Post Office. (Car is not in view, not running, and locked)
4. When you've loaded up the baby in your driveway/garage (car not running), and you have to run in to get your diaper bag, etc
I do #1, and I've done #2 once when the bank parking lot was empty and I was 10 feet away from the car, but I've never done #3. Do #4 often.
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Re: Do you leave your baby alone in the car in these situations?
I leave E in the car in all of these situations except 3. I wouldn't be comfortable not being able to watch her. I can see her in all of these situations to know that she's okay and go to her if she needed me.
ETA: Except running in to get the diaper bag, but that's quick and I'm not afraid of strangers kidnapping her, calling CPS, or some reckless driver side swiping my car or anything in my own driveway.
Thanks! I felt so iffy about the ATM one, but at the same time, I knew she was ok because I can see her. I'm afraid a stranger is going to look in the car, ignore me standing right there, and call the police
1 - Yes. I pay at the pump so I am right there.
2 - I go to drive through ATMs or do cash back when shopping. So no on this one.
3 - I drive through the mail boxes at the post office. So no on this as well.
4 - I don't have too much choice if it's just me and the babies. So one goes in the jumper by the door while I load the other into his seat in the van, which is parked in the garage. Then I go back to get the other.
I just leave my diaper backpack in the van. I use a small bag for my "feed bag" that I take in and out. I refill the supplies in the other bag as needed. (I also keep an emergency bag in the van as well - in case I forget or we're out longer than planned) It make getting out and about much easier to not have to remember it.
#1 and #4 yes, but when pumping gas, I am right next to the car and can see and hear DD the whoel time. I pay at the pump and do not leave to pay.
I wouldn't feel comfortable with #3, if I can't see her, there is no way I am leaving her there.
#2, I usually go to drive up ATM, so it has never been an issue. It depends how far away it was I guess, not really sure I would feel comfortable if I couldn't see and / or hear her.
I always do #1. Can't imagie the hassle of taking the baby in and out while pumping especially if i am an arms length the whole time.
1) Yes. I pay at the pump. If I had to run in to pay, though, I'd take DS with me.
2) I always use the drive through ATM, or as PP mentioned, just get cash back while at the store. If I had to get out, I don't know if I'd feel comfortable with leaving him in the car yet...I'm not sure what I'm worried about, but I just don't like it.
3) No. Like PP said, you never know how long it's going to take in there.
4) I've done this many times. I feel like I'm always forgetting something inside.
I haven't pumped gas in over five years, so the first isn't an issue. It doesn't seem like you're leaving the baby though if you pay at the pump and are standing right there.
I'm a little shocked people would do the seconds. If you left the car on especially and were 10 feet away someone could hop in your car and steal it with your little one in the car. I've seen this happen three times already in my city.
I would never go into the post office and leave my baby inside. Ever.
I do the fourth all the time. We get into the car. I forget pretty much everything I need for out trip. Our garage is closed and locked and I'll just run into the front hall to grab the diaper bag, keys, etc.
Make a pregnancy ticker
#1, yes. I always pay at the pump, though, so it's no big deal. If I had to go in for any reason, he would come with me.
#2, never had to. I always use the drive through ATM if I need cash.
#3, I always use the drive up drop boxes for mail, and like PP said, if I did have to go in for a package or something, I'd definitely bring him in because it could take a lot longer than I thought and I wouldn't be comfortable leaving him out of my sight for more than a few seconds.
#4, no - I always load up the stuff first and leave him in the house in his jumper or strapped into his car seat. It wouldn't be a problem, though, because we have a TON of windows in our house and the driveway is only a few feet from the front door, so I could see him at all times and wouldn't worry.
#1 - yes, but I pay at the pump & take the keys with me
#2 - I only get cash at the grocery store, but if I did go to the ATM with DD I would only use a drive-thru one
#3 - No way! I take her in with me when I have to use the automated postage machine. It's a pain, but I don't trust leaving her out of sight in public, sometimes the line is long too so there's no knowing how long I'll actually be in there.
#4 - Yes, the garage door is usually open when I load her in the car. If I have to run back inside I lock the car doors & take the key in with me, and I literally do run in to get what I forgot.
Do you ever leave your baby alone in his or her carseat in the car
1. When you are pumping gas
No, but I would. Hubby usually gasses up both cars or I go to full service. Obviously if I had to, I would. I'd think it's safer than holding LO at the pump..
2. When you have to get out of the car to use an ATM (Car is in plain view, the weather is moderate, or you leave the car running with the AC/heat on)
I wouldn't. There are enough drive up ATMs near me if I needed cash. But I rarely go to the ATM at all.
3. When you have to d b rop off some mail (in and out) really quickly at the Post Office. (Car is not in view, not running, and locked)
Nope. I'd honestly never even consider it. Why not just grab LO? Are you in THAT much of a rush??
4. When you've loaded up the baby in your driveway/garage (car not running), and you have to run in to get your diaper bag, etc
I do this sometimes. We only have 2 hands, ya know? I can see the car from my kitchen (where I keep my bag) and all the way out the front door, so I never questioned it.
All of this except with #4 if I forget something I turn the car off and close the garage door. There is no way for someone to open the door from the outside so it is just like she is in another room of the house.
If the car isn't in my own garage or I can't physically touch the car from where I'm standing (like pumping gas), the answer is no.
only #1. I would never leave him in the car to run in the gas station either.
We keep our cars in the garage (novel idea, I know, but most people don't for some reason
) so if I leave a bag or something, I will shut the garage door, car off and run in quickly. I don't do this in the summer. I'll bring him back in the house with me.
My biggest fear is locking him in the car. I am nearly paralyzed each time he's in his car seat, so I take EVERY precaution against it.
Twin boys born too early at 17w4d and 18w2d in February 2010
Transabdominal cerclage placed September 2010
DS born at 35w1d in February 2011
Twin girls born at exactly 36w in February 2013
1. Yes
2. Yes, I can leave my car on and take my keys with.
3. No
4. I don't because I'm in an apt downtown so my car downstair and around the corner. I have to remember everything!
One question for everyone- When I'm at the gas station and have to run in for something, would you think it was bad if I left my 9 month old in the car with her 6 year old sister? Locked of course, and the keys with me! Is 6 too young?
Also I have a teenage stepdaughter who allows me to run into or I can send into the store or house quickly when necessary.
#1 I pay at the pump, so of course.
#2 I've never had to do this, but if I could park literally right in front of the ATM and I had no other option then I would.
#3 Hell no, that's just crazy. I go into the post office a lot and juggle both kids, it's not worth the chance of them getting kidnapped or being taken away from me for being neglectful.
#4 I always load the diaper bag and my purse before I get the kids, but I would if I forgot it. We live on a very secluded street at the end of a a cul de sac, plus I keep the diaper bag right by the front door.
1. When you are pumping gas We don't pump our own gas in Oregon, so no.
2. When you have to get out of the car to use an ATM (Car is in plain view, the weather is moderate, or you leave the car running with the AC/heat on) I would but I never have. I rarely use cash and usually do cash back at the grocery store or a drive thru ATM if I have to. I wouldn't leave the car running, though. I'd be paranoid that someone would jump in the car and drive away.
3. When you have to d b rop off some mail (in and out) really quickly at the Post Office. (Car is not in view, not running, and locked) No, and I don't think I'd be comfortable with that. Whenever I've had to drop off a package or something at UPS, I always put him in the stroller so that I can handle both at once. For mail, I just do the drive thru drop box.
4. When you've loaded up the baby in your driveway/garage (car not running), and you have to run in to get your diaper bag, etc Yep. I usually load the car first, but there have been times that we've been out and about and I need to grab something at home. I'll leave him in the (not running and locked) car at that time. I wouldn't do it if we lived in an apartment complex, but I feel safe leaving him in my driveway.
Thanks for your replies! The ATM right by my house isn't a drive up one, it is so frustrating!!
And what I'm talking about for the post office - sometimes I sell things on eBay, create a label and pay for the postage, but I have to drop it off on the PO counter (don't have to stand in line). So I can't use the drive up drop boxes, unfortunately. I have only had to do it once with Anna, and it was a pain to take a huge box plus a little baby into the PO for a 5 second thing. Now I make my husband drop off packages :-) .
Pumping gas, definite yes. I'm standing right next to her.
I will also leave her in the car when I'm running in to get our cleaning (the dry-cleaner's door is wide open with a full glass store front, and the car is right in front of the store -- maybe 10 feet away; car is locked). I will also hop out to throw something in the outdoors mailbox at the post office (car is right behind me). If I go inside anywhere, I will bring her.
Yes, I do leave her in the car in the driveway if I have to run back into the house or if I am unpacking groceries/what-have-you. But again, the car is never out of my sight, and we live in the kind of neighborhood where we don't even lock our doors when we go out. I would not leave her in the driveway in some other neighborhoods I know.
1. When you are pumping gas-sometimes, but I rarely go get gas because of this.
2. When you have to get out of the car to use an ATM (Car is in plain view, the weather is moderate, or you leave the car running with the AC/heat on)- Nope
3. When you have to d b rop off some mail (in and out) really quickly at the Post Office. (Car is not in view, not running, and locked)-Never
4. When you've loaded up the baby in your driveway/garage (car not running), and you have to run in to get your diaper bag, etc-once or twice. I normally load the car before I put him in there.
I agree with this. If I have to run in to get my sunglasses or something else I forgot, I would never leave the car running, even if it's locked. It terrifies me that someone would break into the car to steal it since it's on and not realize there's a baby in the back and take off. Terrifies me.
Only #1.... only because I pay at the pump, so she's right where I can see her and right there next to me and also because I lock the door and have the keys with me.
None of these other situations I would leave her in the car for. #2 I do drive up banking and drive up ATM... but if I didn't she would be going with me. #3 I take her in to drop the mail off. #4 I always make sure I have everything I need with me before I leave...
Really, you never know what can happen in just a few seconds. People can be sneaky and fast. Do you really want to risk it just so you don't have to carry your baby somewhere with you??
Yes (except the PO - if I can't see the car they come inside with me). There is no way I'm hauling three kids out of the car to do the other things.
Also, the kids are safer strapped in their carseat in the driveway than they are wandering around my house as I go in and out to unload groceries.
1. Yes. I'm standing right next to LO's window when I get gas and I'd rather him be alone in the car than outside, exposed to the fumes.
2. Yes.
3. No.
4. Yes.
1. When you are pumping gas: I live in New Jersey. Full service stations only!
2. When you have to get out of the car to use an ATM (Car is in plain view, the weather is moderate, or you leave the car running with the AC/heat on): Yes, I've done this, though I try to go to the ATM when DS isn't with me. There are NO drive-up ATMs near me. It's ridiculous.
3. When you have to drop off some mail (in and out) really quickly at the Post Office. (Car is not in view, not running, and locked): Noooo way. LO comes in for that -- I keep a mei tai in the car so I can babywear him for quick trips.
4. When you've loaded up the baby in your driveway/garage (car not running), and you have to run in to get your diaper bag, etc: Yes, if I have to, but I try to get everything in one trip.
1. I try very hard not to pump gas when DS is with me. There is at least one day per week that DH takes DS to the sitter and I drive to work myself, so I try to fill up then. Or, since my vehicle is our family vehicle for weekends/etc, I will have H fill up while I'm in the car with DS.
2. I rarely use the ATM, but if I do, I use a drive through.
3. Absolutely not. If I had this situation he would be with me. I have a really great ring sling for trips like this.
4. I typically put DS in the car with the garage door still shut, so yes. If I need to run back in and get something, if he is securely buckled into the car, I will run back into the house and get it with the man door to the house open so I can still hear him if he needs me.
1. yes, if he is asleep or happy in his seat. He generally starts fussing as soon as the car stops though so I take him out if that happens.
2. i always use the drive up but if I was using the walk up atm at my bank, I wouldn't leave him in the car.
3. No. I wouldn't leave him where I could not see him.
4. Same as three.
#1 - only if paying at pump.
#2 - no , only use drive through so I'm with her. Usually just get cash at the store, or when I'm running errands and she's at DC.
#3. NEVER
#4. Generally try to leave her in the house and put everything in the car first, or do it all in one clumsy, awkward trip. Couple of times ran in to get something, but most of those times DH leaving as well and stayed in view of car until I was back.
Posted on a similar thread already, but you should check the laws in your state re: unattended children in vehicles. In TN, it's a misdemeanor to leave ANY child under 13 unattended in a vehicle. (Unattended = you aren't within direct sight and a few steps of the car)
My garage doesn't have one of the pull up doors, our garage opens up with a door similar to our front door, so for me to leave my car in the garage i'd have to crash it into the house. I don't have the money to pay for those repairs. Therefore, my car stays in the driveway.
As for the scenarios:
1. I pay at the pump, so I'm fine with leaving LO in the car. One time I was at a gas station where the pumps didn't take my card, but I could use it if I paid inside. In that instance, I brought her in with me in her car seat. I also lock my doors when I pump gas. This is a habit I started back in college.
2. I would only do this if I could parallel park right next to the ATM. Again, the car would be off and locked, but she would be right there. If I had to park away from the ATM, I would take her with me.
3. She would absolutely come with me.
4. I have done this on a few occasions. Mostly because I forgot something, not because I didn't load the car at all beforehand. Usually I can carry everything out at once, but every now and then I'll leave a bottle on the table or a sippy that I meant to put in the bag, or I even forgot to throw my wallet into the bag. Just a quick run in and grab, and run out. Car is always locked.