Child in Car

I will probably go straight to jail asking this question...

I know we are never to leave our children alone in the car - but, what do you do at a gas station? Sometimes, when in a huge rush, I used to get gas at the pump closest to the cashier building and quickly run in to pay, checking on the car and my child constantly. And sometimes that was the only chance to stock up on milk and eggs and so on after hours which I can not pay for at the pump.
How do you feel about this? Is it safer to drag your toddler out of the car seat, through the gas fumes and cars or do you stick to the rules at gas stations as well? When my son was a toddler/ preschooler I found it much harder to keep him safe on the short trip to the cashier than leaving him in the car for a minute... Now he climbs in and out of the car independently, so it is not an issue anymore. I`m just curious how other parents deal with this.

Thank you!

[peekawho]

This woman locked her sleeping baby in the car and went to go make a donation to the Salvation army volunteer, 30 feet away, and was charged with child endangerment.  The car was always in her sight.

I don't know what happened with the eventual outcome, though.

http://www.imperfectparent.com/topics/2008/03/05/tinley-park-mom-leaves-child-in-car-endangerment/

[babyprayers]

YIKES!!! I can soo understand your point, I have 6 month old twins, however, ANYTHING can happen in that brief 5 min you left your child in the car, accident, theft, anything at all, perhaps some cashier who wants to chitty chat with the customer ahead of you,I use my debit/credit card at the pump, and do my grocery shopping when I can.. I just wouild rather be safe then sorry...

[kellym]

In FL, you are legally allowed to leave a child unattended in a locked car for 15 minutes. I l personally would lock the car and run in. As long as there were lots of windows and I could keep an eye on them, I do it.

[heatherlynn22]

i actually have had to do that with my twins. i'd forgot my card at home and had to pay cash. the boys were sleeping in the back. and it's a pain having to drag 2 babies in and out of a vehicle....so i ran in, paid, and ran back out. they were fine. and....i'm not in jail. lol.

[AnnieBrooke]

I recently needed to drop my injured cat at the vet's, who was expecting us and was going to keep the cat overnight.  It meant parking the car right in front, in their private parking lot that is not near a main street, walking through the glass door set in a big clear glass wall, handing over the cat in his carrier, and walking back out.  On the way to the vet, my son fell asleep.  (The cat got hurt inconveniently at nap time.)   I did it, but with my head on backward the entire time looking at my son in the car, and it was illegal for sure.  I remember thinking no jury of moms would convict me if I explained my son had missed his nap the day before.

In our state, there is no pump-it-yourself gas, so there is always an attendant to take your credit card.  When my son is asleep I just pay him and don't go inside, no matter what staples we have managed to run out of at home.  I would like to think this has made me a better grocery shopper since I can't fill in with quick runs to the store.  Ha! ha! ha!

[babyprayers]

wow i DID NOT KNOW this was legal in some states, I mean I wasnt sure there was even a law about keeping your kids in the car, I am too paranoid, to many crazy things happen, but to each his own...

[GRose]

As long as I am only running into pay and I can see there is no long line I lock my doors and bolt in, I make sure I have the exact change too and just leave it on the counter, most attendants in our area are fine with that.
If I am getting anything else from the gas station I take Noah in with me, I am not OK with leaving him in the car if I cant see him.
Most of the time I have my card though so I just pay with that at the pump.

[peekawho]

I don't think anyone would want to car jack my old Ford Focus, either.   That's one of the perks of having a POS car that is paid for.

And the only beings I leave in my car for a minute is 2 massive Dobermans....so no need to even lock the car in the first place!

T/E, I'll send you a dog asap to guard your child.  

[GRose]

I cant believe 15 minutes is allowed in some states, that seems like a very long time to leave a kid in the car.

[AnnieBrooke]

I'm surprised, too, about the 15 minutes rule in Florida.  It's flat-out illegal here.  And Florida is such a hot place -- when I was a kid, three children died in a car in Florida while their mom was in a shop, I remember the story very clearly.  You would think there, of all states, the laws would be the most strict.

[GRose]

I remember when I was 5 or 6 my parents used to ask me if I wanted to come in or stay in the car, they would only leave me in there for 15 minutes max and I was old enough to understand not to sit in the driver seat, mess with anything and to scream like hell if a stranger approached me, that was also 17 years ago. They never would have left me in a car in summer though.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

To be honest, I don't know what the rule is in Texas.  The little one's, I don't leave in the car by themselves.  My oldest that I have living at home is 7.  She is super smart and super responsible.  She has 3 younger siblings and I think that has something to do with that because she is always helping me in one way or another.  I have left all of them in the van at once, but it was only when (like you said), I am only a few feet away from my vehicle and my oldest will sit in the driver's seat with the door locked.  When I walk up to the van, she will unlock it for me.  She knows that is she is not to open it for anyone ever.  But I have only done that a couple of times when I was trying not to take them all in for 30 seconds worth of time.  It still made me nervous though and my van never left my sight for 1 second.......

[babyprayers]

maybe I think to much, I dont know, as I said the world is a crazy place, I grew up in the country we didnt lock our doors, we rode in the back of pick up trucks and someone kidnapping us was obsolete, now!!! it happens so much its almost not even news anymore, POS car or brand new, if someone needs to get away they are not gonna be choosy, and I cannot fathom the thought of my kids being part of that,. anyway,..

[pertykitty]

i personally could never leave my 15 month old and just recently left my 10 year old for a short run into the grocery store.  he had his cell phone and locked the doors but i was still nervous.  he wanted to show me he could do it so i let him, gulp!

if my child falls asleep then i go home and have dh get the gas or go after dinner.  i never have cash so the pay at the pump is all i do.  

imo, eggs and milk will never be as important as the "what did i do!!" should a horrible thing happen.  you have to do what you feel comfortable with but also what is safe rather than convienent.  its hard that is for sure!  there have been multiple car jackings in my city and there have been babies that went along with them.  thank god one of the jackers stopped and put the baby on the sidewalk and the other left the car.  god knows what could have happened!

[alikat1205]

everyone is different i guess, but even now, my 13 yo isn't allowed to stay in the car alone.  if we all have to get out and go in, we do it.  no child of mine is staying in the car where someone could decide to jack the car and take off with my daughters.  i would never even consider it.

[GRose]

I know this may be me just being naive but I only leave Noah in the car for a brief second when I am in our town, which is pretty small and the crime rate is pretty much non existent. When I am in Milwaukee, I would NEVER leave Noah in the car so with that said, I think it has a lot to do with where you live.

[have 2 kids]

We never left the kids in the car.  If I needed gas and they were along they were brought into the store.  For the most part I would get gas when the kids weren't with me or my DH would go in the evening.   I was always worried about a freak explosion or someone stealing the car.    It only takes a "second" for something to happen.  

[pertykitty]

my 10 yr old is 5'3" and 145lbs.  he looks like an adult in the car lol.  since i left him in the car for that moment, i havent let him do it again. you never know what could happen.  was it last year that mom let her son who was like 8 take the subway himself?  many applauded her for not coddling her son and letting him learn how the world works.  yikes i think id be scared to take a subway alone at my age.

anyway some grocery stores will deliver, maybe check into that.  i always keep extra milk and eggs in the little fridge in the garage so i "hopefully" dont run out, maybe check into doing that.  

[Trialanderror]

Wow, thanks for all your replies. It is quite an eye-opener that all these surveillance cameras at gas stations might not prevent the worst. I only ran into that situation a few times years ago but realize that gas stations don`t make it any safer. Hmmm. An extra pantry in the garage sounds like a good idea.

By the way, the dilemma I am facing is that there is no family, no neighbors, no husbands to watch my son so I can run out and get gas or other essentials. I can not leave him home alone, so I have dragged him along through any "emergency" situations. We are joined at the hip....I can not leave during work hours either. It takes a lot of creativity and lists to get this under control, I tell ya...

P.S. One "emergency" was that I thought I had lost my computer memory stick with files to work on in a huge parking lot. I realized after my son was asleep and would have loved to just sneak out to look for it myself. But no, I woke him up, got him dressed again, and we left in the freezing cold to find a white memory stick in white snow in parking lot, 20 minutes away.  By the time we returned, my son was wide awake and I still had to work on those files before the sun came up again. Life is such a mess sometimes but man, if I had to do it again, I too would do without the eggs and milk :)

[pinkbelle]

I have left Aubree in the car while i run in really quickly to pay for gas... i make sure I can always see her.. but most of the time its so quick that it doesn't even take me  a minute to go in and pay..  my little tiny town is safe ... at least it is to me.. i know everyone on my entire block and the gas station is right in the middle of the block.. but now that aubree is 9 months old I can just pop her out of the car seat and bring her right along... so much easier than when she was still in the infant carrier..

[kennedydp5]

i'll admit i've thought about doing it, but have never been able to.  we definately do not live in a small town and its just too scary to me.

[alaysha]

I live in AZ. I am totally guilty of running into the gas station to pay if I don't have cash. But again I am never in there for more then a minute and I always leave the doors locked. I guess it helps that my car has a microchip system for the keys so that no one but me can turn it on.

[mlb1234]

I always pay at the pump but I personally would never ever leave my dd alone in the car.  If I did and something happened I would never forgive myself.  There are a lot of crazy people out there - you just never know.  I was even paranoid to leave her in the car in the garage (car not running) while I ran the groceries into the house since she fell asleep on the way home.  

[AnnieBrooke]

The garage, I do.  My son often sleeps less than I want during the day, so if he falls asleep in the car, I take it as a blessing and prolong it as much as possible.  I'll drive into the garage with the groceries, shut the garage door, and unload the groceries in total security that he is fine and delight that he is actually sleeping.    

[vsentz]

I'm with babyprayers here. I would NEVER ever ever leave my child in the car by herself ever.
The most I've done is put her in the car seat, and then run to the back of our front door where our jackets are hung and get it... maybe two steps in the house... we have a driveway and we live in a dead end street with no traffic... (we do have a crazy neighbor though...). And I still 'sweat' when I do that!!!!

I just don't trust ANYONE! there's no 'emergency' to me that would convince me to leave my daughter in the car by herself. There are TOO many things that could happen in that minute I would run into a store. Milk and eggs can wait... and dh can pick them up on his way back from work...

I felt HORRENDOUS yesterday when I put her down for a nap and the minute I lay her down, my retarded dog starts barking so loud! (she's  a stupid boxer) I ran out her room to quite the dog and the minute that clicked in my mind what I've just done.... I let the rail of the crib down!!!!! she could've woken up and pull herself up and stick her head over it and flip!!!! she could have been severely injured all in less than a minute!!!!!!

Accidents and bad things can happen in less than a blink of an eye.

Just my thoughts.... like Lucy said: to each its own.


ps... Peek... got plenty with my damn dog.... don't need any more!

[marie1210]

I'm from FL too and I don't think I would ever leave my daughter in the car.  Not only because of the crazy people around but in 15 minutes, the car can become way too hot.  Well over 100 degrees.  It's just not safe here for that fact alone.  I have never heard of the 15 minute rule.  I have heard of, however, many children dying because of being left in a car and it got too hot.  It's just too risky.  I know it's not that warm in other states but I can't speak for them.  

[GNicole]

I always pay at the pump with my debit card. It even makes me nervous getting gas with her in the car and I am standing right there. I know I am paranoid!!

[cantwait4baby]

Wanna hear paranoid - I will not even take dd to get gas.  After seeing how they can explode I always try to get it when she is not with me at all - I certainly would not leave her in the car to run and pay but I can see why some would.  It is very hard traveling with kids - I would say 100% to be sure your vehicle is in your sight at all times and the keys are not in the car - I would lock them in there if I left them (which I never would).

Good Luck moms its not easy.

[houseofgirls]

There was a story recently here in Washington state, about a 4 year old boy who was left in the car while his parents went into a store really quick.  He got out of his carseat, and somehow got the car into neutral.  I guess the car rolled backwards into a busy street and somehow ended up crashing into a store window.  Luckily no one was hurt.  This is just one more reason not to leave kids in the car alone.  I know my 4 year old definately knows how to unbuckle herself.

Recently, I had to stop by the drycleaner and had both of my kids with me.  I park right in front of the place, which is all windows so easy to see.  I just couldn't leave them in there.  I put my 18 month in a stroller since I'm pregnant and had all the clothes to carry in.  My 4 year walked alongside, and I had my huge mountain of clothes.  The lady at the place saw me coming and came out and helped.  She also helped me back out of the store.  Yes, it was a big hassle, and it seriously only took me a couple of minutes. But besides the fact that it is illegal, so much can happen in those couple of minutes.

[GRose]

First off why would you go into a store and leave your kid in the car (as opposed to running into pay)  Second why didn't just one parent run in? There is no excuse for that..

[houseofgirls]

I just looked up the story, and I guess they went into a Money Tree payday loan places.  It was the Mother and her boyfriend.  For the life of me, I'm not sure why one of them couldn't stay in the car with the kid, or else bring the kid with them!