Stupid question, but can I leave my baby in the car for this?

[Anonymous]

Soon to be a mom of 2 and a bit overwhelmed by the logistics. My eldest goes to daycare and the rules are you park your car and walk your kid to the door where they are met by the teacher. Once the baby is born and I have to do drop-off can I leave my baby in the car while I walk the 30 or so feet to the door or should I bring the baby every time? FWIW, the car is never out of sight and the area is secure so I wouldn't worry about anyone taking the vehicle...but I still worry.

[Anonymous]

I would, and in the warmer months I’d leave the AC running.

[Anonymous]

In short no. You should plan on taking the baby every time. What happened for me was after a few weeks my toddler was comfortable enough with the routine to walk in with another parent/classmate while I watched from the side of my car.

[Anonymous]

You never leave your baby alone in a car under any circumstances or for any period of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soon to be a mom of 2 and a bit overwhelmed by the logistics. My eldest goes to daycare and the rules are you park your car and walk your kid to the door where they are met by the teacher. Once the baby is born and I have to do drop-off can I leave my baby in the car while I walk the 30 or so feet to the door or should I bring the baby every time? FWIW, the car is never out of sight and the area is secure so I wouldn't worry about anyone taking the vehicle...but I still worry.

No. Do not leave your baby unattended in car. Ever.

[Anonymous]

I would ask a friend to look for your car and walk your daughter...though grabbing the NB carseat it not that hard either...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Soon to be a mom of 2 and a bit overwhelmed by the logistics. My eldest goes to daycare and the rules are you park your car and walk your kid to the door where they are met by the teacher. Once the baby is born and I have to do drop-off can I leave my baby in the car while I walk the 30 or so feet to the door or should I bring the baby every time? FWIW, the car is never out of sight and the area is secure so I wouldn't worry about anyone taking the vehicle...but I still worry.

No. Do not leave your baby unattended in car. Ever.

+1. It's really not that hard because the whole carseat comes right out of the frame, so you just have to pop the carseat out and carry the baby in that with you. Carseat in one hand, hold your toddler's hand with your other hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would, and in the warmer months I’d leave the AC running.

Amazing. Using 10 words or so, you managed to give two bad advices.

[Anonymous]

No it's illegal and is bad parenting generally

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for your quick responses. I'll plan on taking the baby in the carseat every time.

[Anonymous]

I would do it, personally. I think the people saying you have to take the carseat with you are being overzealous. If the area is secure and you are within sight the whole time, I don't really get what the danger is supposed to be.

[Anonymous]

Plan to carry the carseat.

[Anonymous]

Clearly everyone says no, you shouldn't.
And you shouldn't. But not because there is any danger to the baby. Of course there isn't. What you want to do is perfectly reasonable and in most other times and places would be what every mother does.

However... here in 2023 in the US, it is a dangerous thing to do not for the baby, but for you. Within just a few days of doing this, you will be called into the daycare directors office and chastised. You will also become the focus of mommy gossip and glares and judgement.
There is a non-zero chance someone will report you to CPS.

So, sadly, you need to take your baby out of the car.

[Anonymous]

No way. Your baby could be carjacked in front of the preschool. The car could mysteriously roll away. You could have a heart attack and no one would ever notice your car in the line. YOU could be kidnapped.


/S

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clearly everyone says no, you shouldn't.
And you shouldn't. But not because there is any danger to the baby. Of course there isn't. What you want to do is perfectly reasonable and in most other times and places would be what every mother does.

However... here in 2023 in the US, it is a dangerous thing to do not for the baby, but for you. Within just a few days of doing this, you will be called into the daycare directors office and chastised. You will also become the focus of mommy gossip and glares and judgement.
There is a non-zero chance someone will report you to CPS.

So, sadly, you need to take your baby out of the car.

I posted above that I would leave the baby in the car, and agree with this post. People are insane. Do they think the baby will overheat in the 2 minutes it takes to drop off the toddler? Do they think the care will become sentient and drive away? Do they think a stranger will leap the fence, get in your car, and drive it away? Do they think the car may blow up? What exactly is it that people think will happen?

None of these things will happen, and it's awkward and annoying to have to get your toddler out of the car, make sure he has everything he needs, plus remove the car-seat, and then navigate a parking lot while holding a toddler's hand and carrying an infant carrier, and potentially also carrying the toddler's backpack or lunch or extra items he needs for daycare that day. But since that's just inconvenient to a mom, and we don't care about loading moms up with 6000 things to do and carry and we expect them to deal with it and never complain, society will collective force you to do this despite the fact that leaving a baby in a car for 2 minutes in a secure parking lot where the car is in sight is completely safe.