Can I leave my infant in the car alone to...,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do it, but not on a hot day.

+1. A few car lengths away? I don't see the problem if it's not hot. If you consider the chances of something awful happening while the baby is a few steps away in the car vs. being held by you at the ATM I would consider standing at the ATM with a handful of cash and a baby in my arms to be the bigger danger.

This is actually probably true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

I'm not even reading whatever comes after the ellipsis.

Word.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

[Anonymous]

I used to do this all the time for an ATM, or shuttling things from driveway to house.

Not in super hot weather where it's uncomfortable to just be outside, but in cooler weather yes, and I would leave all the windows completely down on the car to do it to prevent the overheating situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. A child should never be left in a car for any reason.
If you don't want to lug a baby around, use condoms.

Seriously? What about buying gas? What if you have twins and have to load/unload them at your home one at a time? What about returning a grocery cart?

Personally, I wouldn't do it at an ATM unless I could park directly in front of the ATM. Not because I have any concern about baby's safety in the car but because I do have serious concerns about getting in trouble from so-called good samaritans who think this way (see Salon article -- the person videotaping knew the child was fine...he spoke with the mother in the store. He wasn't concerned about making sure the baby was safe, he was concerned about making sure the mom was punished for not parenting the way he though she should be.)

NP here. I do have twins and I had them in infant carriers that I could pop out of the base and carry them with me. Yes, it took longer, but everything takes longer when you have infants. That's just part of the hand you're dealt.

For cash, I used drive-through ATM's or got cash at the supermarket. For gas, I opened the door on the side next to the pump, I put in the pump handle, locked it and then talked to the kids while the gas pumped. When it stopped, I put it back. With the door open, I was usually within hands reach of the near twin. For unloading, I unloaded the car carrier on the driver's side, carried to the passenger side and then put the first child's carrier on the ground at my feet while I got the second carrier out. When I shopped, I either used our stroller travel system (essentially the same as a double Snap N Go) got them both out, put them at the back with me while I set up the stroller and snapped them both in, or I parked next to a cart return. Yes, sometimes I was an extra several car spaces further than I could park, but I was right next to the cart return, could get a cart without being more than arm's reach from the car.

Twins are not a good excuse for leaving a child unattended in a car. And frankly, if you are 3-4 spaces away from the car, then yes you are unattended. I would give you a bye if it was literally the space right in front of the machine (as in the camera on the ATM should be able to see your car behind you as you use the ATM), but otherwise, NO.

[Anonymous]

OMG, what if some thief jumped in your car and stole it, with your baby inside?!?!

[Anonymous]

I do it all the time, but I have an auto starter, so I leave the a/c on and doors locked.

[Anonymous]

I'd do it. I'd also do it to drop a library book in the walk-up return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG, what if some thief jumped in your car and stole it, with your baby inside?!?!

Really, is this sarcasm? You realize you are more likely to be carjacked at a traffic light or while getting gas? Also, I'd think the mom would lock the car.

[Anonymous]

No for all the reasons listed above. And for the simple answer, you could trip and hit your head on the curb and baby would be in the car and alone the rest of the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No for all the reasons listed above. And for the simple answer, you could trip and hit your head on the curb and baby would be in the car and alone the rest of the afternoon.

Omg. This could happen if you are carrying the baby and it could be much worse. Let's not jump the shark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No for all the reasons listed above. And for the simple answer, you could trip and hit your head on the curb and baby would be in the car and alone the rest of the afternoon.

You could have an aneurysm while driving and crash into a funeral procession. Better not drive with The Baby.

You could trip and hit your head while walking down the steps carrying the baby and your body weight suffocates it while you are unconscious. Better not pick up The Baby.

Enjoy your bubble with The Baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG, what if some thief jumped in your car and stole it, with your baby inside?!?!

Really, is this sarcasm? You realize you are more likely to be carjacked at a traffic light or while getting gas? Also, I'd think the mom would lock the car.

While it is rare, it does happen. It's the risk you take. It may seem well worth it on days that are uneventful but so NOT worth it if you happen to be the one and someone drives off with your baby.

[Anonymous]

And isn't it illegal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do it, but not on a hot day.

+1. A few car lengths away? I don't see the problem if it's not hot. If you consider the chances of something awful happening while the baby is a few steps away in the car vs. being held by you at the ATM I would consider standing at the ATM with a handful of cash and a baby in my arms to be the bigger danger.

What could happen? Just about anything. Mom could accidentally leave the keys inside. Mom could accidentally drop the keys downa grate. There could be a line at the ATM an mom has to wait for 1 or 2 folks to finish first. Mom could see a friend on the street and the 2 min trip is now a 5-7 min trip.

Why take the chance? Think of this way, would you ever want to have to finish this sentence "If only, I didn't leave DC alone in the car then..."

But it's possible you can lock your keys in the car or drop them down a grate between walking from the placing the kid in the car and walking around to the driver side. Driving to the ATM (or anywhere) presents the greatest of all the risks people have thrown out and it's unlikely that if the worst were to occur someone would say "If only I didn't drive..."

I'd probably do it in cooler weather, if the car was in sight. On days like today, I'd figure out out to live w/o cash.

[Anonymous]

In Maryland it's illegal is the car is out of sight from the caregiver

http://www.kidsandcars.org/userfiles/state-laws/maryland-state-law.pdf

In Va apparently it's a proposed law.

I guess this would be in sight. Still wouldn't do it.