At what age is it okay to leave a kid in the car for a few minutes?

[Anonymous]

Truly a few minutes (dropping off a younger sibling). When did you do this?

[Anonymous]

Law in MD is 8.

[Anonymous]

I didn't have this at school since we walked but I left them in the car when I would run in to pick up the dry cleaning as I couldn't handle a baby, toddler, and dry cleaning all at once. I figured it was probably more likely my baby would choke on the dry cleaning bag than freeze or over-heat in the car in 5 minutes (I went during the day so there was never a line).

[Anonymous]

I don't think the law in MD is that straightforward. It's something about not confining them alone prior to 8.

I think it's common sense. Do they know not to leave unless emergency? If there is an emergency, can they get out of the car if they need to? If they get out, will they know to come find you? Can you see the car? For me, it's turned out to be about 7-8.

[Anonymous]

When they are old enough to be behind the wheel. This is a person, not a package. Why on earth would you make them wait alone in a car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't have this at school since we walked but I left them in the car when I would run in to pick up the dry cleaning as I couldn't handle a baby, toddler, and dry cleaning all at once. I figured it was probably more likely my baby would choke on the dry cleaning bag than freeze or over-heat in the car in 5 minutes (I went during the day so there was never a line).

Completely irresponsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When they are old enough to be behind the wheel. This is a person, not a package. Why on earth would you make them wait alone in a car?

What 13 year old wants to go into the grocery story when they could just hang out in the car sleeping, reading, or on phone? What 13 year old cannot manage to do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When they are old enough to be behind the wheel. This is a person, not a package. Why on earth would you make them wait alone in a car?

My parents often left me in the car while they ran boring errands. Fine by me, I didn't want to go in with them. Starting around 7-8.

[Anonymous]

Whenever. If you're pulling up to school and getting the older child out, why would you take the newborn out of the car seat? If it's fast and safe enough that you don't need to turn off the car it's okay.

I know people will write in to say that your baby could die in the 3 to 5 minutes you're away from the car, but there are a lot of crazy people on this board. There's another thread about birthday parties where people are writing in to say that they shadow their 8 year olds because they're worried about child abductions and sexual abuse.... At a birthday party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When they are old enough to be behind the wheel. This is a person, not a package. Why on earth would you make them wait alone in a car?

My parents often left me in the car while they ran boring errands. Fine by me, I didn't want to go in with them. Starting around 7-8.

Same here. And I don't *make* my kids wait alone in a car. They ask to be left in the car because it is preferable to standing a boring line at the post office, dry cleaners, etc.

[Anonymous]

Never. To the poster who valued their dry cleaning over their child--what is wrong with you??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think the law in MD is that straightforward. It's something about not confining them alone prior to 8.

I think it's common sense. Do they know not to leave unless emergency? If there is an emergency, can they get out of the car if they need to? If they get out, will they know to come find you? Can you see the car? For me, it's turned out to be about 7-8.

Not according to this:

Under Maryland law, a child must be at least eight years old to be left alone in a house or car.

http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/childsafety/childsafetyfaqs.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever. If you're pulling up to school and getting the older child out, why would you take the newborn out of the car seat? If it's fast and safe enough that you don't need to turn off the car it's okay.

I know people will write in to say that your baby could die in the 3 to 5 minutes you're away from the car, but there are a lot of crazy people on this board. There's another thread about birthday parties where people are writing in to say that they shadow their 8 year olds because they're worried about child abductions and sexual abuse.... At a birthday party.

I don't even understand the first scenario you mention. Getting the older child out, leaving the car running - who is saying you take the newborn out in that scenario? How would that even work.

I agree with PP that the law is 8, so 8 it would be for me (kids are now 5 and 2).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When they are old enough to be behind the wheel. This is a person, not a package. Why on earth would you make them wait alone in a car?

Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound?

A fifteen year old is fit to babysit for hours, can get him or herself to HIGH SCHOOL alone on public transportation, but can't sit alone in a car in the Safeway parking lot for 10 minutes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never. To the poster who valued their dry cleaning over their child--what is wrong with you??

FFS. How about when the "child" is 15? Obviously, "never" is not the answer. Also, just going to leave this here, though I know that it is pointless to argue against this particular moral panic. http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2016/08/22/490847797/why-do-we-judge-parents-for-putting-kids-at-perceived-but-unreal-risk