Leaving kids in the car?

Question

Okay, so I am a little unclear on what is appropriate. If you are going into the gas station, and you have three children, do you unload all three of them to pay for gas? Or do you make sure you turn off your car, take the keys with you, and make sure your vehicle is in sight of the door? I love in a small town, the attendants at the station are like family, and I will go in for the 10 seconds to pay for my gas. I never thought it was wrong until somebody recently told me it was illegal? I don't get it! What do you think?

Answer 1

I have a 4 year old and a 3 year old and I will only leave them in the car if I can see the car clearly. So yes when getting gas I do, when at the milk bar and also my butchers as it has glass windows and my car is always near. Other then that, I would only leave them in the car with someone alot older - I should state, car is always locked, and keys are in my pocket. Thats stupidity leaving your keys in the car with children in it - and on a really hot day, they are generally at home with an adult and the air con going.

Answer 2

I think that you should never leave children unattented in the car. I believe that a little incovience is worth it if it means that my children are safe. I would rather unload and reload them several times than take the risk of something happening to them. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 3

Running in to pay for gas is ok. Why haul them all in just to pay for gas? it would take longer for your to get them in and out of the vehicle than it would to just pay for the gas. Now, if you are going to do a little shopping, take them with you.  

Answer 4

It depends on how old the kids are. If you have an older child (9 or up) they should be able to watch the other two for a few seconds while you run inside. I think its fine as long as you take the keys and lock the doors. Its not like you are shopping for an hour.

Answer 5

I think what your doing is ok, just be really quick. Or try going to a full serve gas station, or bring someone with you to stay in the car with them. Its hard I know....

Answer 6

Well I can see how it would be illegal or inappropriate if you were going to the mall or wal mart and leaving them in the van or car. I have seen that done, and it get's very very hot. But to run in and pay for your gas and keep it under a few min... I think that is rediculous to say it is wrong. That would be like having your kids in the living room playing and you run upstairs to get a sweater and run back down.. are you supposed to drag them all up there just for a sweater? I don't think so. You are fine.

Answer 7

These days I pay at the pump. If I do go in, my daughter (a teenager) can stay in the car if she wishes.

When she was a baby/preschooler there was no pay-at-the-pump at most stations and yes, I left her in the car.  She was in sight at all times, I wasn't inside for more than 30 seconds [just long enough to put $10 on the counter and say 'Pump 2.']and in no danger whatsoever.  Nor could I imagine that THIS is the sort of thing lawmakers have in mind when they make laws against leaving kids in the car. (In our community there was a recent case of a woman leaving her baby in the car when she went into the library for 20-30 minutes.)  

Answer 8

I have been tempted many many times. Until I watched an Oprah where cars were stolen yes in these two minutes and it was awful. One mom tried to jump in and get her child out and he got caught in his seat belt and he was drug to death half out of the car. It was all stories of good parents like ourselves and I just never tried it after that no matter how much of a pain it is.

We recently had a story where I live where a guy did this and a repo man did not see his kids and repossessed his car in those couple minutes, the guy had to call to the cops to get his kids back.

It is just one of those things that while it is a pain it truly does take just a minute or two to break a window and steal the car like I saw on Oprah. Sometimes I wish I had not watched this episode.

Answer 9

Pshh. its better in the car than the microwave i always say.

Answer 10

okay you roll down the windows so the children can breath because if you lock the car from the outside they CANNOT get out in my area 4 babys have died in the last week by parents forgetting about them :(

Answer 11

I never ever ever leave my children in the car alone, no matter what.

Not even considering the fact that the temperature in the summer can rise to dangerous levels really quickly, when I was four my mother left me in the car to run into the grocery and I got out a few minutes later.

Well, she found me, in tears, being carried through the store by an employee on the search for her.  Not safe at all.

Answer 12

Always take the keys! There are way too many incidents of parents "just running in" and leaving their car running or with the keys and then someone steals the car with the baby in the back! I never leave them in the car - pay at the pump with your credit card. I don't know what the law is.

Answer 13

I think you should just take them in. it is such a short time that they shouldn't mind.  

Answer 14

i only have a 1 yr old, and i know that if i took him out of the carseat, walked in the gas station for 12 seconds, and then put him back in the carseat, he'd scream all the way home.  personally, i think if you pull close to the building, take the keys and lock the car, it shouldn't be a problem.  you should be out before anyone has any time to say anyting about it.  apparently in certain areas it is illegal though.  i'd call the local police and ask.

Answer 15

depending on the ages - of the oldest - i would let an older sibling "supervise/chaperone"

if they are infants - i dont know what i would do with 3 children  

i have a 6 mos old, and i lug her in the store with me - i have left her in the car 2 minutes with the car RIGHT in front of the door - and me at the door of the store, and let them ring me up there and walk in to hand them the money and come right back out - THEN drive to the gas tanks -

if it is a small town - i would feel more comfortable - and when i visit my mom and dad, where i grew up VERY small town - if i have to go in a few minutes - one of the girls who works at the store will come out and stay with the baby - it is that kind of town -

Answer 16

it depends on how old your kids are if they are older than 12 it should be ok, if they are younger it depends on how they act, but overall it shouldn't be a problem

Answer 17

I think in this situation, it is fine to leave them in the car.  As long as you can see the vehicle at all times... and you have the keys with you, and it takes less than 2 minutes.

I agree that getting them all out of the car is ridiculous...

Go with your instincts!

Answer 18

I leave them in the car, but lock the doors and am watching the car at all times. As 1 off my kids it an infant and the other just two it is way to much hassle taking them both in. Plus dangerous as wel with all these cars in a small space.  Did not know it is illegal .

Answer 19

if its only for 10 seconds and they are in sight then i dont think its illegal! if your going to the grocery store for a half hour and leave all of them in the car then yes, thats illegal... especially on a hot day

Answer 20

I'd choose a gas station where you pay at the pump.

I will leave some kids in the car in a friend's driveway while I walk one kid to the door to drop them off for a playdate.  I will leave some kids in the car in my own driveway while I carry groceries from the trunk to the door (I figure they're safer in their seatbelts than running amok in the house while I do that).  Otherwise, I bring the kids with me, even when it's just for a minute and even when it's annoying (as when one kid is asleep in the car or something).  I'd bring them with me in your example.  A family member's car was nearly carjacked at a gas station once, so I'm paranoid.  But I don't think you're negligent for doing otherwise (but I do think it would be negligent if you were going to be inside for more than 2 minutes or if you couldn't see the car from indoors).  The risks are far tinier than most people think, at least if you don't have the kinds of kids prone to jumping out of the car and running into traffic....  Definitely crack the windows, though.

Answer 21

All it takes is a split second, no community is kidnapper - proof, and even a child who knows about stranger danger can be abducted.  To each her own, but I personally won't take the chance with my son.  I love him too much to risk his safety.  

*ETA* Michelle, how is it unfair?  First of all, you are jumping the gun and making assumptions that I implied that you love your child any less.  Secondly, I'm entitled to give my opinion.  I don't think it's safe, and I wouldn't do it with my child.  You clearly missed the "to each her own" part.

Answer 22

Yes, leaving a child unattended is illegal, as it should be.

I don't care how quick you go in and out of the store, or how long it takes to get the kids out, leaving them alone should NEVER be a choice that you so much as consider. Getting in to a locked car takes literally only a second or two, and that's all the time it would take for someone to have your kids.

Living in a small town dosn't matter- you can never be sure of the good intentions of every person around you. Some people may just snap if given the opportunity.

So, if you really love your kids, which I know that you do, always take them with you when you leave the car.I would go so far as to say to even lock the car when you're standing beside it pumping the gas.

Make it simple on yourself- get a credit or debit card so you can pay for the gas without ever leaving the pump.

God Bless

Kevin