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Embarrassed to admit this, but I'm going to anyway...

My husband asked me this morning, "So what are the rules on leaving your kid in the car?  Like if I get gas, can I leave him in there to run in and pay?"

I know that most people have common sense, but I am glad he asked - he can't ever say he didn't know. 

 

Re: Embarrassed to admit this, but I'm going to anyway...

  • I can see someone asking that question.

    Um, just to be sure I'm not a moron here, the answer is never leave your kid unattended, right?

  •  I'm sure 50 years ago people left their kids in the car to pay all the time (probably even earlier than that before you could pay outside w/ a credit card), so its not that embarrassing of a question.  I'm glad he was smart enough to ask!  Phew.

    TTC September 2010 thru October 2011
    SA February 2011: Normal
    RE App. October 2011 - Recc. Clomid and IUI

    Taking a break from TTC to pursue adoption

    Met our 2 year old son in Russia July 2012!
    Court trip October 2012
    Home November 24 2012!

    adoption blog: addingaburden.com

    Adding a Burden
  • imageMrsJuliD:

    I can see someone asking that question.

    Um, just to be sure I'm not a moron here, the answer is never leave your kid unattended, right?

    right.

    TTC September 2010 thru October 2011
    SA February 2011: Normal
    RE App. October 2011 - Recc. Clomid and IUI

    Taking a break from TTC to pursue adoption

    Met our 2 year old son in Russia July 2012!
    Court trip October 2012
    Home November 24 2012!

    adoption blog: addingaburden.com

    Adding a Burden
  • I'm willing to bet that my husband wouldn't think that was common sense.  We pay at the pump virtually all of the time, so this would never be an issue. 

    I am way too high strung to be a mom.  I would worry every single second of the day about what my kid was doing. 

  • I think a lot of men have less of that instinct/common sense when it comes to babies.  There have been many moments when I had to mentally smack DH for letting Ben do certain things, when I thought he should know better.
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  • imageSuze04:

    I am way too high strung to be a mom.  I would worry every single second of the day about what my kid was doing. 

    I am like this too - which is why I almost never leave him Embarrassed

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  • imagefreeburger16:
    I think a lot of men have less of that instinct/common sense when it comes to babies. 

    I don't think that rule applies just to men.  Not all women are born knowing all of the rules of child-rearing either.  I don't think I have an "instinct" when it comes to babies, and frankly I didn't know you couldn't leave a baby in a car for a minute.  That's (one of many, many reasons) why I don't have kids though, I suppose.  Flame away...

  • imageKasa:

    imagefreeburger16:
    I think a lot of men have less of that instinct/common sense when it comes to babies. 

    I don't think that rule applies just to men.  Not all women are born knowing all of the rules of child-rearing either.  I don't think I have an "instinct" when it comes to babies, and frankly I didn't know you couldn't leave a baby in a car for a minute.  That's (one of many, many reasons) why I don't have kids though, I suppose.  Flame away...

    What I should have said was fathers, as opposed to men in general.  And I thought I had a pretty good instinct with babies until I got home from the hospital with this tiny newborn.  Then I panicked and realized I didn't know sh*t about babies and had no clue what to do! 

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  • When I would visit my grandma in the middle of no where utah, i left my kid in the car to pay for the gas.  I was in a county of 3000 -- i wasn't worried.

    i'd never do something like that in the city though.

  • TheWopTheWop member
    10000 Comments Fifth Anniversary
    imagefreeburger16:
    imageKasa:

    imagefreeburger16:
    I think a lot of men have less of that instinct/common sense when it comes to babies. 

    I don't think that rule applies just to men.  Not all women are born knowing all of the rules of child-rearing either.  I don't think I have an "instinct" when it comes to babies, and frankly I didn't know you couldn't leave a baby in a car for a minute.  That's (one of many, many reasons) why I don't have kids though, I suppose.  Flame away...

    What I should have said was fathers, as opposed to men in general.  And I thought I had a pretty good instinct with babies until I got home from the hospital with this tiny newborn.  Then I panicked and realized I didn't know sh*t about babies and had no clue what to do! 

    All of the fathers I've seen raise their babies seem to have just as much instinct/common sense as the mothers.  If anything the fathers I know seem to be more level headed with it comes to baby.  Who knows, maybe the 2 first time dads I know are just that awesome.  

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • imagefreeburger16:
    imageKasa:

    imagefreeburger16:
    I think a lot of men have less of that instinct/common sense when it comes to babies. 

    I don't think that rule applies just to men.  Not all women are born knowing all of the rules of child-rearing either.  I don't think I have an "instinct" when it comes to babies, and frankly I didn't know you couldn't leave a baby in a car for a minute.  That's (one of many, many reasons) why I don't have kids though, I suppose.  Flame away...

    What I should have said was fathers, as opposed to men in general.  And I thought I had a pretty good instinct with babies until I got home from the hospital with this tiny newborn.  Then I panicked and realized I didn't know sh*t about babies and had no clue what to do! 

    I still don't have a clue.  I NEVER feel like I know what I am doing.

  • imageTheWop:
    imagefreeburger16:
    imageKasa:

    imagefreeburger16:
    I think a lot of men have less of that instinct/common sense when it comes to babies. 

    I don't think that rule applies just to men.  Not all women are born knowing all of the rules of child-rearing either.  I don't think I have an "instinct" when it comes to babies, and frankly I didn't know you couldn't leave a baby in a car for a minute.  That's (one of many, many reasons) why I don't have kids though, I suppose.  Flame away...

    What I should have said was fathers, as opposed to men in general.  And I thought I had a pretty good instinct with babies until I got home from the hospital with this tiny newborn.  Then I panicked and realized I didn't know sh*t about babies and had no clue what to do! 

    All of the fathers I've seen raise their babies seem to have just as much instinct/common sense as the mothers.  If anything the fathers I know seem to be more level headed with it comes to baby.  Who knows, maybe the 2 first time dads I know are just that awesome.  

    Can you introduce these guys to my DH?  :P

    I think that is really great.  I was making an observation based on my friends who have children.  I really didn't mean to offend anyone.  

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  • WHEW! I just asked DH and he said that he wouldn't leave his kid in the car.

     

    Then he said "but that's why I pay at the pump"...oh, DH....

  • imagejkmcnamara:

    WHEW! I just asked DH and he said that he wouldn't leave his kid in the car.

     

    Then he said "but that's why I pay at the pump"...oh, DH....

    My H always goes in whether to buy pop, lotto ticket, snacks...or sometimes he has to go in if the printer is out of paper - he needs a receipt for his gas.

    Hopefully the idea of taking T out of the car will curb his spending.  Stick out tongue

  • Flame away if you want, but I think it depends on where you live and if there is a line in the gas station. Going in to buy snacks and then stand in line to pay, take baby with you. Small town, small gas station, no line: lock doors, take 30 seconds to run in and pay. Different strokes for different folks. 
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  • imageLVila:
    Flame away if you want, but I think it depends on where you live and if there is a line in the gas station. Going in to buy snacks and then stand in line to pay, take baby with you. Small town, small gas station, no line: lock doors, take 30 seconds to run in and pay. Different strokes for different folks. 

    I agree with you.

    I just didn't want my H to think it is EVER ok to leave him alone, even if it is a small town, no line, etc. 

    I guess I am afraid that if I give him an inch, he will take a mile, kwim? 

  • imageLVila:
    Flame away if you want, but I think it depends on where you live and if there is a line in the gas station. Going in to buy snacks and then stand in line to pay, take baby with you. Small town, small gas station, no line: lock doors, take 30 seconds to run in and pay. Different strokes for different folks. 

    I totally agree.  When I go to pick up my dry cleaning and the door to the cleaners is wide open and the car is literally 10 feet away, I will go in and pick up my clothes.  I think I'm pretty laid back when it comes to being a mom, but not to the point where I would put my child in danger.

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  • Who goes inside to pay anymore?
  • imagegoodgollie:

    imageLVila:
    Flame away if you want, but I think it depends on where you live and if there is a line in the gas station. Going in to buy snacks and then stand in line to pay, take baby with you. Small town, small gas station, no line: lock doors, take 30 seconds to run in and pay. Different strokes for different folks. 

    I totally agree.  When I go to pick up my dry cleaning and the door to the cleaners is wide open and the car is literally 10 feet away, I will go in and pick up my clothes.  I think I'm pretty laid back when it comes to being a mom, but not to the point where I would put my child in danger.

    This, I would have never left him in the car in Vegas by himself.  However, when I've been in small towns, i've run inside really quick to pay, pick up cleaning, or grab the mail from the po box.

    When I say small town, the town has maybe 50 houses, and the county has 3000 people.

    Even now at 10, I'll let him go to the toy section at walmart by himself, but my mom gets nervous, and will go with him, if she's here.

  • I was thinking about this question more last night. I would probably do a lot more "bad" things with Mere if I wasn't worried about dealing with comments from people. I look like I'm 16 and I don't want snarky interactions with other people at Target/Meijer/Mall. For instance:

    shopping cart covers... TOTALLY annoying and a big ol' PITA. I honestly think a quick swipe with those wipes and it'd be good to go.

    jacket/coat... I don't wear one very often. Mere doesn't need one when it's going to be 85... even if it's only 60 in the morning. My aunt & grandma have made me so jacket sensitive b/c they try to wrap Mere in as many layers as possible... b/c she's a baby and will get cold. Ugh.

    shoes... fall off, make her feet really sweaty and are, in general, bad for baby feet development. However, I feel like a big hillbilly if I take my child somewhere in her bare feet.

    leaving her in the car... I can see the car. The doors are locked. As long as it's not parked in the direct sunlight in the sweltering heat, I don't see an issue. But again, there are those loony people who I'm afraid would call the cops on me or something.

    That's all I can think of for now. This is sort of a tangent to your OP, Molly, but I just happened to think about it more.

     

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  • Ha, funny.  I don't think I will ever use a shopping cart cover.  They seem like a HUGE pita.  I never used one as a baby and I survived.

    T hardly wears a coat.  If it's chilly, he gets a blanket thrown over him.  I have two zip up hoodies that he wears as well.  Everyday this week he has gone to daycare in a onesie only.  No socks, no blanket, no pants, no jacket - granted its been hot this week...but still.

    He only wears shoes on special occasions (so far).  (Easter, baptism, Tigers spring training game...I think that's it.)

     

  • imageDesmond&MollyJones*:

    He only wears shoes on special occasions (so far).  (Easter, baptism, Tigers spring training game...I think that's it.)

    I just wanted to say that I think it's awesome and kind of hilarious that you included Tigers spring training in the list of special occassions such as Easter and his Baptism.  Big Smile  Yes

  • imageKasa:
    imageDesmond&MollyJones*:

    He only wears shoes on special occasions (so far).  (Easter, baptism, Tigers spring training game...I think that's it.)

    I just wanted to say that I think it's awesome and kind of hilarious that you included Tigers spring training in the list of special occassions such as Easter and his Baptism.  Big Smile  Yes

    Hehe.  We love baseball and it was his first pro game....super special!  LOL.

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