What's your take on parents leaving their children in the car?

1. 61

   Princess Priscaposted 11 years ago

   What's your take on parents leaving their children in the car?
   
   Just heard yet another story about a mother driving to work with her baby strapped in it's car seat.  The mother went to work for 8 hours and forgot to drop her baby off at the day care.  The law decided that it was a horrible accident and she won't be charged for killing her child...
   What's your take on parents leaving their children in the car?
   
   

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2. 60

   Peter Leeperposted 11 years ago

   It just can't happen...I won't even go into the convenience store and leave them in the car...I am a worry wart also though...I worry about abduction, the heat, them being afraid of being alone....and God forbid something happening like your example...such a horrible, horrible thing to happen to the child and the family...I can't even imagine...

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3. 60

   Sundaymomentsposted 11 years ago

   I believe in this day and time you just do not do it!!! Back when I was a child my parents would leave us in the car but we were in a different era. Now days there are so many predators out there how could a parent even think about doing something like leaving your child in a vehicle. Let alone the elements of the weather. I honestly believe that if a parent leaves there child in a car alone should have there parental rights taken away until they have gone through some kind of parental classes. It only takes seconds for an accident to happen and just a few seconds for a predator to make his/her move.

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4. 76

   shampa sadhyaposted 11 years ago

   Accident is an accident but willingly never ever in my dreams. Safety of a child comes first and it's not always that the nature may only turn cruel but human beings with sick intentions are a matter of worry nowadays. Everyone has to be extra careful.

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5. 83

   tonymead60posted 11 years ago

   Well it depends on where you live as to how risky it is, but I don't think it is ever a good idea. Busy Mums can have some funny ideas, I watch them drop their kids off at the nearby school and I am astounded at how stupid they can be.

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6. 90

   Thundermamaposted 11 years ago

   Yikes, this story makes my heartbreak. I agree that it's a horrible accident and the grief alone would be punishment enough. These incidents should be a huge wake up call to our distracted society. I'm not sure what the answer to this problem is, but I don't think criminal punishment is the answer.

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7. 61

   mismazdaposted 11 years ago

   I just dont understand how people can forget that their kids are in the car. I mean all of us are distracted from time to time, and we forget some things,I just see how someone can forget that their infant is in the car with them. I am questioning their parenting abilities. I have two children ages 3 and 4 and I just dont see forgetting that they are in the car with me. Incidents like this really need to be investigated and the parents need to EVALUATED to see what their psychological nature is..SMH...

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8. 69

   laurathegentlemanposted 11 years ago

   I really think it depends on the situation.
   
   My mom always left me in the car at the bank or the post office - but she would crack the windows and it never took more than ten minutes!
   
   I've read that the best way to avoid accidentally doing this (if the baby or young child is asleep or very quiet, it can actually happen!) is to put your purse or briefcase in the backseat with the baby - that way you HAVE to look back to get it and you'll have that "Oh crap! I forgot I brought the baby with me!" or "Whoops! I forgot to stop at daycare!" moment....
   
   Regardless - it's tragic that a moment's carelessness or forgetfulness can lead to the death of an innocent young one

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9. 85

   LauraGTposted 11 years ago

   As other readers have said, I think children should never intentionally be left alone in cars - in fact, I believe it's illegal in many states.
   
   However, the story you describe (and which happens several dozen times/year), is different. It is leaving a child in the car by accident. I think it's easy to judge and assume the person is horrible or sick, but I think that it actually can happen to anyone, especially sleep-deprived and stressed out parents. I have a dear friend (an amazing and very loving mother) who once accidentally left her sleeping child in the car - only for 15 minutes and he was fine - but she was shaken for days!
   
   Another tip, besides leaving your briefcase/purse in the back seat, is to leave a stuffed animal or toy in the front seat with you to remind you that your child is in the back.  I would also make sure that your daycare has a policy of calling if your child does not arrive at the normal time if you haven't yet called.

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10. 54

    whonunuwhoposted 11 years ago

    Irresponsible and and dangerous. The parents need to be fined and \or taken to court about their children's custody.

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11. 59

    Traci21posted 11 years ago

    I do not think leaving a child in the car is a good idea I do not care if it the grocery store or bank. To many people try and steal children these days.
    
    I forgot my infant in the car for a minute. My husband took my daughter and he was quiet. But, I didn't even make it in the house! It scares me that someone can forget their baby that long and it does happen. That mom will have to live with that the rest of her life! So investigated, yes and if it was truly a mistake then no. Why make her suffer anymore?

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12. 60

    duffsmomposted 11 years ago

    Kids don't belong left in a car, there is now way around it. If we are so busy in our lives that we don't remember our children, then something is way off.
    
    That poor woman will have to live with herself knowing her distraction caused her child's death.There needs to be a beeping alarm on the car seat that beeps once the car is turned off so that parents don't forget.

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13. 94

    Blond Logicposted 11 years ago

    Many years ago, a co-worker of mine had this happen. I lived in California and in the summer it is extremely hot. He had gone into Kmart for only a short time. When he returned his infant was having problems breathing and eventually died.
    The parent was distraught, and I am sure to this day, nearly 35 years on, he replays this in his head. He has punished himself over and over.

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14. 73

    brakel2posted 11 years ago

    Child Welfare laws say that if anyone sees children left alone in a car, that person needs to call the police.  The police will pick them up. Child Welfare then gets involved. I never left my kids in the car for a second. Especially now, the danger is overwhelm
    Ing. We have had babies die in my city too for forgetting baby and going to work.

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15. 79

    g-girl11posted 11 years ago

    As a mom, this question really took my breath away.  As far as accidentally leaving your child in the car, in several cases I've heard of, the parent's routine was changed on that particular day causing him/her to be thrown off.  Not an excuse, but I do feel such sympathy for loving parents who make that mistake and then pay the ultimate price. It's absolutely heart-wrenching to imagine!!  As far as intentionally leaving your child in the car, I don't think a parent should ever do that for all the reasons others have mentioned.  Would you leave a million dollars in cash in your car unattended for others to see?  No. Children are priceless so I think there is no reason to leave them unattended in a car--even for a few minutes. That's all it takes.  I once saw a mom leave a newborn baby in her car so she could run into the ATM machine.  I said something to her about it.  I tried to be helpful in my approach rather than judgmental, but I felt something needed to be said.  There is nothing more precious than a child and protecting them should be priority number one.

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