Ok so I know that leaving the kids to run into stores and stuff is not OK. But what about leaving them in the car to run in and pay for like gas when the car in right in fornt and you can see them perfectly out the window?

Depends on the age of the children.

They are 4 and 6

I think its fine... I do that. I lock the car and take the keys with me. My son has been instructed to start screaming his head off if anyone tries to get in. lol.

Mine are 4 and 8 and I do the same as Static.

Yes, definitely lock the car.

Some people may have an opinion that is opposite, but it is quite the hassle to drag two children out for a 30 second run into the gas station.

Now if they will be out of your sight or there is a change for an unknown delay beyond a couple of minutes, I would just bring them with.

Pay at the pump. I don't let my kids out of my sight for a second. And if someone else could get to them before you, you've left them for too long. Maybe the 6 year old could handle himself, but 4 is still too young.

But then again, I am paranoid.

Is this in bo dunk town population 5000 or a major city.

Kids can be gone before you could reach the door.

I have mixed feelings about this.

I've done that, leave the kids in the car to run in and pay for gas, and now I do it more often, my kids are 10 and 6, but 6 and 4, you never know.

I'm not so worried about someone taking them if you have the keys and the doors are locked, but what if one of the kids puts the car into gear and it starts to role?

What if one of the kids decides to unlock the car and leave? It's happened, not to me but to other people.

I think it depends on what you've told your kids, how quick the run in is and how safe you feel leaving them. It's a judgement call only a parent can make.

Now, that wasn't at all helpful, was it? ;)

There is no way I would leave kids that age alone in a car, for any reason.

I guess it partly depends on where you live. I never here of child predators in the Canadian city where I live. I would NEVER leave my lids alone in any large american city.

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

I guess it partly depends on where you live. I never here of child predators in the Canadian city where I live. I would NEVER leave my lids alone in any large american city.

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I doubt that your chances are any less because of where you live, or the size of the city, or the country for that matter.

Small children can open locked doors. Keys get accidentally locked inside cars with kids, kids can put a car into gear. The car can get bumped/hit by another car. Kids fight, get out of seat restraints, choke on something, and otherwise, s**t can happen in the blink of an eye. They move faster than lightening.

And while it is convenient to leave the darlings in the car, when you go in to pay, there could be lineups, little old ladies picking pennies out of their purses, the cash register runs out of tape, there is a power outage and the doors automatically lock, you take a quick peek at the kids and all seems normal, and run to the back to pick up a loaf of bread etc. etc. etc.

When you leave the car, with them in it, until you return, you have no idea what could happen during that time you are gone, until you get back, for both you, and them.

Is it worth the risk?

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Originally Posted by Jake2008

Is it worth the risk?

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I guess that could be said of any activity. I'm not a hovering overprotective parent but I know my kids aren't going to unlock doors and run out on their own. I don't fear all those things you mentioned.

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

I guess that could be said of any activity. I'm not a hovering overprotective parent but I know my kids aren't going to unlock doors and run out on their own. I don't fear all those things you mentioned.

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And you are willing to bet your kid's lives on that? For what in return... a little convienience?

With all due respect Karma, and of course your decisions are entirely your own, I hope you will reconsider locking your kids in the car.

Every parent lives through nightmares with their kids. Illness, school, friends, development angst, etc. I don't recall too many days with my own kids that there wasn't something that surprised me, or that I didn't see coming, every day.

All you can do is your best, and reduce the risk as they say. If your children are safer with you in the store paying for gas, than left alone in a locked car- even for a few minutes, then you put yourself in a position of 'better safe than sorry'.

I know it's a pain in the derrierre to do a simple task with kids in tow, but, their needs are better served, not being in the car alone.

I had to leave mine in the car to pay for gas because I had 4 babies in car seats,

What I did was
Pull up in front of the store right by the door/cash register.
Have the exact amount in my hand.
Wait until there was no line.
Run in and hand cash.
If it looked like I could not get waited on right away lock the car doors
No matter what turn vehicle OFF and take keys with you NEVER leave the keys in the car with kids

Leaving kids in car can also result in them locking the doors and if they are too young they can't open them.
I even saw once a family that that happened to and they had to get the police to unlock the door, which could result in Children Protective Service problems.

Two reasons not to do it. First, there are regular cases of carjackings in exactly this situation - locking the car does nothing really but ease your mind - a criminal can open that door in seconds. Just bring the kids in with you or pay at the pump. What you spend in hassle will be saved in anxiety. Not to mention what children these ages can do in such a short period - a car is not a safe place for kids to be unattended - lots of things they can do that are not safe from getting out to whatever - just because they didn't do something yet doesn't mean they won't decide to come in with Mommy and run in front of a car or something in the parking lot.

Second, many law authorities now consider it criminal to leave kids in a car unattended for any length of time and you could be inviting charges of neglect, even if the counter where you are paying is only 20 feet away. Not worth the risk.

It's a pain in the neck, but it's worth the temporary inconvenience.

I don't know if you are married, but when my son was small I was. My husband would take my car for gas on the weekend for me so I wouldn't have to stop for gas with the baby. It was a very nice thing for me.

Did I stay in the car when I was a kid? Sure, all the time. I also walked with my barely older sister on the sidewalk to KMart along a busy highway when I was 8 to buy candy. It was a different time - I would not allow my son to do that today unless he had at least two friends with him - and he is 14.

I, myself, do not believe in that.. is saving yourself a few extra minutes worth taking a chance of havintg a child stolen?.

They are so little for such a short time...

Agreed.
Who has ever had their child stolen??