Leaving children in the car...

At what age do you think is acceptable to leave a child in a car while you stepped out of the car to do something else?

I had something happen to my parents today and I can't believe anyone would have a problem with what happened but I will wait to see what you all think before I say what happened  

So under what circumstances would you leave your child alone in a car?

Maybe like 8-12. But just to run into the gas station. Like 13 with the doors locked if I was going into the store or something.

Quoting FroggysMommy:" At what age do you think is acceptable to leave a child in a car while you stepped out of the car to ... [snip!] ... to see what you all think before I say what happened   So under what circumstances would you leave your child alone in a car?"

to put gas.

I wouldn't be comfortable until they are like 13. Might make me paranoid but this world is crazy!

I've only ever left my kids in the car for quick things like grabbing something from a gas station because a.) I can see them the whole time and b.) I can lock my car and still turn it on remotely so that it supplies heat/cooling w/o having the key in the ignition.
I'd trust my soon to be 8 year old alone for a few minutes unsupervised, but that's pushing it cause she's really not all that mature.

Quoting Mel & a girl named Pey:" I wouldn't be comfortable until they are like 13. Might make me paranoid but this world is crazy!"

I agree!

I leave them in the car to pay for gas and pump gas. To drop a letter in the mailbox. They're 5 and 7 months.


To actually go into a store 10-12

I don't go anywhere by myself because I can't leave my kids in the car haha.

It depends on the situation. I left my 3 year old in the car the other day because the baby had a blowout, but the car was in the garage and the door was closed. I leave them in when I pump gas.

It honestly depends on where you are and what youre doing. When both kids are asleep I will run one kid inside while the other one is still asleep in the car. But my driveway is at my front door...I wouldnt do it if I lived in an apartment or something. Ive also left them in the car while I go to the atm (if I cant get to a drivethru) if its summer I roll all the windows all the way down and locked the car up either way....but only if I can park in the closest spot which is probably about 7-10 feet from the front of the atm (stand alone atm......with glass walls)

Depends on the kid.

My daughter used to sit in the car alone while I got gas and paid for it starting at 3 or 4. Car shut off, doors locked, and I always chose a pump right by the door/window.

From about 8 onward, if she didn't want to come into the store with me and I would be less than 10 minutes or so, she would stay in the car (shut off, doors locked, etc.)

From 13 onward if it were longer.

Quoting Juliette:" I don't go anywhere by myself because I can't leave my kids in the car haha."

I just pay debit for gas! lol I have taken my daughter out of her car seat to go in and pay before though. Small price to pay for her safety...I don't trust people.

Maybe 18?

Yeah, I don't know. This world is nuts. I only leave the car to go right beside it to pump gas. Never even go into the gas station to pay.

I leave my 5 year old in my car when I go in to pay for gas. I make sure the doors are locked when I do, and I make sure that I can see my car at all times. That's the only time I leave her in the car alone, though. Now that I have a 2 month old, I don't put gas in my car unless there is someone else with me, or I go to the drive thru store, where I pump my gas, get back in and drive up to the window to pay.

i leave them in the car when i pump gas and wheni quickly run in to get the mail at the post office. i lock the doors and i can see them the whole time. we live in a tiny village and i just run in and get the mail out of my po box