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Sitting in the Car`

post #1 of 10
5/31/05 at 4:46pm
Thread Starter 
At what age is it okay to let your child sit in the car while you run into a store?


Haley has started asking to stay in the car when we run errands. Not for anything that would take a while but yesterday we had to stop at Food Lion and run in for one small thing. I let her sit in the car all the time when I do things like pay for gas but since this was a large store and I knew it could take more than just a minute if there was a line, I told her no.
I'm second guessing myself now though. She is going to be 9 this summer, it was broad daylight, and she knows the whole "don't open the doors for any reason" shpiel. Do you think it would have been okay to let her hang out in the car for 5 - 10 mins?
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post #2 of 10
5/31/05 at 4:48pm
Funny you should ask cuz I JUST started letting the boys do this if they are together. Zachary will be 10 in Sept and Bailey will be 8. I let them wait in the car while I run into the post office or a quick trip into a store they don't want to go into. I don't leave the girls with them though.
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post #3 of 10
5/31/05 at 4:50pm
Thread Starter 
I think I would be more comfortable if Haley had another older child to sit with her. I wouldn't leave Zach in the car though because I know that Haley isn't old enough to control him if he gets out of hand or tries to get out of the car.
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post #4 of 10
5/31/05 at 4:59pm
Well, I think that I would still let Zachary sit in the car alone but not Bailey. He is a little bit of a crazy child
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post #5 of 10
5/31/05 at 5:02pm
I would just be so afraid that something would happen - what if they got rear-ended or something??

I know that I have thought about running in quickly, to the bank machine or anywhere that I'd be gone for a total of 1 minute or less, but then I'm ridden with "what if's?" and end up taking the kids with me.
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post #6 of 10
5/31/05 at 5:56pm
Mama knows best, Elaine. What ever you feel is right for Haley is. I would be nervous too. Even if she was 16, because she will always be my baby.
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post #7 of 10
5/31/05 at 7:45pm
My dd was ten, and I'd only let her stay if I was just going to be 2 or 3 minutes.
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post #8 of 10
6/2/05 at 2:06pm
I would have made her come in as well. Running in to pay for gas is one thing but like you said you may have ended up in a line. I know I was not even in kindergarten and my brother was maybe 7 and we were alone in the car...but this was the 70's. Heck I don't even like to stay in the car alone I am too afraid of being car jacked!
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post #9 of 10
6/2/05 at 2:12pm
Thread Starter 
I was only 5 or 6 when me and my 3 (2 of them being younger) siblings would be left in the car. Sometimes for hours at a time. My mom was in a tough situation and times were different though. I think the thing that makes me most nervous is her being alone.
Oh and let me just add that I NEVER leave her in the car with it running. I always turn the car off and lock it with instructions to not open the doors for anyone. You never know how your child will react while in a panic though.
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post #10 of 10
6/2/05 at 3:16pm
I probably wouldn't. I don't trust people.
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