When you go to the store with your baby or multiple children?
Do you leave your children in the car while you go to the back of the car to the trunk to get the stroller out and ready? The reason I ask is beca...
Do you leave your children in the car while you go to the back of the car to the trunk to get the stroller out and ready?
The reason I ask is because I answered a question yesterday about leaving children in the car while grabbing a cart and I was surprised at how many people said they would NEVER do that and how bad it was to do so. I’m not talking about going into the store to get a cart, I’m talking about going two feet away from the car to grab a cart while the kids wait in the car. Maybe people answering assumed the asker meant go into the store to get a cart?
I don’t see how it is any different than leaving them while you go to the back of the car to get out the stroller and I don’t know anyone who takes the baby out first and holds the baby while trying to open a stroller. If you have a baby and a toddler that would be even more difficult to manage while opening a stroller.
So what is so wrong with leaving children in the car in their car seats while you grab a cart two feet away in all of 10 seconds? If you had multiple children such as three kids age 2 and under how would you manage taking them all out to get the cart or stroller ready? Does that even make sense or am I missing something here?
For the record I am way past this stage as my children are 15, 15, 13 and 10 but there was a time I had three children age 2 and under and sorry but there was no way to get them all three out and then go get a cart safely. I am wondering how that is deemed safer than leaving them two feet away in the car while I grabbed a cart?
People need to get a grip. When I’m done shopping I put the kids in the car then load the groceries then walk — gasp– 3 yards away to return the cart. Once got screamed at about it, too. Like the kids would be safer running around the parking lot.
You’re fine.
I don’t see a problem with that as long as you parked next to the cart return.
i am with you on this one. I have one girl she is 15 months old and I leave her in the car to go grab a shopping cart. I always park close to the shopping cart holders or where one is visable and leave the car running with the air conditioner on and roll my window down incase my car freaked out and locked itself.
When I take all 3 of my children to the store, I get out, put the sling on, put the baby in, get my 5 y/o out, and then get my 2 y/o. From there, if I’m somewhere with a cart, I’ll go get it. Afterwards, I’ll strap all of them in their car seats, unload the bags and put them in the back, lock the door, and walk the cart back (I try to park near the cart return).
I have a double stroller but very rarely use it. If I’m going to use it, I go to the back and get it ready before getting the kids out. I can just see my 2 y/o standing still after he’s unloaded as I get the stroller ready. NOT!
ETA: For the record… it’s not an easy job to take 3 young children to the store alone, unless you time it just right. So, this doesn’t happen on a regular basis, lol.
I think there is nothing wrong with that as long as it is only like 2 feet away. Because it only takes a split second for a child to be abducted, which is why some people feel like you shouldn’t do that. But taking 2 or 3 kids out of a car before finding a cart is difficult, trying to hold onto them all so they don’t get run over by other cars, while holding a baby and putting that baby into a stroller could be extremelyyyy difficult! I have to go into the grocery store for a cart where I live, so I have no choice but to take my 2 kids into my hands and walk into the store then put them into the cart with me, but if I had another baby I would have to find a new way to do it all.
I think it is crazy for people to be so paranoid. I will buckle the kids in their seats then take the cart to the cart return…even if the kids aren’t in sight the entire time. I know I’d see if someone went over to my car. Literally, like you said…it is 10 seconds at the most. And I usually get both kids out of the car when arriving at the store. Walk over to the cart return and put them in the cart right there. It is less work I think.
I think people thought the person asking meant the parent would go all the way in the store and get a cart while leaving the kids in the car.
I don’t think most people understand you can park right next to an empty cart in the parking lot (people who don’t have kids probably never consider this and I am willing to bet a lot of them who answered don’t have kids…)
what i do is if cart is only nearby or 2 ft away, i just locked the door first so i know nobody will get in… if it’s far away i bring my baby… if getting a stroller i look around first get the stroller and get the baby (it depends on the place)…if i’m putting stuff in my trunk, i put the stuff first and put the baby…
it’s hard to move with little ones, we all tried our best to make them safe in our own way…
When my daughter was 1, I got the cart first (unless it was more than two parking spaces away). I got some rude comments, but I felt she was safer in the car – in plain site than in the parking lot.
Unless it was real hot outside, I also preferred to leave her in the car while I loaded groceries. I was more worried about what if the cart rolls away or a truck runs into it than I was about someone opening up my car door with me standing right there at the trunk.
I don’t see anything wrong with that its not like you are leaving your child.
i have always taken bray out of the car and walked in the store to get a buggy.
and take him out and hold his hand while got the stroller out.
People on here are crazy. Like full on neurotic.
When I bring the cart back out to the car, I always put my son in first and THEN take the cart to the cart corral. And SOMETIMES, I have to walk a little bit, because a lot of the time I can’t find a spot close to the cart corral. Oh gawd. Someone is totally going to snatch my child, or he’s going to overheat in the air conditioned car in the 45 seconds it takes for me to take the cart back. *eye roll*
I normally just grab my son and carry him to the cart before shopping…but I would totally grab a cart before getting kids out of the car if I had more than one. I think that’s a lot safer than taking the chance of one of them running off in the middle of a parking lot…but that’s just me.
Leaving them in a car for 30 or so seconds to return or get a cart/stroller etc. is fine. Don’t doubt yourself, you’ve raised 4 and they’re fine, right?
It’s the turds that leave their kids in the car while they go bar hopping who need to be judged.
I have a 9 month old and a 5 year old and i always park next to a cart or i get out, get my purse, get the baby out of his car seat, and get my daughter and hold her hand while i carry my son into the store and then get a cart, or i just get a cart next to me if i’m parked next to it, open the door get the baby out of the car seat and into the basket and then put the 5 year old in and walk inside. On the days where its raining, or i didn’t park next to one because its crowded, we just grin and bear and walk inside with the baby on the hip. But i never leave the kids in the car to walk 3 aisles over and get a cart. I’d rather just take him with me, because yes i am paranoid like that and he’s not at the walking age yet so he still lets me hold him and my daughter knows to hold my hand in the parking lot.
I wasn’t trying to say you were a bad mother, or it was wrong for you to do that. I understand its way more simple and safe for you to walk an aisle over and get a cart or return a car than get them all out of the car and go get one or just walk in. A lot of the time we are just walking in real quick, and then get a cart. Everyone does things differently, i’m sorry if i upset you.