You asked what i would have done?  Well, i probably would have told the old lady to stfu, and then felt terribly guilty and angry!  Knowing deep down that she was probably right to get up me.  She didn't know how long you were gone, and as a society we always say that people don't get involved and help enough, double edged sword isn't it?!  I know people do this everyday.  I have seen evidence of it last week even, and coming from extremely well educated women.  Babies asleep, someone has twins, pouring with rain.......i know it is hard when you are literally gone for 30 secs, but maybe he would have stayed asleep on your shoulder?

I have left me kids at home while I was at a party next door. I did come and check them every hour. I also used to leave my baby at home while I went and cleaned my next door neighbours house. I would take her baby monitor over the hose so I could hear everything that went on.

These kind of statements just don't cut it with me: 

" The chances of anything happening are really slim."

" I know what the law is, but I am making the decision about my child."

" I don't like people telling me what to do with my children."

You know what, if people used their own initiative to minimise the risk to their children by not doing things like this, then they wouldn't have to bring in a law regarding it.  How many children need to die, be injured or kidnapped before it sinks in.  THIS IS NOT A SAFE PRACTICE; to continue it when you are educated and aware of the dangers is NEGLIGENCE.

To ignore existing proof of the dangers; to choose to put your child at risk; to flaunt the law that was created to save lives; to presume to know what your baby/toddler/child will do when you aren't in the car with them; to believe that there isn't someone disreputable in the vicinity watching you?!?!?!  I can't think of any excuse that I would find acceptable.  There are risks and safety issues that we are unable to control, like natural disasters, or illness; the rest are calculated risks that we take; some can be avoided altogether leaving babies/toddlers or kids alone in cars is one of them... Did anyone mention that the law also applies to pets in Australia?

PS  I'm really glad that racechick23 was brave enough to ask a question about a really important topic like this so that we could participate in the discussion.

I have called the police before and I have no problem doing it again should I feel the child is in danger.

wanna know something else, dont fall off your seat now... we do our martial arts training in our dojo in the back yard (and that is noisy so i dont hear everything) oh and we sometimes have a drink with 4 kids unattended in our house... and the back door is not locked... would you like my address... feel like calling DOCS yet!!!

please dont try to tell me that you never leave your childrens side (no school or daycare or friends houses??)... i did that for two and a half years with my son and it drove me insane but i was so terrified by all the dogma that i went into panic the minute i had to leave the house and many times decided not to go and do things i needed to do because of the fear that something would happen to him. i have since decided that i would not let people use scare tactics on me to confine my or my childrens life ever again. i rely on my own instincts and NOTHING else. if i feel it is safe i will do one thing, if i feel it is unsafe i will do something else. that is what i am happy doing. frankly that has nothing to do with anyone else.

May 12 2009 2yr old toddler drives into street sign Colorado Springs

i know it is illegal. not entirely stupid though i may act it sometimes. but i base my decisions on gut instinct and not on what someone else says. and if anyone ever attempted to dob on me like some schoolyard know it all for leaving a responsible 6 year old in the locked and imobalised car with my sleeping toddler in nasty weather while i paid for some petrol can see the car the entire time and am ready to absolutly bolt out the door at any given second (my cardio strength is top notch and i can run like the wind) to stop some idiot trying to break in... (btw they would be in pieces when i got hold of them and would probably need an ambulence) then i'd say go find a life grow some common sence and not be so mench like.

anyway back to the comment, what was said here was an opressive comment with regards to the majority inflicting their opinion on the minority by force. in laymens terms, there are plenty of controversial issues including areas of polotics and law, health and even parenting that the majority are in the wrong but because they are majority they have the power and in turn can brainwash more average citizens into their way of thinking and thus their power continues. i am probably not explaining myself really well but niether was the authour of that comment which was basically all i was attempting to point out.

happy day to all from becca.

Whatever happens to my kids, I will feel guilty.  I would probably blame myself if anything happened to them if they fell down a hill or hurt themselves in their bedroom.  I could minimise the risk even more if I just stayed home all the time, and sent my husband out at 11pm to do the shopping.  No running or climbing, no wearing Crocs, no going out the back in case of sunburn.  How on earth did anyone grow to adulthood in the past, before all these rules came in?

I have in the past lined a shopping trolley with blankets and put my sleeping son (3) in the bottom of it, so I could do the shopping because he fell asleep unexpectedly.  They say you shouldn't put your kids in the front of the trolley, because it's dangerous.

Each situation should be judged separately, and people should be a bit less quick to judge others' decisions.

February 27 2009 - Car stolen with 4yr old inside outside Chinese takeaway in Adelaide... The father ran in to pick up an order, only to see a man take off with his car.

February 26 2009 - 4yr old releases hand brake and car rolls off with him and his toddler brother inside UK... Mother left them for a moment to nip into the flower store.

April 24 2009 - 5yr old child injured when SUV carrying only a 2yr old rolled down the driveway and hit him after being put in gear... The car 'somehow came out of gear', yeah right.

May 9 2008 - 5mth old baby found dead in car after her mum collects her other children from school QLD... She returns to find her child dead in the baby capsule.

August 14 2008 - 3yr old trys in vain to free himself from hot car USA... This poor little man climbed out of his car seat and got the keys in the ignition, he was in a hospital parking lot.

All of these tragedies could have been avoided; we must all be vigilant and look in cars as we walk around, especially if we see a car seat or booster seat.

Lean on the horn.  Hhhmmm, yeah,  do that here, and you are likely to have   a bull up your tail! rofl.  Still, that is certainly one way to gain attention, and kids love it.  Having a back up plan never hurts.  We've even started taking house keys outside with us, even though we are just at the door, because our 3 year old has worked out how to lock us out!  Never thought of the hand brake.  Yikes!  Kid in charge of deadly weapon does not sound like my idea of a fun day out!

When we moved to the country I had to ask Stephen's parents and brother for their cooperation in keeping all the cars locked and the keys out of reach.  If Jaydee is ever in a car alone for any reason he knows that he is to lean on that horn until someone comes to help, (I have no idea how this could happen, but we try to give him strategies for safety anyway).

However it is since we moved to the country that I have had a few run ins, people seem ignorant to the extent that a potential kidnapper or paedophile will go to. let alone the danger from the heat.  Did they not consider that their child (even if left in a restraint), could easily get out and take off the hand brake etc? 

Yes, the risk is slim, however in taking it, parents choose to put their child in danger that they could otherwise avoid, I agree with you, (and the law in every state and territory in Australia) entirely, it is neglect which is actually a form of child abuse; the failure to provide basic necessities, for example: Adequate care; safe environment, appropriate shelter, nutritional food, educational opportunities medical care, and emotional support, are some examples.  It also includes failure to leave a child in the supervision of safe adults, and abandonment.

I have a very bad habit of quickly checking the backseats of cars, especially if there are car seats in them, to make sure that there are no children in there.  Thankfyully, I haven't found any unnattended children yet, but I know the day will come when I do find a child alone  and I will call the police, it is my responsibility (and every member of the public) to report such neglect.  It is the same with dogs too.

Children should never ever be left in a car without a responsible adult with them.  anything can go wrong.  Do you know how many kids/babies are accidentally stolen from outside of shops and petrol stations every year?  Last check, it is 200 year Australia wide.  Even small shopping complexes are patroled by would be car thieves, and they don't really bother to check if a sleeping child is in the backseat or not.

In summer, 2 mins is all its going to take to give your child heat stroke, 5 mins for them to become unconcious and 7 minutes to kill them.  This still happens even if the windows are down!!!

If I had been around, I would have taken your number plate down and reported the incident to the police.  i have been witness to the heartache that can arise from leaving a child in a car for just a few minutes.  On a road trip a few years back, we stopped for petrol and became involved in a horrific car theft that resulted in the death of an 18 month old boy.  The mum went inside to pay for petrol, she locked the car and left her sleeping son in the back seat.  The car was stolen within about 20 seconds of her walking away.  When the car was found about 2 hours later, the boy was already dead, even though the windows had been left down and the car had been left in the shade and the day wasn't overly hot.  it was tragic.  I believe the youngest (who was 2 months old at the time) was also removed from the care of the mother, who was going to face charges of child neglect and endangerment.  She was just as responsible for the death of her child because she left him alone in the car to pay for petrol!

So, yes, sleeping or not, we take them with us every time.  The only time we have let them sleep in the car is when we have been parked in our garage and have been right beside the car the whole time with the doors wide open.

things are "controversial" because the community at large has differing opinions on said topics. just thought i would correct you on that.

the rest is your opinion.

i have left my children asleep in our house while at a neighbours party but have checked on them every hour. it really depends on your instinct, you should trust that more than anything. if you feel it is unsafe then take them with you.

the few crims that have been caught always say they didnt realise anyone was at the back. when they discover it they usually stop the car but meanwhile a lot of them have driven at high speeds or erratically.

there are the same dangers lurking in the house. i wouldnt leave them home alone not even for a moment.

the house could catch o fire or threy could be electrecouted

when trade shpping hours were extended , because i worked full time and so did hubby, i decided to do my supermarket shopping (instead of craming it all in on the saturday morn back then extended hrs were only thurs and friday nights all would be closed saturday afternoon and sunday) 

i left the children in the safe hads of hubby . who by the way was very responsible and caoutious. he went out to the garden to gather beans for dinner. he was out for 5 minutes if that. i came home to findour 4 year old with a cut just below his eye. a whole glass cabinet had broken. he and his 6 year old brother had decided to put the sofas cushions down and were running in rambo style. needless to say the cabinet was closeby. he was extremely lucky that he didnt lose the sight of his eye.

i know there are a lot of "ifs" involved but there is  a saying that says better "safe than sorry" i try to live by that motto

hugs kisses annie xxxooo

anniexxx

We should minimise risk where possible, but I do believe there is room for some relaxing of rules.  What possibilities are there in this situation?  The car could get stolen (slim chance), the baby could overheat (slim chance with windows open and for two minutes), the baby could suffocate (slim chance, and if you were in the car, you might not see this anyway).

I was told off once by an old guy because I carried my baby from the carpark to a shop without a hat on (he thought it might get sunburnt).  I've also been told off by a total stranger for having too many children.

Over my years I have heard many a sad story of children left in cars....I just don't think it is worth the risk.

ttp://blogs.brisbanetimes.com.au/eyeq/archives/2009/01/precious_cargo.html

Hi,

I have done this quite a bit when my kids were little now I have Mikaela to keep an eye on them or they are at home with her.

It is really none of the ladies business that you left your son in the car.

Hope this makes you feel better.

Diane