That’s so not okay to leave a baby in the car ever! So dangerous!

I would be furious if I was the mum, but I agree with dad, as time consuming as it is…baby should be taken out of the car. It’s just too risky to leave them in a car no matter how quick you plan on being

I think he did the right thing. He had asked her to not leave him in the car and I think it would be a valuable lesson. Yes I too am guilty of having left my children in the car if I was paying for petrol but I wouldn’t leave them in there if I was going to buy several items. Definitely not for a trip to the chemist / post office!

It’s a horrible trick to play, I know he felt justified but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t do the same things. Who takes their kids in to pay for fuel? I would lock the car though.

The husband did what was right. The mom is horrible and can’t be the primary caretaker of the kid. She should be banned from the kid if she takes this matter lightly. Is the mom stays irresponsible like this, then expect the baby to be dead in a couple of months. That’s how serious the matter is. The husband taught a good lesson because she would never forget it like she did the last time. There’s only one life for the baby too!

I don’t think the husband should have been the one teaching the wife a lesson. This is a criminal matter. The authorities should be involved, especially if it’s a regular thing and he’s already talked to her about it. Petrol stations used to cause me a lot of grief, with twins, but you couldn’t leave them, even when you can see them in full view of the queue at service desk (Now they have pay at the pump and all sorts of other options to make life easier). As for pharmacies I’ve yet to have a ‘quick’ experience there; certainly would not be leaving anyone in the car while I went in, Subway ditto. They are slow places to be for me.

wow, so many judgy judgy comments here, but not many people putting themselves in the mother’s shoes. If you are ducking in for one thing, and the car and baby/ies are in eyesight, it’s hardly the same as left in a locked car for an hour while mum goes shopping/playing the pokeys. Regardless of the lesson supposedly being taught, I think him refusing to let her drive her baby home was him punishing her further – and yup being an a-hole.

No, You didn’t go too far. I would have done the same thing. And you don’t need to apologise to her either, she is the one that should apologise to you. You showed her how easy it is for someone to kidnap a sleeping or awake child out of their car seat. What she has been doing is so irresponsible and careless leaving your child, especially for 6 minutes or more. That is far too long. Stand by your guns and don’t apologise to her. She needs to wake up to herself and realise that child kidnapping and trafficking is a very real issue, and your son could have been part of it. If I were you, I would not trust her with the child anymore, because she has proven more than once that she has not honoured your request and what is best for your child. I hope she wakes up to herself and comes to her senses and sees the real danger you have been trying to show her and that she doesn’t do that ever again. You are an excellent father, concerned for the safety of your child.

Good on you teaching your wife a lesson. We all need that wake up call. It is so easy for someone to violate our space in so many ways. As you said you had already discussed this matter with her and she promised not the leave your child in the car. I have three kids and have at a petrol station left the kids in the car and paid for petrol. It took me 30 seconds, I park closest to the door and if possible prepay at the bowser. I bet it was a shock for your wife but as you say just for a moment. I know a family where a grand-father left the grandchild in a car, locked in his car seat and granddad parked, got out, crossed the road to buy his wife and the child’s mother flowers for Valentines Day. He heard a car breaking, skidding and a thud!!!!! That was his grandchild being knocked down, cause he got out of the car to follow granddad. Poor child did not make it. Hard lesson learned. You never know what kids are going t do or what the public is capable of. Just take the child with you and feel you are looking out for them no matter what.

Ooh the terror she must have felt when her baby was not there. I’m not sure on this one. I don’t know how she could consistently do this, and leaving the baby for so long. You hear about these tragic stories. But what the Dad did? That worries me too. Maybe he should have just pulled up beside her car and sat with the baby and waited until she came out… letting her know it had been 6 long minutes. A stranger would have called the police or worse.

The dad was 100000000000000% justified in doing this, who the hell leaves a baby in the car!? For that exact reason! They car could be stolen with in seconds WITH the baby in the car. It is not ok. It is never ever ok. And it is one of the most irresponsible things a person could do. What happens if a predator walked passed and seen the opportunity!? A locked door isn’t going to stop them from stealing a baby and no one would even notice. This whole argument and any justification as to why leaving a baby in the car makes me so mad. Good on the dad for teaching her a lesson. Maybe in future she won’t do it again.

I have left my kids in the car for a short time while paying for fuel, ducking in to IGA for milk etc. I always lock the door behind me, I always make sure I can see my car/kids from inside plus we live in Tas so it doesn’t get very hot

I would have done the same as the dad. 6min plus… not ok. Never ok.

That’s so bad! Especially when you only have one kid. I had twins to start with and would take them in anywhere I needed to go or arrange for hubby Or someone to grab what I needed on their way home. The only time I leave my kids in the car is when I get fuel, because it is safer for them to be in the car. But I put the windows half down, make sure they are in shade, park closest to the door, lock the car and I keep my eyes on the car the whole time. I think that’s the only time it’s ever okay. Kids die in cars, cars get stolen with kids in them, kids get stolen…it’s just not worth it to ‘duck to a shop’

You, sir, are 100% in the right and SHE should be the one apologising, to you and to the baby!!! If I had been you I would have threatened her with calling Child Protetection Services!!! NEVER leave a child alone in a car!!!!

I can’t believe she actually does this. I hope she has learned her lesson. Sometimes it takes something like this for something to click in someone’s brain.
I can’t even imagine leaving my kids in the car. They obviously don’t get those memos or have that commercial that portrays how they can suffocate etc. on hot days so you should never leave them alone.
Things can cause her to get delayed so who knows what will happen to that poor child.

I understand her being angry at him but leaving a baby in the car for 6 minutes or more is not right. The car could heat up, he could have been taken by someone else or as said by another commenter the car could be stolen with the kid. If he is sleeping maybe don’t get the food or find a drive thru.

Maybe not the best way to approach the issue but I do understand dads outrage at her continued lack of responsibility and safety. To be leaving a child in an unlocked car at any time is bad but frequently and without concern for babes safety? Who knows how long she was in there for before the clock was on her. Six minutes is an awfully long time when it comes to child endangerment. Irresponsible, careless, thoughts less and no less, illegal.

She is shamed and guilty. I hope dad gets his apology and she doesn’t behave like this again.

I am appalled by the fact she left the car unlocked… but regardless it is disgraceful to leave a baby or very young child on their own in the car. There was a shocking case years ago where a man opportunistically stole a car in a situation where the parent had left the child to go into the shops, not knowing there was a toddler in the back seat; when he realised there was a child in the back he abandoned the car leaving the child inside in the heat and the child died. 🙁

That’s so dangerous to leave the baby in a car.. what on earth!