You may have heard the horror stories.
Parents forgetting their kids in the car after a day of shopping. Kids being rushed to the hospital after being left in a hot car for hours.
It is generally a bad idea to leave young children unattended in a car.
But you may also be wondering if there are exceptions to the rule.
So the question is, when is it okay to leave your kid in the car, if at all?
Why Some Parents May Leave Their Children Alone in Cars
There are dozens of reasons why parents may leave their children in the car.
Dr. Chua Sook Ning researcher and educator at Nanyang Technological University of Singapore calls this scenario the ‘Forgotten Baby Syndrome‘.
Chua says that there are three common causes of child death by hot car.
The first is forgetfulness, the second is ignorance and the third is criminal intention. Other reasons may include convenience and escape.
Forgetfulness
Some parents genuinely experience a lapse in memory when brining their children out with them. This may be due to overscheduling.
Parents can easily get distracted by a mountain of tasks and forget that they’ve left their kid in the car.
So, do not pile on too many errands in a single day, especially if you’re going to be brining your kid along.
Ignorance
Not many parents know or are educated about the dangers of leaving kids unattended in cars.
Some may leave small children, even babies, in hot cars for hours thinking it’s okay as they won’t be long.
The truth is that while kids dying in hot cars is not an uncommon occurrence, it is still not as widespread as other cases of child deaths.
Some may still not know about it or are not taking it as seriously as others may.
Some parents that have left their kids alone in the car from time to time may think that people exaggerate the issue. Especially if they’ve repeatedly gotten away with doing it.
They may have dodged several bullets, but it only takes one error in judgement to make a fatal mistake.
Convenience
A moody, whiny child can be a nightmare to deal with when you’re running errands. Especially when you’re busy shopping for groceries, or waiting in line at the bank.
So, it’s no wonder why some parents may opt to leave their kids in the car when they have to do something important.
But this is why it’s important to plan your babysitting ahead of time. Especially if you know you’re going to be extra busy throughout the day.
Escape
Not many parents would like to admit this, and for good reason.
But sometimes it’s nice not to have to deal with the screaming, crying mess that is your offspring. We feel you, there’s no shame in admitting that.
However, you should not leave them in the car alone, even if you do want some time off as a parent.
Consider getting family or friends to help babysit for a while or drop them off at a daycare, if needed.
Dangers of Leaving a Child in a Car Unattended
You may be rushing to get some groceries done, or maybe you’re busy with list of chores.
But your regular nanny is unavailable and none of your relatives can babysit for the day.
So, you do the logical thing. You bring your kid with you.
It may be a whole day of running around before you finally get home.
You get in, kick your shoes off and relax on the sofa with the TV on. But then you realise that your house is too quiet. Too… peaceful.
You’re hit with the sudden realisation that you’ve left your kid in the car. You rush out to get him.
Thankfully, he’s okay, sleeping peacefully in the backseat, completely oblivious to the world.
However, not all stories have this kind of happy ending.
There have been many cases of parents accidentally leaving their kids in cars and forgetting about them.
Sometimes these children come out of the experience unscathed. Others, may not so lucky.
Hot Weather
One of the leading causes of death from leaving children unattended in cars is heatstroke.
Your car can easily reach temperatures above 127° C on a hot day. And it only takes around 104° C for a child to suffer a heatstroke.
Remember, younger children are much more sensitivity to temperature than adults.
Their bodies overheat much faster, so it doesn’t really take that long for them to experience symptoms.
Hot car child deaths are rare, but they still happen several times a year., and it’s not just babies that are the victims. Even older kids are susceptible to heatstroke.
In March 2021, a four-year-old Malaysian boy died after being left in a hot car for 4 hours.
In 2018, a two-year old Malaysian girl died of a heatstroke after being left in a hot care for the same amount of time.
Predators
Another thing you need to worry about when leaving kids alone in the car is kidnapping.
Your kid is all alone in a car with no responsible adult to watch them.
Anyone passing by can easily see them through the car windows. It doesn’t take much to break into a car these days, mind you.
Over 4000 children were reported missing between the year 2014 and 2015. Let’s avoid making it easy for predators to kidnap our children.
Accidents
You never know what could happen when you leave a child unattended for hours.
For example, you can’t leave a baby in a child seat for long periods of time.
They may struggle against the straps when they get uncomfortable. And the straps could easily strangle your baby without anyone to save them.
When It Might Be Okay to Leave Your Child in the Car
It is generally inadvisable to leave your child at all in the car. But very few exceptions exist.
When Accompanied by an Adult
This may preferably be your spouse, another trusted adult or a relative.
Older siblings qualify, assuming they have reached adolescence and beyond.
Another thing to note is that you should never leave a child unattended in a car, even with the air conditioning turned on. Even in relatively mild or cold weather. There are other dangers besides heatstroke.
When They Are Older
By older, I mean much, much older. Preferably, well into adolescence when they can operate handphones and know how and where to get help, if needed.
Older children generally know how to take care of themselves.
If they are still toddlers, preschoolers or in primary school, it is best if you don’t leave them unattended in a car.
Conclusion
Your child is possibly the most precious thing you can own as a parent. A life is not easily replaced once it’s gone.
As if it’s not bad enough that literally anything can kill them, babies are also susceptible to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Anything from a respiratory dysfunction to cigarette smoke can trigger a case of SIDS.
So, try and remember to never to leave your child alone in a car—no matter how brief the length may feel to you. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!