Every parent should be aware of the dangers that can come with leaving a young child alone in a vehicle. Even with the risks in mind, many parents run into situations when they quickly need to run into a store or to drop off an older kid at school and they can’t help but feel tempted to leave their sleeping baby in the car for a few minutes. So, is it illegal to leave a child in the car and is there an age when it becomes safer? This article will answer these questions and more.
How to Know if it’s Safe to Leave Your Child in the Car
Ultimately, you should never leave a young baby unattended in your vehicle, even if it’s only for a few minutes. This is especially true during weather extremes such as heat or cold because babies are especially sensitive to radical temperatures. When it comes to older kids, you may be able to leave them unattended for a few minutes in safe conditions but it is always important to exercise caution. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Consider your child’s age and maturity level.
- Gauge the safety of your surroundings.
- Be aware of any state laws.
- Always play it safe.
Consider Your Child’s Age and Maturity Level
When it comes to babies and toddlers, you should really never leave them unattended in your vehicle. Heat stroke or hypothermia due to being left in a car by mistake are an unfortunately common cause of accidental death in babies and toddlers. Generally, it is recommended that parents never leave their children unattended in the car if they are under the age of 6. It is also recommended that children under this age can be left alone with older kids who are over the age of 12. However, it is very important to use your best judgement and take other factors into consideration such as your surroundings, the weather, and your child’s maturity and judgement skills.
Gauge the Safety of Your Surroundings
Never leave children of any age unattended in a vehicle if the area does not seem to be safe. Pay attention to your surroundings and use your best instinct if you notice dangerous factors in the environment. If for some reason you don’t feel safe, then you definitely should not leave your child unattended in your vehicle. As a parent, it is very important to listen to your gut instinct and pay attention to everything that is going on around you.
Be Aware of Any State Laws
Some states hold certain laws relating to leaving children in cars so you’ll want to be aware of the laws in the state you are located in. Some states offer age cut offs such as 12 or 13, at which it is considered legal to leave your child in the vehicle for a short period of time, while others don’t have specific laws but have been known to prosecute parents in the past when a child was harmed after being left alone in a vehicle. Below, we’ve listed a few examples of what to be aware of in certain states:
- Nebraska has a zero tolerance policy for leaving any child unattended in a vehicle.
- In Florida, it is okay to leave a child in a vehicle if the ignition is still running.
- In Texas and Hawaii, children can’t be left in an unattended vehicle for longer than 5 minutes. These laws also vary depending on the age of the child.
- Washington state law says that children under the age of 12 cannot be left alone in a vehicle if the car is on.
Always Play it Safe
We recommend always playing it safe when it comes to taking care of your young child. If you ever feel uncertain about whether you should or shouldn’t leave your child alone in your vehicle, always err on the side of caution and take them inside with you. We know it can be frustrating to wake up your sleeping baby just to run into the store for a few minutes, but remember it is entirely worth it if you’re preventing your baby from being in danger.
Pay close attention to your surroundings and never leave children unattended (even older kids) if you are in a seemingly unsafe area. Also be aware of temperature extremes and understand that a hot car is extremely dangerous for children of all ages.
Parents are often made aware of the risk of accidentally leaving a child in a car instead of dropping them off at daycare in the mornings. It is important to always double check that you’ve actually dropped your child off before getting out of your vehicle to head into work for the day, especially if you are feeling tired on a given day.
Young children may eventually reach an age when it is safe for them to wait in the car for short stretches of time while you quickly run an errand. The exact age when this becomes appropriate is variable and is more up to you. Pay attention to state laws when considering leaving your child unattended as some states will not allow for this in any situation. Once your child is showing independence and good judgement skills it may be okay to leave them for a few minutes but we never recommend leaving children in the car for long stretches of time. Always be sure that older kids left alone have the windows cracked for extra ventilation and never leave babies or toddlers unattended.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it is probably best to avoid leaving children unattended in your vehicle in most situations. Older kids at a higher maturity level may be able to be left alone in your car, with the windows cracked when in a safe situation. Always use your best judgement to help keep your children safe when traveling in the car.
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