Mom Confessions: My Kids Sleep Alone in the Car

by The Stir Bloggers October 16, 2009 at 11:30 AM

house It's time for a Mom Confession -- because, let's face it, we're real mothers and sometimes it doesn't work the way the parenting books say it should.

This Week's Confession:

In comfortable weather, during the day, I let my kids nap in the car in the driveway if they fall asleep on the way home from somewhere. We live in a two-stoplight town with very low crime rates. I park the car in the driveway where I can see it from the house and lock the doors. I go out every five minutes or so to peek in at them and check the temperature inside the van to make sure it's not too warm or too cool for them. But some people (my mom) still think it's terrible that I do this. I check on them so much and they're all locked up that they're probably safer in there than in their bedrooms! -- anonymous

We all have secrets -- so thanks to this brave mom for sharing her honest thoughts, and thank you for keeping this conversation non-judgmental!

Do you have a Mom Confession you want to share? PM me. We can share your confession with your CafeMom screenname or anonymously.

Past Confessions:

I'm Afraid My Husband is Going to Die

I Don't Like Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

I Have a Family, But I'm Lonely

I Lie and Say I'm "Working" to Avoid Playing

I Let My Son Fall Asleep to DVDs

I Don't Shield My Kids' Eyes from Nudity

I Use Housecleaning to Avoid Playing With My Kids

I Am Not a Fun Mom

I Don't Set Up Play Dates for My Kids

I Wish I Had a Fulfilling Career Outside the Home

I Use My Kid's Flushable Toilet Wipes

I'm Going to Disney Without My Children

I Bribe My Children

I Hate Reading Children's Books

I Sleep Naked With My Toddler

I Hate My Neighbor's Kid

I Don't Like to Play

I Sleep While My Kid Is Up

My Kid Watches TV Up Close

I Let My Toddler Play Outside Alone

I Turn My Kids Over to A Mom I Just Met

My Toddler Wears Crude T-Shirts

I Let My Toddlers Climb Play Equipment Unassisted

My Kids Go to Sleep After Midnight

I Let My Toddlers Go Naked in Public

I Throw Away My Kid's Artwork

I Paid $22 for My Son's Haircut

My Toddlers Eat Pizza for Breakfast

I'm Dying My Toddler's Hair

I Leave My Toddler Alone in the Bath

Our Children Aren't Invited to Our Wedding

I Scold Other People's Kids

I'm on Vacation, But My Kid Is Still Going to Day Care

I Favor My Older Child

I Let My Toddler Eat Food Before Paying for It

I Find Excuses to Send My Kids to Bed Early

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Filed Under: confessions

Comments 59

beeber

February 19, 2010 at 2:14 AM

i have done it a few time here because i do not want my kids to be awakened at time. they turn to scream machines. but i do roll down windows and sit outside next to the car and do something. or i sit in the car too and do homework or sometihng. i do nto walk away to where i am away from them.

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rahrahsmama

February 22, 2010 at 9:15 PM

i dont care what anyone says this is ridiculous! it only takes a minute and small towns like this hold the same kind of weirdos big cities do. when the kids come up missing please blame yourself!

Nonmember comment from KidsAndCars.org

March 9, 2010 at 3:10 PM

PLEASE DO NOT EVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE IN A VEHICLE!!!!! The organization KidsAndCars.org is dedicated to preventing death and injuries of children in and around motor vehicles. They have been doing data collection on incidents where children have been left unattended in or around vehicles and been injured or killed. Their findings are ALARMING!! This is VERY VERY dangerous. The general public is very unaware of these dangers because our federal gov't (that collects info on deaths/injuries/etc...) has not paid attention to this issue and it has been largely ignored. PLEASE don't put your child at risk to be yet another child who is injured or killed in PREVENTABLE tragedies. No parents are perfect, but this is an easy one...NEVER leave your child alone in or around vehicles! Check out their website for more info...

mrsjksimmons

July 28, 2010 at 4:02 PM

I have done it a few times. We left him sleeping in the car at my MIL's house. We were sitting right inside the house which the door is right next to the driveway so we could see and hear the car.

thatgirl70

October 26, 2010 at 3:49 PM

And what about that ONE day where you might forget they are out there, or you have an accident in your house and you can't get to them? Take your kids inside, sleeping or not. If they wake up, chances are they will fall right back asleep if they are tired enough. If not, not a big deal. But at least they are inside and safe.

maiahlynn

December 8, 2010 at 1:37 AM

I accidentally left my son & I lost my job, respect of family/friends.... thank god my sons ok PLEASE never leave them dcfs could take them or worse they could die!! go to kidsandcars.org

ARS82078

January 26, 2011 at 10:33 AM

If the weather is nice and you leave the windows down for a breeze . I see no problem with it. Although I would sit in a lawn chair and read a book or do yard work.

Nonmember comment from Saphire

April 18, 2011 at 4:45 PM

I would never do this with my kids b/c when I was a little girl my best friend's younger sister who was I believe 2 yrs old was left in the car to sleep and she ended up basically hanging herself in her car seat b/c she was unsupervised and had woken up and tryed to get herself out of her seat. My friends mom still won't forgive herself for it 20 yrs later

momof2gingers

April 24, 2012 at 7:36 PM

I usually just lean my seat back a bit, lock the doors, and crack the windows. I usually have a book (or Kindle App on my phone) and I read or take a nap in there with them.