Spinoff question regarding the Amber Alert

C&K*s Mommie wrote: For those with more than one child, or who frequently watch others children.

On mornings when you have to load more than one child into the car (esp on cold mornings), do you do as the father of the missing toddler did, and load one child in the car then go back to get the second child?

Since our girls are capable of walking we all go out together.
I will admit that if I have to run into the house for a split second (literally) I will leave both girls in the car. Keys in my hand.
On cold mornings when I did take Chris to work I loaded one sleeping child up first, then went back to get the second.

After reading one of today's Amber Alert for the Montana boy, I have thought twice and will not do any of the above any longer.

What about you, what are your practices for loading more than one child into the car? Or going back into the house for a split second?

stella6979 replied: All it takes is a split second. I would have everyone come out together.

DansMom replied: This morning I had to run back in for my purse. I can see the car from the window, and I knew I could get it quicker than anyone could undo carseat straps, but I flashed on this story.

mckayleesmom replied: We all walk out together. On occassions where I need to run back in to grab something I make sure they are buckled in first and then I lock the door behind me....Usually its something right inside the door though.

lesliesmom replied: We all go out together. If I have to run in for something, generally, I get my spare set of car keys, LOCK the car door and then run in to the house. I do this, too, if I'm at the gas station and have to run in to pay.

mom2my2cuties replied: We ALWAYS all walk out together. I also don't go anywhere by myself with the kids without Andrew walking us to the car just to make sure no one gets lost. Now when we are coming to the car from the store or whereever, Michael is older, so he can keep up with himself for the most part, but he is required to stay with me, and get in his seat while I am putting Andrea in hers. Or I will have him stand by me before I get him buckled in good

holley79 replied: Well I generally get everything loaded up then take Annika out to the truck. I keep a spare set of keys in my pocket at all times. If I have to run back in then I will lock all the doors and run back in to get it.

gr33n3y3z replied: I was never alone with 4 kids at a time until they were old enough to get in the truck on their own while I took care of the small one

Calimama replied: I dont leave in her the car for ANYTHING. I dont care what the circumstances are, I dont care how long I'm "not going to take", I dont care if it's negative a million degrees, my car is full of groceries and the alarm in the house is blaring. All it takes is less than a second. She means to much to me to risk it.

CantWait replied: Even though I only have the one young one, I will run into the house to crab something if I forget.

My3LilMonkeys replied: We all go to the car together, and when in parking lots if DH isn't there Brooke has to hold my hand/arm/pocket or something while I carry Madison.

MoonMama replied: Wow, you know I have ever really thought about this, I guess I never really had too. But it sure opens up your eyes, wow. Thanks for posting this.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Never ever.

Before I leave the house for any reason, even if it's just going out to play in the yard, I make sure I have full sippy cups, snacks, kleenexes, everyone's peed etc, portable phone or cell phone, keys and first aid kit. I also have a photocopy of all the kids information in a folder that I take out with me at all time so that if something happens, I have the info right there.

I don't even leave my kids in the car to put the grocery cart back in the corral... i wouldn't leave my kids in the car to get something. EVER.

My kids mean way too much to me to risk them being taken in the 2 seconds it takes, just to get some "thing" in the house... and I don't leave my kids in the house alone either, it oly takes 30 seconds to drown amongst other things, and I have a tolet on the main floor. I may be paranoid... but nothing is worth risking my kids lives.

redchief replied: I don't recall ever leaving the kids alone in the car, not until recently that is (remember they're all teenagers or older now). My recollection is that my DW would have skinned me alive if I'd ever left them in the car unsupervised. That, in itself, is reason enough not to do that, but I don't remember ever having the need to. My carry-around needs are pretty much limited to what I carry in my pocket all the time anyway, and the only thing I ever forget are the keys, which precludes loading in the children anyway.

ETA: In the Montana case, I fear the father isn't as innocent as he led on. I wish I didn't have that kind of suspicion, but it just didn't ring quite true to me when I read the report; as if the police didn't believe him.