Hot Topic Tuesday is an opportunity to take controversial, attention-grabbing, or 'hot' topics that have recently garnered attention across the social media stage and open them up for discussion.
This week's Hot Topic Tuesday is inspired by a debate in the May issue of Today's Parent magazine, and a news story that came out of Grande Prairie in February (click here if you haven't read about it).
The topic is leaving your baby/child(ren) unattended in your vehicle.
Today's Parent Magazine opened the topic to readers who argued both sides of the debate. In one corner, those who believe that there is no time that is appropriate to leave your baby/child in the car. They argue there is no right time for a child to be unattended because the risks and guilt (if something were to happen) are just too great. The news story out of Grande Prairie, wherein a vehicle was stolen out of a driveway with a baby in the backseat, arguably reinforces this point of view. The news story ends in a positive way in that the baby was found in its carseat on a doorstep, but the news story invokes fear for any parent or guardian.
In the other corner of the debate are those that believe that leaving your baby/child in the car unattended for a short amount of time and weather permitting (not too cold or hot outside) is something that they occasionally do and they make no apologies for it. They feel that by the time they organize their diaper bag/purse/stroller for an errand that takes under 5 minutes that the hassle is just not worth it. They also argue that if their baby/child is sleeping it is not worth waking them up for such a short period of time because it disturbs the child's schedule and often results in a grumpy baby for the duration of the day.
Which side of the debate do you subscribe to? When is it an OK time to leave your baby/child unattended in the car? Is there ever a time that you feel this is OK?
Comment here or on my FB page if you want to join the discussion!
Happy Tuesday friends:))
ADELLE