Have you ever left you small children home alone in the car?How alone was Maddy?

I absolutely would never leave my child in a car alone or anywhere else for that matter! Even if my daughter was asleep, I would never leave her alone. Even today she is 12 and I don't leave her alone in the car. She comes with me in the gas station, the grocery store and so on. There have been a couple of times this year where it was cool, the gas station wasn't crowded and I had a parking space right at the front door, and my daughter asked if she could stay in the car. I told her yes, but I locked all of the doors and told her to not roll her window down or open any of the doors unless it was me and I had the key. I am very paranoid about things like that. My daughter thinks I am too overprotective, but I don't care, I make sure she is safe!

I know what discussion you are referring to, raydene. It was a horrible thing and the parents are the only one to blame. You did the right thing by telling the mother about her crying child. The mother should never ever left her child alone in the car or anywhere. I never left my girls alone. It doesn't matter if I'm going to stopover to buy medicine or softdrink only. I will tag them with me even when they get cranky. If I have to go to my favorite hairdresser, my girls will be with me. I don't care if they began to pester me. I prefer to see them pestering me instead of leaving them alone in my house.

I do not know the Circumstances but I know and hear that when People go on Holiday they do leave the Kids alone while they go and have a good time and to me that is so wrong They are not safe and if Parents want a good Holiday to go out and drink and dance then they should leave the Kids at home with Grand Parents or something as I would not even trust someone to babysit that I don't know People should realize when they have small Children that they need to stay with the Kids and protect them from things like this And you did right Raydene the Mother should not have stood there Chatting

I am not sure what story you are talking about. As I have not heard yet. But I will be listening to the news later this evening. You are a very caring person to have went and yelled at that mother. You could have very easily called the cops and have them deal with it. That mother is lucky someone did not grab her child. I know as a mother myself. It is hard not to comfort someones else child when they cry or in need. I think you did the right thing. IF it wasn't for you things could of turned out much worse. I do not leave my kids out in the vehicle at all. Even to get gas. I use my debit card at the pump. So, I am with them at all times. I am to scared to leave my kid sin a vehicle. I live in a high crime area. So it is not smart at all to do something like that. Not if you love your kids. I do know in the state of Florida it is illegal to have a child sitting in a vehicle longer than 15 minutes at a time.

'People' magazine said she and the twins were sleeping and the parents were not more than 50 yards away having dinner with friends. I never left my kids alone when they were that small.

I hope that the girl is found soon , n is safe. I m also so worried especially ,after it becamee world news. I feel that the parents did amistake by keeping the children alone at that time at night. They could have had lunch in the room as well. But it is very unfortunate that things like these happen. I feel that every parent should be responsible for their child's safety , n leaving them alone all by themselves in an unknown country, is something very careless on the parents' part.

no I haven't and it is against the law here in Canada to do that. The Laws in England may be different, I do not know.

you made the right move. she should be aware of the baby's condition at all times. i don't have kids, but i took care of my nieces and nephews when they were babies. i never let them out of my sight and out of my reach. when i went with them to groceries, malls and everywhere we went to, they were always beside me. and i had the habit of counting each of them while looking right in their faces to make sure they are all with me. and when i was with one baby only, i made sure i always carried him/her.

I have avoided responding in discussions on this subjects because my feelings are a bit ambiguous although little maddy is in my heart and prayers. The parents where in the restaurant of the hotel complex and left Maddy and the twin toddlers alone in the room of their apartment in the complex. AN electronic babysitter - i assume a cam - was available for free in the hotel and was refused by the parents. Apparently - and I didn't hear this part in the news - they would check the children every half an hour but , but is that enough? The police was alerted only 3 hours after. I am trying my best not to judge. What happened is bad enough both for the child and the parents. It is a sad case and the main victim is a 4 year old child. Personally whenever I traveled with my children I took them everywhere with me, including restaurant unless I had someone that I trusted that were staying with them - my mom, a family member etc. If I wanted to go to a restaurant that didn't welcome children I would skip it. I never left my children alone in the car no matter little I thought I would be out of the car. I am so very sorry for all this, I just hope against hope that the child is found ok, and that maybe, just maybe people will take this as a something to think about and considerate when leaving children alone.

Here's a link to the story http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full&objectid=19061523&siteid=89520-name_page.html it states "Sean and Amelie are the couple's two-year-old twins who were sleeping next to Maddy when she was taken from the family's apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on Thursday night. The couple, from Rothley, Leics, had been dining with pals at a bar just 40yds away and making regular checks when she was snatched." I never ever leave my son unattended, he stays in the house with me, if I need to leave, he goes with me. Better safe than sorry. I never leave him alone in a car either, my childhood friend lit herself on fire while her mother went into a store. She found the car lighter and caught her clothes on fire. She is now disfigured. There is no excuse for this ever! I hope they find her and that her parents will pay better attention to their children.

In Texas & other parts of the southern united states its illegal to leave a child in a car, & police should be called. I don't know who Maddy is, but I called CPS on some former next door neighbors because I learned they were leaving their 11 yr old in charge of at 3 yr old, an 18 month old & a new born - for hours while they went drinking! CPS broke up that house hold - and well it should've been. The morons abandoned their dogs even - pond scum!

Good for you for saying something to that mother. I don't think that any child should be left alone in the car or home. Even If I stop just to run in and grab some milk or something quick I still always take my children in with me. Yes it is a hassle but I dont want my children in danger and I would love to keep them around for a long time. It is sad when you see parents that just leave them in there and talk and talk like it is nothing and they are crying their poor little hearts out. Me NO i would not leave my children alone.

Supposedly these people were staying in a private villa and were having dinner in an adjacent villa from where their children slept. Supposedly, they went to check on the children every hour or so. I think children should at this age should never be left alone under any circumstances, but there's no use in judging the poor parents as I am sure they are just filled with guilt over their missing daughter.

Those parents were absolutely at fault for the disapearance of that child. They were irresponsible leaving children that young alone especially in another country. I fear that she will not be found or that her little body will be found. I only hope that someone who wanted a child but couldn't have one and will take good care of her. As for people who leave small children in cars to bake they should have them taken away from them. To many kids die from the heat in cars.

The parents were in a restaurant across a swimming pool from the apartment they were staying in, but could see the door of the apratment from where they were sitting and went back to check on them every 30 minutes (or so). While not wanting to get into a debate on the right or wrong about this (until Madeleine has been returned safe and well), people who are in a holiday complex sometimes let their guard down a bit too much. How many have been on holiday at holdiay camps where there is a chalet patrol to listen out for upset babies and children while the parents are away from the room enjoying themselves? Where exactly do you draw the line about what is acceptable and what is not, I've read about cars been stolen at petrol filling stations where children have been strapped into the back seat of the car while the driver is paying for the petrol. However I do agree with you that children should not be left alone at any time. We must all hope and pray that Madeleine is returned to her parents as soon as possible.

I would never leave my children unattended anywhere and for any reason. I dont care if Im just going to be 1 minute. You can never trust anyone and it only takes a second.

The 3 children were all left alone in an apartment while the parents were down the road having a meal. I think it is appalling that parents have left the children alone like that. I have left my kids in the car, but for no more than 10 minutes and the car was locked so they couldn't be taken. its not ideal to do this, but sometimes it is the best option for everyone.

I do leave small children at home or in the car, but never alone. I make sure there is an adult with them. Who knows what will happen when the small terrors suddenly decide to have fun playing with those switches and levers.

On the news and in the papers here in the UK it has said that the children were left alone and the parents were 50 yards down the road at a bar and restaurant when Maddy was taken. I have wondered what these parents feel now about leaving their children alone. Do they feel gulty? A lot of money has been donated because of this. It is sad that this child is gone but I find it hard to feel sympathy for these parents because if they had been where they should have been - with their children - then Maddy might still be with them. It is hard for me to think what this little girl might have gone through and maybe is still going through because of what I class as her parents neglect.

I would never leave a child alone in a car. When we use a motel room the children stay in the same one as we do. I don't leave a sibling to watch one of the younger children because they are all about the same age. I have often disagreed with people who have left their child/ren in the car while they ran inside a store or some place. They don't know what could happen. Whether the children be kid knapped or someone hit their car. I know how I would feel if such a thing would happen.