Many parents whether nipping to the shop or not wanting to wake up a sleeping child, would have considering leaving them in the car for a short while - but is it legal?
It's open to complex debate but we've checked what the law states and what charities advise in the situation.
According to the Government's website, there is actually no law about leaving your child alone in a car.
There is not even definitive age when you can leave a child on their own whether in a vehicle or at home.
However it is an offence to leave a child somewhere if it places them "at risk" and you could be prosecuted.
The phrase "at risk" is open to interpretation leaving both parents and even police officers to have differing views about what this actually means.
The website adds: "Use your judgement on how mature your child is before you decide to leave them alone, eg at home or in a car."
It also signposts parents to advice given by the NSPCC which says babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone.
With no definitive rules for leaving your child in a car by themselves ultimately comes down to the parent to decide.
There are are factors you can think about to make it easier to decide - including the age of the child, whether you can see your car and if it is parked safely, the temperature in the car and how long you'll be away.
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