My son was about 9 months old, all squirmy, and would fight me when I tried to fasten him in the car seat, so I had a habit of giving him my keys to play with so I could do what I needed to do with no fighting. One day we were on a road trip, coming home from visiting my mom, in the middle of NOWHERE...it was kind of cold, but I was just running in and out of the car to make a quick trip to McDonalds to use the restroom, change my son's diaper, and grab a coffee, so I didn't bother with my own coat. I just hurried (son was properly dressed and had his blanky though). Well, I put him in the car, closed the door and was going to put the diaper bag back in the front seat, arrange things comfortably, then get my keys and hit the road. As I closed one door and reached for the other, I heard the beep. My son pushed the button on my key ring and locked me out. It was in the 40s, had just started a light rain, I'm in the middle of nowhere with a long way to go, and am in a tshirt! I froze....my son was all snuggly and bundled up with his teddy bear, lovey, and blanky, all smiles, but I was terrified. I went to the McDonalds girl, who must have seen the look on my face because even though I tried to be cool, she stopped waiting on someone to ask what I needed. I told her I needed the police, that I'd locked my son in the car. She called the nonemergency number she had right by the phone b/c she said it happened fairly regularly. I stood out in the rain because I was scared to leave him outside, wanted to make sure he stayed warm and happy, wasn't scared. He thought it was a game and laughed. The police came in like 2 minutes, but couldn't get the thing open. A locksmith had heard the chatter on the radio and came by in about 10 minutes (which were VERY long minutes). He opened it the first try, and did not charge me when I asked how much. The police didn't chastise me, either. I think they knew I was a little traumatized, lol. All I could think was that I'd have to break a window before anyone came to help me, had it been summer time...I wouldn't let him sit in a hot car! Fortunately, he was all smiles and giggles, nice and dry this time. I NEVER gave my kids my keys again! The day I got home, I stopped at Walmart and got him his own plastic keys. We also hid a key outside, and another in our garage, in case they lock the house doors on us (never happened, but just in case).