I don't know about other countries, but perhaps in CH this is due to a higher feeling of 'security', because of the low crime rate.

My grandmum told me that she always left her babies in their prams at the entrance of the supermarket, next to other prams, to buy her groceries quietly... Imagine doing that now?

A friend of mine, when on holidays, usually lets her toddler sleep in the room while they go have supper in the hotel restaurant...

Another woman I know left her baby at home about 1-2 hours every day to go buy the groceries since the day the child was born... Alternatively, she also lets him in the car in the parking...

I must say I find the examples shocking, especially the last one. I'm a bit of a chicken-mum, but I wouldn't be able to leave my baby/toddler alone at home. Imagine what could happen: a fire, a bout of vomiting and gagging... Sure, the odds are that nothing will happen, but if it does, you'll have to leave with the remorse for the rest of your life...