Page 2 | Do you leave kids in car whilst paying for fuel?

elm26 · 2026-06-13T11:50:01+00:00

I’m not saying which one of us does which but here’s the scenario, 9 month old and 3 year old in car. You cannot pay at pump (we have one of these which is miles from us). You’re only paying for fuel, you’re not choosing drink/crisps or anything else, literally in, pay and out. YABU - you’d take both kids in with you YANBU - you’d leave them in the car

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 22:27

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 21:07

2 in one hand and 1 in the other hand - basic maths!

Show quote history

Wouldve thought that would be easy for one of them to give you slip slip but if you say so

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 22:11

angelikacpickles · 14/06/2026 22:09

In most petrol stations, you can see your car from inside.

Show quote history

Maybe so but your eyes are not on that child the whole time

angelikacpickles · 14/06/2026 22:09

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 22:07

Safer because you are not leaving your child unattended - left in the car your eyes are not on your child

Show quote history

In most petrol stations, you can see your car from inside.

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 22:07

angelikacpickles · 14/06/2026 21:20

In what way is it safer?

Show quote history

Safer because you are not leaving your child unattended - left in the car your eyes are not on your child

angelikacpickles · 14/06/2026 21:20

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:58

The benefits are it’s safer

Show quote history

In what way is it safer?

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 21:07

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 21:03

Ok so how do you hold 3 kids hands at the same time then

Show quote history

2 in one hand and 1 in the other hand - basic maths!

Circe7 · 14/06/2026 21:05

Both leaving a child in the car to pay for petrol and taking them across the forecourt are of negligible risk.

They are likely far lower risk than the drive to the petrol station or a trip to the park or a child eating a meal.

Yes the car could spontaneously combust or be stolen but an armed robber could come into the petrol station or a lion which has escaped from the local zoo. Or a can of baked beans could fall on their head in the shop etc.

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 21:03

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:59

Well I have never had a problem with that - you just manage easy enough

Show quote history

Ok so how do you hold 3 kids hands at the same time then

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 21:02

ilovepixie · 13/06/2026 13:22

I used to work in a petrol station. A mum left her child in the car and another car drove into it and pushed the car into an electricity box. So accidents can happen.

And what if another adult was in the car with the kids? Would that have stopped that accident happening somehow. ?

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:59

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 20:56

What when you have 3 kids and 2 hands?

Show quote history

Well I have never had a problem with that - you just manage easy enough

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 20:58

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:58

The benefits are it’s safer

Show quote history

In what way? This is what I'm trying to figure out.

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 20:58

JessLou80 · 13/06/2026 15:48

Absolutely not -it’s neglectful

Why is it neglectful? And what if the kids are asleep? Wake them up, drag them across forecourt, back to car and strap all back in again?

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:58

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 20:55

Why? What's the benefits of unstrapping them and carting them into the shop.

Show quote history

The benefits are it’s safer

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 20:56

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:50

Yeah this is exactly what I’m thinking - surely children would be holding the adults hand not running around on the forecourt 🤷‍♀️

Show quote history

What when you have 3 kids and 2 hands?

Thechaseison71 · 14/06/2026 20:55

canuckup · 13/06/2026 13:19

At that age, no way. They need to come with you. I know it's an utter pest but voilà

Why? What's the benefits of unstrapping them and carting them into the shop.

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:53

mathanxiety · 14/06/2026 20:50

Tell me you've never given any thought to getting small children into or out of cars without telling me...

You do not leave any child standing outside of the vehicle while attending to anything inside the car (other children, groceries, whatever). Everyone gets into the car and the buckling begins. Nobody leaves the car until everyone is unbuckled.

I managed to drag five DCs into and out of shops and filling stations without once leaving a child standing beside the car.

Show quote history

Yes exactly this!! It’s not rocket science - the older ones jump in first so you can buckle in the baby so nobody is standing around on the forecourt. Absolutely no excuse to leave a child (especially a baby) unattended in a car

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:50

mathanxiety · 14/06/2026 20:45

Agree.

Carjacking is a thing.

I don't understand how toddlers or small children would be at risk in a forecourt either. Surely the responsible adult would be holding their hands, just as you would in any area where cars and pedestrians are present together, like a car park. Please tell me you hold your small children's hands in car parks, folks.

Show quote history

Yeah this is exactly what I’m thinking - surely children would be holding the adults hand not running around on the forecourt 🤷‍♀️

mathanxiety · 14/06/2026 20:50

Honeyhonay · 14/06/2026 19:20

If you think the risk of your locked modern car being unlocked, stolen and driven off with your children in it or spontaneous combustion is more likely than your children being hit by a car on a forecourt, and the unbuckling/ buckling at either end meaning the second and third child are stood on the forecourt alone while the parent is distracted and dealing with the first child, I really don’t know what to say.

Edited

Show quote history

Tell me you've never given any thought to getting small children into or out of cars without telling me...

You do not leave any child standing outside of the vehicle while attending to anything inside the car (other children, groceries, whatever). Everyone gets into the car and the buckling begins. Nobody leaves the car until everyone is unbuckled.

I managed to drag five DCs into and out of shops and filling stations without once leaving a child standing beside the car.

mathanxiety · 14/06/2026 20:45

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:23

Like I said earlier I have witnessed a car being stolen with a child inside whilst irresponsible parent has gone inside to pay without a care in the world. Somebody else upthread has said about a car horrifyingly going up in flames with a child inside - these things happen! I have never seen any accidents involving people getting hit on the forecourt - just cars going very slowly as then enter and exit. Locked cars can be stolen you know - in a matter of seconds

Show quote history

Agree.

Carjacking is a thing.

I don't understand how toddlers or small children would be at risk in a forecourt either. Surely the responsible adult would be holding their hands, just as you would in any area where cars and pedestrians are present together, like a car park. Please tell me you hold your small children's hands in car parks, folks.

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 20:23

Honeyhonay · 14/06/2026 19:20

If you think the risk of your locked modern car being unlocked, stolen and driven off with your children in it or spontaneous combustion is more likely than your children being hit by a car on a forecourt, and the unbuckling/ buckling at either end meaning the second and third child are stood on the forecourt alone while the parent is distracted and dealing with the first child, I really don’t know what to say.

Edited

Show quote history

Like I said earlier I have witnessed a car being stolen with a child inside whilst irresponsible parent has gone inside to pay without a care in the world. Somebody else upthread has said about a car horrifyingly going up in flames with a child inside - these things happen! I have never seen any accidents involving people getting hit on the forecourt - just cars going very slowly as then enter and exit. Locked cars can be stolen you know - in a matter of seconds

angelikacpickles · 14/06/2026 20:09

bignewprinz · 14/06/2026 19:34

Most cars these days are keyless and are stolen using tablets/laptops in less than a minute.

Show quote history

Good thing it takes less time than that to pay for petrol.

bignewprinz · 14/06/2026 19:34

GisGasGus · 14/06/2026 16:59

Had she also left the keys in the ignition?

Show quote history

Most cars these days are keyless and are stolen using tablets/laptops in less than a minute.

bignewprinz · 14/06/2026 19:29

ByRubyOrca · 14/06/2026 17:25

I always bring mine in. There was a tragedy locally a few years ago where a mum nipped into the shop for less than two minutes and the car went on fire. Nobody could get her son out and he died in the fire.

even though I know logically the chances are very low, it’s sort of stuck with me as it was so horrific.

Yup. This is the reason I don't leave my kids in the car too. 300 car fires a day, 100,000 a year in the UK.

Not sure I consider walking carefully across the forecourt quite as treacherous as many of the posters here. But let's face it, they don't either, they just can't be arsed with the hassle.

Honeyhonay · 14/06/2026 19:20

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 19:18

Exactly! It’s a no brainer - and far safer!!

Show quote history

If you think the risk of your locked modern car being unlocked, stolen and driven off with your children in it or spontaneous combustion is more likely than your children being hit by a car on a forecourt, and the unbuckling/ buckling at either end meaning the second and third child are stood on the forecourt alone while the parent is distracted and dealing with the first child, I really don’t know what to say.

JessLou80 · 14/06/2026 19:18

looselegs · 14/06/2026 19:15

Because I'd rather keep them with me than leave them alone in the car....

Show quote history

Exactly! It’s a no brainer - and far safer!!