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Original poster

Do you leave kids in car whilst paying for fuel?

192 replies

elm26 · 13/06/2026 12:50

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

OP posts:
allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 13:48

Honeyhonay · 14/06/2026 13:44

At 62, while also being married? Interesting.

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I took them on in very difficult circumstances. Long and tragic story unfortunately.
They are my blood relatives but not my birth children.

Honeyhonay · 14/06/2026 13:44

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 13:26

I’m a single parent with six very young children and I manage just fine!!!

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At 62, while also being married? Interesting.

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 13:31

tiramisugelato · 14/06/2026 13:29

It must be amazing to be so perfect. Have a gold star.

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Thank you, that’s made me smile on a day when it’s much needed!

tiramisugelato · 14/06/2026 13:29

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 13:26

I’m a single parent with six very young children and I manage just fine!!!

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It must be amazing to be so perfect. Have a gold star.

Honeyhonay · 14/06/2026 13:27

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 13:14

Just go at another time!!!

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You realise sometimes you’re just going to need fuel or need to go somewhere in the car?
Your perspective on this is incredibly strange.

If you have 2 or 3 kids with you do you put your shopping in the boot then you take the kids back across the car park to put the trolley back then back across the car park to the car after?

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 13:26

tiramisugelato · 14/06/2026 13:21

What do you think single parents should do, then?

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I’m a single parent with six very young children and I manage just fine!!!

tiramisugelato · 14/06/2026 13:21

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 12:48

I’m shocked at people leaving the children in the car and never would have expected that most people would answer advocating that.
I just wouldn’t go for fuel when they were with me/ no other adult was there.

What do you think single parents should do, then?

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 13:14

Honeyhonay · 14/06/2026 12:53

How do you function if your answer is you just wouldn’t go for fuel though?
You’re running now on fuel and you would forgo a food shop or your child’s medical appointment until another adult can accompany you to fill up your car?
That bizzare outlook is far more shocking.

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Just go at another time!!!

BuildbyNumbere · 14/06/2026 12:56

mathanxiety · 13/06/2026 20:06

I live in a place where leaving your kids in the car even for a few minutes is illegal.

YABU to think this is safe or reasonable.

Also, I can't believe the UK still doesn't have universal pay at the pump filling stations.

I know … what a travesty, yet for some reason people still keep flooding here … maybe we should tell them about the awful pumps!!!

Permanentlytired2621 · 14/06/2026 12:54

I leave mine in the car (21months and 4y). Wouldn’t take them in the car with me if I was going in for something else from the shop or I would take them in if I really needed something there and then.

Honeyhonay · 14/06/2026 12:53

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 12:48

I’m shocked at people leaving the children in the car and never would have expected that most people would answer advocating that.
I just wouldn’t go for fuel when they were with me/ no other adult was there.

How do you function if your answer is you just wouldn’t go for fuel though?
You’re running now on fuel and you would forgo a food shop or your child’s medical appointment until another adult can accompany you to fill up your car?
That bizzare outlook is far more shocking.

VIII · 14/06/2026 12:52

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 12:48

I’m shocked at people leaving the children in the car and never would have expected that most people would answer advocating that.
I just wouldn’t go for fuel when they were with me/ no other adult was there.

Shocked? Really?

It's safer to leave them in the car, I'm not sure why you'd find it shocking that most parents choose the safest option. Confused

BuildbyNumbere · 14/06/2026 12:52

Always left mine in the car.

AlliWantIsARoomSomewheeeere · 14/06/2026 12:51

In a standard UK petrol station?
100% leaving them in the car.
Safer and easier than dragging the across the forecourt with cars driving in and out and no footpath.

GisGasGus · 14/06/2026 12:51

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 12:48

I’m shocked at people leaving the children in the car and never would have expected that most people would answer advocating that.
I just wouldn’t go for fuel when they were with me/ no other adult was there.

Are you easily shocked?
Do you really see parents and smal children crossing the forecourt every time you fill up?

allthegoldicouldeat · 14/06/2026 12:48

I’m shocked at people leaving the children in the car and never would have expected that most people would answer advocating that.
I just wouldn’t go for fuel when they were with me/ no other adult was there.

BoredZelda · 14/06/2026 12:32

Yes. She is disabled and getting her in and out of the car was a complete pain in the arse.

Gentlydoesit2 · 14/06/2026 12:27

Take them in EVERY SINGLE TIME

Mummytotheboy · 14/06/2026 12:09

I am absolutely not getting feral Erral out the car, walking him across the forecourt and having to do the reverse action for what is potentially a 30 second job of bapping my phone at a machine

Thissideof40 · 14/06/2026 12:08

Leave them in the car and take the keys. You’re only a minute or two and can see the car from the shop.

ManyATrueWord · 14/06/2026 12:01

I admit to being grateful to pay at pump for this. It's why I always filled up at Tesco for years.

wombat1a · 14/06/2026 11:57

They are far safer in the car then walking across the forecourt.

angelikacpickles · 14/06/2026 11:52

Yes I did when my children were small. The idea that this is now somehow a controversial thing to do is ridiculous, IMO. Taking multiple small children out of carseats, to carry them into a shop for 30 seconds, only to have to buckle them back in again is nonsense when you could just leave them in a car that you can see at all times.

mrswithkidsx · 14/06/2026 11:51

elm26 · 13/06/2026 12:50

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

I’ve never left a baby in the car but I have left them all together as my middle and eldest are old enough now to shout for me if needed to watch my toddler. Only to run in and pay though I’d never leave them to shop etc. I think there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer here you have to decide between the two of you if you’re ok with it or not. There was a car jacking in my local (posh) village last year just outside a village shop so now I don’t do it at all.

Becs51 · 14/06/2026 11:50

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 there’s more chance of a child slipping your hand and running in front of a car moving off. Anything CAN happen it’s just which is more likely🤷🏻‍♀️

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