Do you leave kids in car whilst paying for fuel?

Not safe to take them out id say.

Much, much safer to leave them in the car.

So, are you going to come back and say which one you are, OP?

Leave them in the car. A 3 year old and a 9 month old out on the forecourt is far far more dangerous than leaving them in the car.

When I was a nervous first time Mum and DD was a few months old, I took her in with me, lugging the heavy car seat across the forecourt to pay.

Absolutely mad. I had a word with myself and realised she would have been fine in the car.

I voted YABU only because of the risk of fire, personal worry that if a fire started I wouldnt get to them on time. Also can the 3 y/o get out of their seat? If not then statistically they are safer in the car and I never judge anyone for doing this (see it quite regularly). But for personal reasons fire is a big fear of mine. Easier for me all round to get petrol when the kids are not with me if possible. Also fully understand the risk of fire is extremely small and my fear is totally irrational as most fears tend to be but that doesnt take it away. Absolutely 0 judgement from me whatever you do/dont do in this case, once the kids cant let themselves out of the car x

I used to take my first born in 🤣 now I leave them and enjoy 2 minutes peace. I can see them from the till/queue x

Bullshit.

I don’t know of anyone who takes their children out of the car, and I rarely see a child at the payment point.
I know it wouldn’t cross my mind to get my DGCs out when I get fuel 🙄

No you probably don’t have time but most parents do.

Just another thing to add to the impossible list of never ending tasks...

I didn't have a spare 10 minutes between school drop off and my work starting, and my ex had my son 1 day a fortnight. I needed to fill up the car every week.

Perhaps I should have paid for a sitter?

You're being ridiculous and judgey.

Being in a moving car is way more dangerous than being left in a stationary car for 5 minutes.

Maybe they can do it while they are driving to work or when the children are with their other parent.

I always left the children in the car, never thought much about it. But, today, for the first time ever, I had to shout to warn a child that a van was reversing as I was filling my car.

So leave your children in the car - much safer.

Not usually possible for single parents.

I once saw a lady take two children in to m&s petrol station bring them back to the car parked by the pump (without shopping). I haven’t ever seen anybody do it before or after. Couldn’t imagine many thing more stressful if I’m honest. I always leave mine in the car as can nearly always see the car at the pump from inside.

It’s because people don’t engage their brain and calculate risk. They fear the worst when in reality the worst, ie your child being seriously injured whilst in a vehicle, is much more likely to happen whilst their DC are being driven in the car rather than it being parked on a petrol station forecourt.
In 2021, 6 children under 7 were killed whilst travelling in a car in the UK. Zero children were killed in a stationary car on a garage forecourt.

My 8 year old daughter now often stays in the car and I'm completely visible at all times. The door is locked and she has the window partially open to get air. On the odd occasion she's come in as she said she'll miss mummy too much 🤣... swiftly resulting in me buying her a treat!
Prior to her being 7, she always came in with me though.

I always left the children in the car ,far too much faff and more hazards getting them out!

Always leave them in the car with dire warnings not to touch anything. I don't even bother locking it. Go in, pay. Come out again. All fine.

And in 16 years of driving and having kids, I don't think I've ever seen anyone shephard all their children out of the car and into the petrol station just to pay for petrol without needing to pick up anything else from the shop/ someone needs a wee etc etc.

I saw it once. Woman with a baby and a toddler. She looked like she was crossing a battlefield the way she had the baby clamped to her with one hand while stooping to hold the toddler's hand with the other, dragging her across the forecourt. Madness.

Do you live in a hot country by any chance?

There is no way on this green earth that I am opening the back doors, deploying the tail-lift, unclamping his wheelchair, wheeling him on to it, lowering the tail-lift, the stowing it again so I can secure the van, then taking my 5 year old across a forecourt to pay for petrol then reversing the process to get him back in the van. I pay at pump where possible but, if it's not available, then I leave him safely in his wheelchair in the van and pay at the kiosk. Unloading then reloading a wheelchair takes time and I think I would piss people off if I blocked a pump while carrying out the process and, having had my ramp run over in a car park it's not a situation I want to risk on a forecourt, I don't believe it is safer to take him with me.

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.

How irresponsible.

Always leave them in the car, with strict instructions to not be idiots and stay in their seats. It’s always worked so far

Depends on the situation. If it's my local petrol station, I leave toddler in the car. If it's a different petrol station and I can see the car from inside, I leave him. If I can't see him from inside, I take him, unless my older child is in the car too.