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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To leave the children in the locked car when paying for petrol

88 replies

Ilovemyself · 06/06/2013 17:30

I hate to do it but it is a pain to get the twins ( or all 3 when I have them with me which is less often) out, take them in and then get them back
In their car seats.

I don't want to do it but it seems the only thing to do.

OP posts:

Morgause · 06/06/2013 17:31

Are there no pumps that take credit cards?

That's what we use anyway.

LastTangoInDevonshire · 06/06/2013 17:31

I would have thought it was less dangerous to leave them in the car than to traipse them across the forecourt to pay.

BabyStone · 06/06/2013 17:32

How old are they?
What about the petrol stations that have the pay at pumps? or the drive through kiosks

ImagineJL · 06/06/2013 17:33

I leave my two, ages 4 and 7, and have done for ages, can't remember how old they were. I always try a choose a very visible pump.

MatersMate · 06/06/2013 17:34

Oh god, yes IMO it's fine.

BellaVita · 06/06/2013 17:36

We got petrol last week and the lady in front (we had to wait for her) did not pay at the pump and got her little dd out of the car, stood her on the forecourt whilst she put her cardy on and then traipsed her across the forecourt (she was only just toddling) to pay. Surely it would have made more sense to pay at the pump....

BellaVita · 06/06/2013 17:36

But yes, I think it is fine leaving them in the car.

BlueberryHill · 06/06/2013 17:37

I leave my twins in and have done since they were born. How do you get them out in their car seats? How old are they because I badly hurt my back carrying them in car seats once. I have an older son also and if I have him I as well he stays inside. I think it is the least dangerous option, more likely to be hit by a car than there is a fire / someone tries to steal the car. Mind you the alarm goes off a lot.

WoTmania · 06/06/2013 17:39

I always leave them in the car. No pay at pump garages around here and trying to herd the three of them across a forecourt makes break out into a cold sweat.
I can always see them so have no problem. I don't lock the car though.

ChippyMinton · 06/06/2013 17:41

Pay at Pump if you can.

I wouldn't lock the car in case of fire etc, but you have to assess the risk yourself.

Original poster

Ilovemyself · 06/06/2013 17:41

Quite often there I not enough on my cards to use the automated one but I do if I can.

But thanks all. I feel a lot better. I always had the thought people were looking at me thinking I must be a terrible dad leaving them.

They are 15 month old twins and a 3 month old

OP posts:

GoodbyePorkPie · 06/06/2013 17:41

I would leave them, what else can you do? If the car's locked and you're not gone for more than a few minutes what's the problem?

saintlyjimjams · 06/06/2013 17:42

Mumsnet is the land of spontaneous exploding cars but I have always left my kids. Unless you have a handbrake obsessive far safer IMO.

LadyPeterWimsey · 06/06/2013 17:43

Do you know, until I came on Mumsnet I had never even considered NOT leaving them in the car. It's locked, I can see it the whole time, petrol stations are crawling with CCTV, it would be more dangerous to walk them across the forecourt, they're strapped in safely.

BlueberryHill · 06/06/2013 17:43

No, they are looking at you thinking, "Thank god I don't have twins."

Jinty64 · 06/06/2013 17:46

I leave mine and I'm usually completely precious!

Original poster

Ilovemyself · 06/06/2013 17:47

Blueberryhill. The shame is they don't realise that twins are so fantastic.

OP posts:

SkinnybitchWannabe · 06/06/2013 17:47

I always leave my dc in the car when I pay, it's never entered my mind not too

ThePathanKhansAmnesiac · 06/06/2013 17:51

I leave mine in the car, take your life in your hands at the petrol pumps round here, much safer I think.

BabyStone · 06/06/2013 17:51

yeah agree with everyone else, it's fine. It's not like your leaving them in a busy car park whilst you go off and do your weekly shop!

MolotovCocktail · 06/06/2013 17:51

I wouldn't, and either pay at the pump or have someone with me when I fill up. I'm a worrier and would never forgive myself if something happened. Probably nothing would happen, but if I wouldn't leave my handbag unattended, I sure as hell ain't going to leave my kids.

Marmite48 · 06/06/2013 17:52

I have always left my DS in the car, I really don't understand why you wouldn't feel comfortable doing so.

ParadiseChick · 06/06/2013 17:54

I would, never seen anyone take their kids in to pay.

Oblomov · 06/06/2013 17:55

I have and always will leave my kids and pay for petrol.
Only on mn do these kind of threads exist. I read similar thread 10 years ago, and was shocked then, and even today I am bemused that this even crosses your mind.

Original poster

Ilovemyself · 06/06/2013 18:00

Oblomov. It's the thought of thefts of cars from petrol stations or someone taking the kids that worries me.

I have strong opinions on people leaving their kids on their own ( to go to the pub or for a
Meal for instance) so I feel slightly at odds with myself for leaving them in the car.

OP posts:

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