to have done what I did today?

[superbagpuss]

OK I'm ready for a flaming as I feel guilty about this

normally I always check the petrol in my car so I have enough

however dh drove my car and he always drives the mpg down ( a personal bugbear of mine) and so I find myself with DC in their PJ in the car with barely enough petrol to get home

so I stop at a petrol station, but there are no pay at pumps so I have to go in the shop and leave DC in the car

they are 4 and were very tired and sleepy, and had been good up to that point

of course there was a queue so I was away from the car for 5 mins, had to leave the car unlocked so the alarm didn't go off but could see the car at all times

all was OK but I hated doing it, DC where very well behaved

if I did the wrong thing what should I have done?

and yes I should have checked petrol level when dh was in the car earlier in the day - that's not a helpful thought

Have always left Ds1 and Ds2 in the car while paying for petrol, always. Locked the doors as well.

BUT I like to make sure that they can see where I'm going (into the kiosk) and possibly even see me in the queue; and when Pay at Pump came out, I used that whenever possible.

I too think it's much more dangerous to drag them across the forecourt and into the kiosk/shop with me.

I always take DS in with me. I wouldn't dream of leaving him in the car*.

*and believe me, I've fucking tried. He has severe separation anxiety and would vomit with the force of the sobbing.

Our local Waiitrose petrol station has the most over zealous employee. She has a tannoy which booms over the forecourt and sits in the window chastising us for minor misdemeanours. For example "Oi, man at pump 9, remove your hand from your pocket". Maybe he had a mobile in there?

In the US huge areas have a much much lower rainfall than the UK and there is a correspondingly higher risk if static shocks. But every single pump is also able to take a card, so that's OK. But there are rules about not getting things in or out the car a you fill it up, as that can cause sparks, and I have heard people being told off over the tannoy.

I've left dc in the car at the garage, outside shops, nipping into a friends house for 2 minutes, outside the supermarket (was never that keen on this one actually and rarely did it)...esp when they were toddlers and asleep. I'd always have an eye on the car. Of course, you feel a wee bit heart racey about it but honestly a huge majority of parents do this and all is well.

I've always left dd even as a newborn in the car to get petrol. Just lock the doors and go!

What on earth? That's just normal isn't it?

kissangel rules about not getting things out of the car while fueling? I had no idea. I'm imagining myself filling up in a different state while on a road trip and getting yelled at over the loudspeaker system for opening the back door for my coat or water bottle or something -- I'd be absolutely shocked.

I have never taken my DCs with me to pay at a petrol station. Ever!

I always leave my ds (11mo) in the car while getting petrol. I make funny faces at him while I fill up. Give him a kiss before I pay and then again when I get back. Always lock the doors but when it's warm/ hot I open the window a little.

I have applied the petrol station rule to popping into M&S Simply Food to pick up an order. Figured it would take about the same amount of time and he was fast asleep. I have rear tinted windows so no one would really notice him.

I always took my DS into the petrol station when he was teeny weeny because I was petrified he'd be sick and choke, it was a real fear of mine as a first time mum.
But as he got older I never taken him in! A lady in the petrol station was trying to scare me a bit though, she said once a toddler climbed out of their seat and let the handbreak off and the car rolled. I just make sure I can always see him and keep DS busy with a toy/phone/drink.

I have always taken ds out of the car. Not because I am worried about anything happening to him or my car but I have no clue about the other cars around me at the petrol station. Cars do catch fire.

Bisjo, read my comment in static shock in the US. The UK is too humid for combustion due to electric sparks. Other causes of sparks require the engine to be running.

kick just Google. There are load of reports of cars catching fire at petrol stations in the UK. How does that happen? Or are they all made up?

I don't think they tend to build petrol stations on steep hills!
I wonder whether the petrol station fires have anything to do with cigarettes and puddles of petrol?

if you lock your car with the key, rather than the button, it usually doesn't activate the alarm.

Eh? I always leave kids in car when paying for petrol. If someone was inclined to nick an old, dented car then they would be a perfect deterrent to anyone who doesn't like driving with constant whinging for drinks/temperature changes/sweeties/a hug from the driver/toilet stops. also presumably it's safer than letting them run around the traffic

Oh ffs cars catch fire. Yes and how is that more likely to happen with kids alone in it than when you are in with them, and if you were you couldn't do anything to help, whereas if you're out you can do something. I'd bet the chances of getting run over if they manage to wriggle out of your grip on the petrol station are higher than the chances of them spontaneously combusting in a parked car with the engine off.