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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not know about babies and petrol stations?

174 replies

Beth2511 · 23/05/2015 00:23

Since DD was born I've always avoided filling up on my own so not to have this problem but need to figure it out. Say I have 6 month DD in car when I need petrol, when it comes to paying do I leave her? Do I take her with me?

Baffles me.

OP posts:
BitchPeas · 23/05/2015 00:24

Pay at pump if possible or leave her in the car? I always wait for one close to the window if I leave them.

Kampeki · 23/05/2015 00:25

If you go to a petrol station that has a "pay at pump" option, it's easy! :)

Original poster
Beth2511 · 23/05/2015 00:25

Don't have a pay at pump nearby :(

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 23/05/2015 00:26

Assuming you can see you car from the till, I would just lock the doors and join the queue.

Then again I don't drive so perhaps I'm missing something?

trollkonor · 23/05/2015 00:29

If its just to pay and may be get a loaf of bread I left in the car and out the alarm on. Of course it xepends if they were screaminG, happy, sleeping etc. I often had to fill up with babies aand toddlers.

PattiODoors · 23/05/2015 00:30

I always left the children in the car.

I figured safer than trying to cart across forecourt.

molyholy · 23/05/2015 00:33

I still debate this and my dd is 6 lol. If I would not be able to see the car from where I pay, I take her. If I can see her, I leave her in the car and lock the door. Hth.

Anomaly · 23/05/2015 00:37

I was a bit overprotective with DS1 and did take him in. I soon stopped. Think about it there is a very real risk of being hit by a car maybe not while he's in a baby seat but if you start now you'll be traipsing across the forecourt with an unwilling 18 month old. At one point I had newborn, toddler and 5 year old can you imagine taking that lot in? The chance of some one abducting them or the car setting alight is tiny compared to the very real risk of a car hitting them. Never mind the stress of getting them out, crossing the forecourt, ignoring the demands for chocolate, paying, getting them all back to the car and strapped back in. Leave them in the car they'll be fine.

2rebecca · 23/05/2015 00:42

I locked the car door paid at kiosk and never thought twice about it. Some people obviously have way longer kiosk queues than me or nothing much to worry about

LilyBobtail · 23/05/2015 00:59

Always take DD (now 3) with me as she gets upset if I walk off.

kali110 · 23/05/2015 01:19

I waa always left as a child in the car the petrol station and told not to move lol

Mermaidhair · 23/05/2015 01:31

My dh would fill up the car for me, but if I had to I would always take them in with me.

WrappedInABlankie · 23/05/2015 01:44

Leave in the car. Children aren't allowed out on the forecourt where I live so have to stay In the car anyway.

The way I see it the chances of my car being set a light/ exploding are very slim to the chance of my DS running off/ being hit by a car! plus you don't get all the I want this sweet/toy/sandwich/drink Ect and when you say no a tantrum making it even more dangerous to cross the forecourt on the way back

Binglesplodge · 23/05/2015 01:57

Reading these replies with interest as I've been lugging my 7 month old ds and his car seat into the shop every time because I've been told it's illegal to leave them in the car! Is that not the case?

AuntieStella · 23/05/2015 06:23

These threads never reach a consensus.

Some people do this, some people don't.

It is very, very rare for a child to be harmed when in a parked car.

It is also rare for cars to be stolen from forecourts.

It is also rare for a small securely strapped on baby to escape their seat; though toddlers can do, and may damage stuff or hurt themselves.

It is rare for babies to choke/gag/vomit when well and happy.

But all those things can happen, and that is why some think that even if risk small, as it's totally avoidable don't do it. Other think that some of those events could also happen when they're in the back and you're driving, causing similar risk of harm during time to pull over safely.

YouMakeMyHeartSmile · 23/05/2015 06:24

I always take DD in with me, but mainly just try and fill up while someone else is in the car to avoid the issue!

PotteringAlong · 23/05/2015 06:27

I just leave them in the car. They're strapped into their car seats. There's a bigger chance of then being knocked over as they walk across the forecourt than anything happening to them in the car.

MagicAlwaysLeadsToTrouble · 23/05/2015 06:33

I never get these threads. I have always left mine in the car and can't imagine lugging a heavy baby plus seat across the forecourt to pay. Almost everyone else I see at the petrol station seems to leave the kids in the car. I never seem to see all these mumsnetters who claim to take their kids in.

gofuckyourself · 23/05/2015 06:46

Hmm i agree with the above poster about never seeing these mumsnetters who apparently take their kids in.

littleostrich · 23/05/2015 06:48

I have a 3 month old and I've been avoiding this too because I wasn't sure what to do - good question OP!

SpaghettiMeatballs · 23/05/2015 06:54

magic my thoughts exactly. I have never seen anyone take small children into a filling station.

I always leave mine in the car.

humlebee7 · 23/05/2015 06:57

I leave in car. Good to have a book or toy to distract and stops any crying. It's probably manageable if you just have one child to take them in but most of the time they have big windows to see them and the pay thing is near the front. I do like to be able to see the car at all times. If I was going to shop or the loo I'd be likely to take my two in with me.

MissJoMarch · 23/05/2015 06:57

Oh god. Just leave them in the car

GiraffesAndButterflies · 23/05/2015 06:59

I take my DD (2yrs) in but ideally try and plan so she's not with me. Suspect she'd scream if left so taking her in seems the lesser evil. But if I trusted her to not freak out then I'd have no issue leaving her; I agree that it's a safe thing to do.

SweetAndFullOfGrace · 23/05/2015 07:01

Bingle it's not illegal to leave a child alone. It's illegal to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk. So it's a bit subjective.

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