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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:
Mehitabel6 · 23/05/2015 07:10

Leave in the car. It takes way too long to take them and they may be asleep anyway. Once they can walk, or you have more than one, it is dangerous to cross the forecourt.

Mehitabel6 · 23/05/2015 07:12

People have very strange ideas of what is illegal. You weigh up the risk and it is far less riskier to leave them then take them.

TwiceAsNiceAsIceAndaSlice · 23/05/2015 07:19

I left mine in the car if they were happy to be left. Although I normally fill up at Tesco so just pay at pump.

Jengnr · 23/05/2015 07:27

Leave in the car. I also leave him in the car when I unload shopping/bags when I get home (have to park about 20 yards down the road). He's safer strapped in a seat out of sight than he would be in the house out of sight.

Mia1415 · 23/05/2015 07:29

I leave DS in the car & always have done. I lock the car & keep an eye from the kiosk. Of course now he is older (2) he thinks it's hilarious to try & set the car alarm off!

Writerwannabe83 · 23/05/2015 07:31

I always pay at the pump.

If it wasn't an option then I would take DS in with me even if it dig mean lugging him around in the heavy car seat.

He's now 14m so he's in a forward facing seat so it's much easier as I just take him out his seat and carry him in my arms.

Squeakycleansparkle · 23/05/2015 07:32

I find threads like this perplexing. I think some people can't assess risk at all. Your child is SAFER in the car when you pay for the petrol. Cars do not routinely get stolen with children in. And your average car jacker is probably looking for something without car seats and a lingering smell of poo and sour milk.

Teetering across a forecourt in front of cars driving in and out is far more dangerous - not of death because the cars are going so slow, but a slip or nasty bump or a child running I to traffic.

And anyway what on earth do you plan to do if you have more than one? Just strap them in, distract with whatever it takes and then make threatening stern mum-signals through the window as you pay.

MidnightDinosaur · 23/05/2015 07:32

Leave in the car. Always have. Much safer than trying to get them both out of the car and drag them across the forecourt and back into the car.

I do t think I've ever seen anyone take the kids out of the car to pay for petrol.

Mehitabel6 · 23/05/2015 07:34

If you always leave them in the car they never expect to get out. I have never once seen anyone take their baby out of the car to pay. (I wouldn't be happy if they did and I was having to wait. )

chrome100 · 23/05/2015 07:36

Just leave the baby in the car - surely? What on earth is going to happen?

Mehitabel6 · 23/05/2015 07:37

Once you have more than one it isn't a sensible option. I have a friend with triplets- it would take her about 30 mins to do the whole paying thing!
It is just a luxury for those with one child.

fortunately · 23/05/2015 07:40

Leave her.

How many kids have been nicked from garage forecourts?

CoolAs10Fonzies · 23/05/2015 07:40

ach, just give dd the cash and tell her to queue up while I fill up Wink

Salene · 23/05/2015 07:41

I'm another one who has much to my dislike dragged my poor baby into pay as for some strange reason thought it was a massive no no to leave a baby alone in car

I'm sure I read a story in paper about a man who parked outside a chemist and ran in for something for baby and straight out but someone reported him and social services got involved , that's why I've been lugging baby in with me
So are you Defo allowed to leave baby.?

Would that be same for going to say a cash machine if parked right next to it or into a shop for a pint of milk again if right outside etc.?

Again 1st time mum here and zero clue what you can or cannot do

I often have been waking my poor baby up to cart him to do the aboves, so is it not necessary.??

Thanks x

ZenNudist · 23/05/2015 07:44

Lock car, pay at kiosk.

Your problems come when they're older and set off car alarm but I'm within reach to turn it off. It's actually rarely been a problem.

fortunately · 23/05/2015 07:44

Yes you are "allowed" to leave them.

You can't go round making everyday things illegal. The law very rarely gets involved in your private family life. The law is concerned about damage and danger to others. Where there is no danger or damage to others you can use your rarely exercised judgment and common sense!

TheCunnyFunt · 23/05/2015 07:46

I never even set foot inside a petrol station shop until my dad left us and my mum sent me across the forecourt to pay for the petrol because she couldn't be arsed to go.

I only passed my test just after christmas and I've only filled up once since then, and DD happened to be at home with DP so she hasn't come in with me. I imagine I'll just leave her in the car when I have to pay.

differentnameforthis · 23/05/2015 07:48

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

I think that would apply more to them waiting by the car while you fill it, or wondering around by themselves, I doubt very much that they are excluded from walking across it to the shop...

Andrewofgg · 23/05/2015 07:49

Left DS in and locked the car. He did not get upset because it was just part of what happened in life.

differentnameforthis · 23/05/2015 07:49

We aren't allowed to leave them in the car here (South Australia).

fortunately · 23/05/2015 07:50

Is that because of the heat in SA?

Writerwannabe83 · 23/05/2015 07:50

The only reason I do it is because I remember reading a news article many years ago about a woman who collapsed in a petrol station and an ambulance had to be called as she remained unconscious and she was taken into hospital. The issue was that she'd had a baby with her which she'd left in the car but of course nobody knew this and it only came to light when the husband got to the hospital and asked the staff where the baby was.

The baby was only alone in the car for about an hour and was fast asleep when the police arrived to get him out so no harm came to the baby but the story still left me with chills.

I would never leave my baby alone anywhere unless someone else knew he was there too.

MissDuke · 23/05/2015 07:51

No, I personally don't leave mine in the car. I would leave the 10 year old or seven year old if they wanted, but usually they want to come in anyway. I would never leave the 3 year old. I don't get why people think the forecourt is so dangerous, especially when most have said they park right at the shop window anyway.... Hmm We manage to safely negotiate our way into the shop because I have taught them road safety. I always giggle when posters say they never see anyone bring children in - because I NEVER see children left in the car!!! Doesn't it seem likely that most people just fill up when they have no children with them?

Teetering across a forecourt in front of cars driving in and out is far more dangerous - not of death because the cars are going so slow, but a slip or nasty bump

Does carrying a baby make these events more likely? Do you often see people carrying babies 'teetering' and fall? Confused

differentnameforthis · 23/05/2015 07:52

Your child is SAFER in the car when you pay for the petrol. Cars do not routinely get stolen with children in And I have never heard of children getting routinely hurt while walking with an adult on a forecourt...or while standing in a queue in the shop with a parent...

differentnameforthis · 23/05/2015 07:53

fortunately Not really...we can be prosecuted if the police find children in a car on the forecourt, or if young children are seem walking to school by themselves, or if young children are left at home.

Comes under the umbrella of child neglect