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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

She called security on me for toddler in car.... WTF??

249 replies

JustWantedPetrol · 11/05/2017 16:10

Left my toddler in the car to pay for petrol - I could see him while paying - and a stupid woman called security cause my 3yo was crying and shouldn't be left in car...... Eh??
WTAF? She's never seen parents leave kids in the car to pay for petrol? WTF is that about?

OP posts:
Leapfrog44 · 12/05/2017 18:41

The world is mad. I always leave my little on the car when paying for petrol. Busybodies with nothing better to do.

SoupDragon · 12/05/2017 18:41

last year round here a dumb ass lit a cigarette going across forecourt after paying for petrol, spilt petrol and fumes lit and 2 cars took hold of flames in minutes, if anyone had been in them they wouldn't have survived it.

And how many people are injured by other freak accidents walking across the forecourt?

Carriecakes80 · 12/05/2017 18:42

I was always left in the car while my parents paid, my kids would be if I drove, and whoever said "Kids don;t cry without a reason' is talking out of their bum! I take care of six of the little dumplings every day and they certainly DO cry sometimes with no reason! In fact, earlier, I had a 4 yr old telling me she was crying because she was worried the tooth fairy wouldn't find her tooth, I hugged her and said "But your tooth isn't even wobbly yet.' and then she said "Yes but If I lose my teeth I will be old and I want to be a baby!' and bawled like she was in agony.
Some kids, DO cry for absolutely nowt! lol x

Sorry, went off topic a tad, but much more dangerous to grab all the kids out of the car to go and pay, especially when I can see them the whole time! Saying that, if I saw a distressed kiddy, I would probably just keep an eye out for a minute but assume the parent was paying. x

ahhhhhwoof · 12/05/2017 18:42

OP the woman is insane. However I am also interested in this Waitrose petrol station....

SuperFlyHigh · 12/05/2017 18:49

The woman was batshit to call security on you... What a busy body.

It'd be different if you were a while paying for petrol or something and she was concerned you weren't returning to the car...

Cutted up pear is classic! Grin

rockcake · 12/05/2017 18:49

I always left mine in the car when I went inside to pay. To me it was the safer option.

So did I, many years ago when mine were small. Got pulled up once by a bossy old boot -toddler was calm and gazing peacefully out of car window at the time, as usual - but no way was I lugging kids across a busy garage forecourt when they were safer inside for 2 mins.

Pity people aren't so good at interfering in cases where kids really are being neglected/made to suffer, eh?

SuperFlyHigh · 12/05/2017 18:50

aaahhh I've seen waitrose petrol stations can't think where but maybe Bromley, beckenham and a Kent/Surrey one (past Purley) - don't think the Wimbledon one has one...

Sparklingbrook · 12/05/2017 18:53

There's one in Cheltenham.

Flowersinyourhair · 12/05/2017 19:06

Two children and have never left them in the car anywhere. Why would you? Plan ahead a bit- do it when the children aren't with you or use pay at the pump.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 12/05/2017 19:09

DS makes himself unbendable when I try to get him in the car seat. It's a ten minute battle involving screaming (his) and tears (mine). I'm fucked if I'm doing that on a petrol station forecourt

patheticpanic · 12/05/2017 19:19

She was absolutely right, whereas you were totally wrong. You should have taken your toddler in with you.

woodhill · 12/05/2017 19:21

Well said rockcake

Millymoonbeam · 12/05/2017 19:21

If I was worried about a child and couldn't see the parent I would tell security too. I don't care about being called names on mumsnet or even face to face as along as a child is safe. End of!

monstiebags · 12/05/2017 19:27

I know someone who left their child in the car for a minute while she got a newspaper. The car caught fire with him inside.
Don't ever leave your child in the car. it's not worth it - what if someone stole the car with your child in it?

unapaloma · 12/05/2017 19:27

I have never seen one of these people who takes 3 under 5's in to pay for their fuel, in fact, I'm not sure I've seen anyone take ONE DC with them to pay!
I also like the idea of planning so you don't have any DCs in the car when refuelling...I guess a lone parent living in a small village, instead of filling up on the way home from work and nursery with DC, would get a babysitter specially in the evening, so they can drive back to town to get the fuel :-D!

Sparklyglitter · 12/05/2017 19:38

It's different being outside a shop where the parents can't see and a petrol station as you are never very far from the petrol pumps! And you can see the cars clearly. I believe it is illegal to leave your child in the car - I personally think it's safer to leave them in the car when putting petrol in the car and then paying. If I was worried about a child in that situation I would have hung around to check the parent wasn't away for long - we don't know it wasn't the woman trying to talk to the child that made it cry!

damewithaname · 12/05/2017 19:38

Maybe she's from South Africa 😂we're too afraid to leave our kids in the car even to draw money at the atm. Life must be easy to be able to leave your child safely in the car for minor things like this.

Newbiecat · 12/05/2017 19:41

All these perfect Mummies on here are unbelievable! I lock my 3 kids in the car at a petrol station if filling up and chose a quieter small local station to fill up at. I can see them at all times. I can't believe people have a problem with this! Get a life!

MiddlingMum · 12/05/2017 19:46

I'm just trying to visualise the mother I know of with quads. So, arrive at petrol station. Fill up with petrol. Get quad buggy out of back of vehicle. Assemble buggy. Unstrap Child A from car seat. Strap into buggy. Unstrap Children B, C and D and strap these into buggy. Wheel buggy across the forecourt. Discover the buggy doesn't fit easily through the door. Get help from one or two staff or customers. Pay for petrol. Back through door (with help) and across forecourt to car. Unstrap Child A, B, C and D one at a time from buggy and replace in car seats. Fold buggy, put in vehicle. Smile sweetly at queue of drivers behind. Drive off.

No, easier to leave the children in I think. Especially as there would frequently be an older sibling to be taken as well.

Millymoonbeam · 12/05/2017 19:48

I can't believe people DON'T have a problem with this. Oh and by the way - I've got a life!

Millymoonbeam · 12/05/2017 19:49

There is an easy solution of course - go to a petrol station that has Pay at Pump!

woodhill · 12/05/2017 19:53

Mine are grown up but it never occurred to me to take them with me to pay for petrol. Don't remember doing it that often tbh.

Myshitdontstink · 12/05/2017 19:58

Milly moonbeam beat me to it! That's what I do...no way would I traipse my DC across the forecourt but understand the H&S risk too

llangennith · 12/05/2017 20:07

What a lot of nonsense! Who takes their kids with them to pay for petrol? Seriously?

ScissorBow · 12/05/2017 20:15

I have been driving for 18 years and have literally never seen anyone take their child into a petrol station pay area.