Leaving toddler in car

[rabbitsdontlayeggs]

Please settle this disagreement for me and my DH!

Leaving toddler (20 months) in the car while you go and pay for petrol. Would you do it? I would not (unless I was using pay at the pump, then I wouldn't get her out as I'd be stood right next to the car) but DH says he would and has. I'm horrified that he's left her and have said I really don't want him to do that again, he thinks I am ridiculous and 'it's only for two minutes'.

Who is UR?

[Chaosofcalm]

I would use pay at the pump. If I had no choice been leaving than strapped in and loose on the forecourt they would definitely be strapped in.

[Aki99]

I would do it if I could see my child/it wasnt hot/sunny and i could pay quickly. I would also make sure the car was locked

[Maxbenji]

I leave mine in, also when I'm putting the trolley back at the shop and when I get home I used to send the dogs in the garden before taking her in (before she was walking).

[BusterGonad]

It takes all sorts to make a world!

[takingsmallsteps]

I read a thread about this after having my eldest and felt like some sort of freak leaving him in the car 😂. Convinced social services would be on my trail, I started taking him in with me to pay. I did it twice before realising this was completely idiotic. I use pay at pump where I can but otherwise they get left in the car because I'm capable of evaluating risk. At least until unanimous weird mumsnet threads make me doubt myself. 😂

[clumsyduck]

The "what if someone hit the car argument "
There is more chance of this while actually driving , assume u still drive with dc in car ?!

In the U.K. Iv never know a garage not set up so you couldn't see them from the Windows .

[bluebellsparklypants]

I was coming out of a group the other day, next class where parking/going in, there was a traffic jam in the car park and one girl got out leaving the car engine running -door open with her DC in the back of the car went in to reception & got parking ticket notice thing (you have to display) and ran back to her car - not sure if I'd do that but I've locked the doors and gone into pay for petrol when I fill up

[Mia1415]

I don't think I've ever taken DS out of the car. The only exception would be if I was also shopping in BP M&S shops and I couldn't see him.

I can also honestly say I don't think I've ever seen anyone in my local stations take their child in with them (and I fill up at least twice a week).

[rollingwithmarbles]

This is a tough question and I really don't think there is a right or wrong answer. I do try and drive to a pay at pump station when I can but if I am not able to, with a threenager and one in the terrible twos, getting them both out the car and taking them across the forecourt is far more dangerous for me. :-).

[Alisvolatpropiis]

*making filling up your car too hard

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Tammy

Your comment made me chuckle. Something nobody could think up in their worst nightmares of the “making filling up your car” scenarios type.

[LovingLola]

I was heading to the shops at the end of my road yesterday. Saw a car door opening and a small boy hopped out. He then walked around to the passenger front door (which opened on to the road) and opened it and proceeded to undo his baby sister's seat belt! No adult around. When I asked him what he was doing he told me that mummy was gone to get coffee and would be back soon but he wanted a biscuit so was going to find her. Baby sister was 5 weeks old according to him. He was all of 3 and 1/2! Mummy then arrived back. Not a happy mummy. Very embarrassed and upset.

[Makesmilingyourbesthobby]

Yes batty buddy your right I worked in a garage for years & had a few times I had to do this its protocol to go into lock down for numerous reasons shop door gets locked & emergency alarm gets pressed & you don't open the door for anything, even screaming mothers screaming they children are in the cars as I've said there are tons of reasons I take my DC with me yes the risks are higher taking them with me but they are far worse risks leaving them in the car I'd rather them close to me but I suppose its whatever a parent feels most comfiest with

[splendide]

I suppose it depends how many seconds.

[BeALert]

I'm seriously impressed at the parent who insists that it only takes "seconds" to get a 2,4 and 6 year old out of a car!

As someone who had children with exactly these age gaps, I would be impressed if it weren't for the fact that I know they're lying :-D

[0htooooodles]

Nope, never. Too much hassle to get the 6 year old and 4 month out, lug them in and back out again. Quicker to let the 6 year old watch over her brother for the few minutes I’m paying

[ibblebibbledibble]

I had my twins when my eldest was 2.5. If anybody had suggested attempting to get all of them in to pay for petrol I'd have laughed in their face. And I still would now a few years later.

[frogsoup]

Charolais that's reminding me of how my friend's mum used to drive us along with the top of the 2CV rolled down, standing up in the back seat of the car with our heads in the open, singing at the top of our voices. Ah, the early 80s

[Charolais]

Decades ago my MIL left my 4 yr old alone in her car when she went to get food from Burger King for about 10 people. My husband along with others were helping her pack-up to move when she went to buy lunch for everyone.

I was miles away in my own home and didn’t hear about it until months later when she informed she was mad at my son, her GC, for changing the radio station in her car. I told her she should be glad that’s all that happened. The Burger King is in a strip mall (US) and you have to park a long distance and cross over where cars drive in front of the restaurant.

There was no child seat in her car and she did not use seat belts.

A few years later, when my son was about 10, she was coming to meet me with him and as she drove towards me he was sitting with his bum on the edge of the car window, hands on the car roof - which he let go to wave to me. She thought is was just grand!

That was the last time she was alone with him.

[Mumsymcmumface]

I've had this conversation with the hubby too. When my dad was sick my mum went into a garage once to pay for petrol and a car bumped into our car. Everyone inside heard it and came running out. The guys foot had slipped onto the accelerator.

Ermmm. Sorry, but there is no logic to your logic?

You are aware of what would have happened if his foot had slipped into the accelerator while you and your child were walking to the shop and he had hit you rather than a car?

[suzy2b]

Never gave it a thought always left mine in the car and now leave grandkids in car as do daughter leave the kids in the car

[Goldenphoenix]

Always leave my two in the car (5 and 20 months). They are strapped in and in their car seats, much safer there then walking across a busy forecourt IMO

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

I'm seriously impressed at the parent who insists that it only takes "seconds" to get a 2,4 and 6 year old out of a car!

[MissDuke]

Anyway, I plan to continue to not leave my children alone in the car - 'selfish cunt' or not

[MissDuke]

Nerr that is a matter of opinion. I personally feel that being called a selfish cunt for preferring to not leave my children alone in the car is verging on a slanging match Thankfully I care more about my children than what some randomer thinks of me so I will continue to do what I am happy with

There has actually been a lot of name calling on this thread. I find it funny that people are so close minded that they cannot accept that others doing things differently to them is OK I couldn't care less if others leave their kids alone, I haven't saw anyone on this thread judge those parents or call them names. Yet those of us who prefer to keep our kids with us have been called all sorts