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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

What do you do with baby when filling up in garage

185 replies

R3b3kah · 26/11/2018 11:44

Do you leave baby in locked car? Take baby in with you?

My Bank card never works at pump, so I have no choice but to go in.
I’m quite a new driver and I’ve not had to fill up on my own when I’ve got little one in the car with me.
What do others do?

OP posts:

CottonSock · 27/11/2018 21:11

Asda do drive to pay kiosk.
Or pay at pump.
Or I leave in car.
Unless may be if dark and the kids can't see me going in.

Craft1905 · 27/11/2018 21:13

The petrol station near DGM's was one where a car was stolen with baby in the back while mum paid. I think they dumped baby in car seat by the side of the road. Terrifying.

And virtually unheard of. And baby was unharmed in the end anyway.

Being run over on the forecourt, slipping on diesel and falling over whilst holding baby, getting involved in an armed robbery on the till whilst you're waiting to pay, far more likely.

Emma145 · 27/11/2018 21:15

I've only had to go in once and took him in with me as didn't occur to me to leave him but thinking about it was only gone 5 minutes so he would have been fine

SallyCinnamon3009 · 27/11/2018 21:26

Oh god I'm so weird I always take him in 🙊 Mainly because if I lock the car and he moves the alarm goes off . Although I mainly try and be organised and fill up when there's either someone else in the car or he's not with me. Never even thought it was risky to take him with me

Mumshappy · 27/11/2018 21:32

Would never leave a child in a car. My dad once left eldest Dd in when she was young she told me. I wasnt best pleased to say the least. In the last six months there have been two instances where a car has been taken from a garage forecourt with children in. They were located safe and sound but why take the risk? Just because everyone seems to do this doesnt make it ok.

Nicknacky · 27/11/2018 21:36

Because abduction/theft of a vehicle at a petrol station in exceedingly rare. It’s barely even a risk.

I have been in the police 16 years and in the area that I cover and live in there has not been one single incident that I can think of. And I cover a vast geographical area.

I leave in the car and also do for the post office although to be fair my eldest is now old enough to be left.

Mumshappy · 27/11/2018 21:39

But if something did happen the parent would never forgive themselves. People dont leave valuable items on display in cars so why an unattended child.

Nicknacky · 27/11/2018 21:46

And if mum took the child out and it was knocked over she would never forgive herself. We beat ourselves up constantly no matter what decision we make!

overagain · 27/11/2018 21:46

Mumshappy but if I took him out the seat and get got run over, or I slipped with him and he got a concussion or worse or we were in the shop and an armed robber came in, I'd also never forgive myself.

Like I said, it's a game of pick the risk you are most comfortable with.

Mumshappy · 27/11/2018 21:49

Yes i suppose it is. I think im just paranoid about this particular thing coz of incidents that have happened locally. Mind you ive always had a thing about it. Mum guilt!

smilethoyourheartisbreaking · 27/11/2018 22:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Japanesejazz · 27/11/2018 22:14

James Bulger’s mum was paying for her shopping while he was in the shop with her. That was a recent event when my children were young, they were never left alone in the car

MrsNjie · 27/11/2018 22:15

This reassures me massively because I've been leaving baby in the car and literally running into the shop and back because A) I'm not comfortable and B) I feel like I'd be judged for leaving him.
I try to go to a garage with pay at pump but it's not always possible.

Beansprout30 · 27/11/2018 22:16

I always use pay at pump, fill up when I'm alone or when someone else can stay in the car. We had two car fires on our drive this summer, my mum's caught fire within seconds of seeing smoke coming from bonnet, I would never leave a child strapped in alone after that

EwItsAHooman · 27/11/2018 22:19

James Bulger’s mum was paying for her shopping while he was in the shop with her. That was a recent event when my children were young, they were never left alone in the car

Did you seriously just try and lay blame on James Bulger's mum for what happened to him...?

Here's your fucking medal for never leaving your kids in the car now maybe you should report your post to MNHQ so that they can delete that victim blaming bullshit you posted.

Nicknacky · 27/11/2018 22:28

What does James Bulger have to do with this?!

EwItsAHooman · 27/11/2018 22:36

Because certain types of people, sanctimonious holier-than-thou types, like to imply that if only parents of murdered children had been paying more attention then their child wouldn't have been stolen away and killed. It's normally used as a way of illustrating their own superior parenting skills so that us mere mortals may bask in the glow of their stellar childrearing abilities.

Nicknacky · 27/11/2018 22:39

Very true!

GaraMedouar · 27/11/2018 22:42

Me personally, I always took the kids in. My youngest is now 7. She has to come in with me still.

Nicknacky · 27/11/2018 22:46

Gara What do you think could happen to her? What age will you be happy to leave her?

bonbonours · 28/11/2018 00:40

I also in 25 years of driving and 12 years of parenthood have never ever seen anybody take a baby or small child out of the car with them to pay. You can generally see the car from the shop, and they are much safer locked in a car than crossing a forecourt where people are driving, there may be petrol spillages etc. Also would love to know statistics on cars spontaneously bursting into flames and car crashes in petrol forecourts because I am willing to bet they are about as common as being struck by lightning.

bonbonours · 28/11/2018 00:45

@pigsDOfly massive belly laugh at your post! Exactly how ridiculous are those trying to imply other people don't give a shit about their kids.

GaraMedouar · 28/11/2018 06:37

Nicknacky - good point, I would probably leave her now if she insisted but it's just something we've always done. I drive a lot and fill up usually when I'm alone so it doesn't happen often, and normally she'll get a bag of crisps or something so she likes going in! But yes I'm sure she's old enough now. She's actually just starting to get a bit more independent. Never really thought about it until this thread particularly

SuperMumTum · 28/11/2018 07:22

Unless you live in the bronx there's really no need to lock the car imo while you're in view. An older child will likely be safer in an unlocked car - can get out and come and find you if they get upset for any reason.

Most car thieves would not want to accidentally steal a child - way more trouble than its worth and most child snatchers would not want to steal a child in full view of the parents/public/CCTV. If the car is unlocked the child can easily be taken out in an emergency such as a fire.

There's a lot of risks we take every day with our kids but I can't get worked up about leaving a child in a relatively safe and familiar space for a few minutes.

MaryJenson · 28/11/2018 07:25

Not this madness again.

Just leave them

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