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Original poster

Children and petrol stations

74 replies

cashmerebat · 12/02/2019 22:28

What do you all do with your D.C. at petrol stations??

Was out with a friend today with her D.C. who are 3 and 2. Both fast asleep in car seats in the back of her car.

We pull into the petrol station, I ask friend to get me cigarettes while she is paying for her fuel. She runs in to pay for her fuel and her card declines so comes back out to get me to pay on my car and goes to the cash machine to check her balance.

I go in the shop to buy cigarettes on her signal that she has the petrol money. I knew the cashier so stood talking to her for a few minutes and friend was with me.

Woman comes into the shopping flapping about “how dangerous we are behaving by leaving sleeping children on a petrol forecourt” Hmm

Batshit right?

OP posts:
User298895613 · 13/02/2019 07:43

I used to take mine in til they were about 3 or 4.

User298895613 · 13/02/2019 07:45

Just a thought - but If you gave up smoking, there wouldn't have been this issue AND it would be better for your health and your childrens health (I know it's hard though, I used to smoke)

bullyingadvice2017 · 13/02/2019 08:22

I worked in a petrol station for a couple of years. Most folk leave them. Very nearly all.

Drogosnextwife · 13/02/2019 08:26

I have never seen anyone take their child into the shop to pay for petrol. I can sometimes have 6 kids in the car, including 3 under 3, I think the safest option is to leave them in the car. I go as fast as I can though.

labazsisgoingmad · 13/02/2019 08:27

quicker and easier not to take them in too much temptation in the shop chocolate sweets etc can turn into a long quick visit

MummyofTw0 · 13/02/2019 08:36

I wouldn't think to take my kids out of the car

You are only in for a few minutes

If anything, it would be more dangerous to get them out on the forecourt x

HeyArthur · 13/02/2019 08:37

When we were kids by mum used a garage who did the filling up for you so she never had to get us out. When I started driving I used to get the kids out and go in. Most people did though back then.
Now whenever I go I never see people get kids out. I still get my youngest out but that's because she wants to choose her sweets and shes 12 so can get herself in and out.
Garages in my area are always rammed though so I can see why people dont get their kids out. Way too dangerous for a toddler.

user1471426142 · 13/02/2019 08:37

I’ve done it both ways depending on the mood of my child. If she’s likely to scream blue murder by leaving her, I’d rather take her in. With multiple kids it seems far harder to take them in safely.

Strugglingtodomybest · 13/02/2019 08:39

Yep, batshit. I always left mine, what's going to happen while they're sat in a stationary car?

BloodyHellBeryl · 13/02/2019 09:05

I always left mine in the car while I went and paid. In the time it takes to get them out of the car seat you could be in and out. Job done.
And horror of horrors I used to leave them asleep in the car while it was parked on my driveway while I was in the house.
I used to leave them in their parks outside shops and in the garden too.

And still nobody kidnapped them 😭

BloodyHellBeryl · 13/02/2019 09:06

Prams not parks. Obviously I never left them in a park.

ememem84 · 13/02/2019 09:10

I’m never sure what to do so avoid by using a pay at pump one. Much easier. Or I just go without ds (as in when dh is home to look after him)

LL83 · 13/02/2019 09:17

I would leave my children in the car at that age i believe it's safer. Would try to avoid it though and if two adults we would go in separately.

Not too worried about car being stolen or an accident but child might wake up and get a fright.

The other woman was batshit as she didn't know there were two of you and the kids were safe.

BeanTownNancy · 13/02/2019 09:40

Used to work in a petrol station. Have seen kids jump/fall into puddles of petrol. Saw a toddler get hit by a car (kid was fine, but might not have been). Flammable, toxic liquids and gases to inhale, a large number of cars suddenly pulling out - no thanks, I'll leave my kids in the car.

Will always be as quick as possible though, lock the car and not take my eyes off it.

BlackInk · 13/02/2019 09:49

I think it's against the law in the UK to allow children to get out of the car at the petrol pumps? I once let me toddler DS out as he wanted to come in with me and someone called over the tannoy that he needed to get back in the car.

I always left my DC in the car and just kept an eye on them whilst paying for fuel. I think there's far more danger of them getting hurt if they are taken out of the car on the forecourt than if they stay in the car.

TabbyMumz · 13/02/2019 20:00

Always left mine in the car. Not many pay at pump when mine were little. You are usually only a few minutes paying and you can see them through the window usually. Never once had to run out to them.

toomuchtoolittle · 13/02/2019 20:05

5 children here I leave them in the car awake or asleep.

GruciusMalfoy · 13/02/2019 20:18

I pay at the pump, for the few occasions it's out of order/unavailable I wouldn't even consider taking mine out of the car and into the kiosk. I've never seen anyone do this.

Marriedwithchildren5 · 13/02/2019 22:27

Think there's a huge difference to popping into pay and faffing about as much as you two obviously did. Also im not sure why the mum didnt wait in the car for you if she had the money to give you?

stayathomer · 13/02/2019 22:38

I always take mine in but now pay at the pump or get when they're all in school cos it was a big job. Was just because someone ran into the back of my parents car when my dad was sick and in the car and my mum was in the pharmacy and she heard the crash and ran out and hi always thought imagine that happened with the kids. Irrational but they were both so shook up after it it always stayed with me

LeSquigh · 13/02/2019 22:42

I try to be organised and fill up when I am on my own but realistically a lot of the time I am in my car I have one or both kids with me. When I do I use pay at pump wherever possible and am lucky that I have a lot of supermarket petrol stations near me which have this facility. Not the pay on app like at BP where they steal your money for a week before refunding by that’s another story.....

On the odd occasion I have to use the kiosk and I have my kids with me I will either go somewhere that has a kiosk very close to the pumps (and will drive out of my way to do so) or failing that take them in. I know there’s a tiny tiny chance that someone would steal my car or someone would crash into it but working for the emergency services means you know that these things do happen more than most people realise and it’s not a chance I am willing to take.

majaandme · 13/02/2019 22:53

I leave mine in the car if both are with me. No way am I getting wrestling two small DC's out, they're saferbin the car. I lock the doors, pay and leave.

I had the police behind me waiting for fuel last week, nobody said anything so I assume it's fine!

MaryShelley1818 · 13/02/2019 23:17

I always leave DS in the car. I can see him at all times and it’s much safer.
In my 20+ years of driving I’ve never seen anyone lug a baby seat or baby/toddler across the forecourt.

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