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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell DH not to leave DS in the car while he pays for petrol?

306 replies

myhouseisafairycastle · 07/08/2022 17:35

DH insists on leaving our 4.5 yo DS in the car when he goes into the petrol station to pay. I have asked him time and again to take DS with him but he still does it. What makes it worse is that the car alarm is sensitive so he leaves the car unlocked otherwise the alarm goes off. DS also knows how to let himself sleep out of his car seat and the car. For context, we live in a remote rural area so pay at pump doesn’t exist here. He did it again yesterday and I’m fuming.

OP posts:
Trying20 · 07/08/2022 21:28

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn by the OP

Pinkfluff76 · 07/08/2022 21:28

Firstly he’s old enough to do as he’s told so why is he getting out of his car seat and secondly why can he get out of the car, there should be child locks on the doors.

user1471284740 · 07/08/2022 21:34

It’s ridiculous that people would think to take their child from a car seat to walk then across a forecourt to pay for fuel is safer than just leaving them in the car! It literally boggles my mind. 🤣

Inthesameboatatmo · 07/08/2022 21:38

I worked in a petrol station for over 10 years. No way would I do this the amount of accidents that happen regularly. Not just car accidents,big petrol/diesel spills, the amount of idiots with passengers smoking in the car and flicking the cigarettes out the window ive seen it all. Its far too dangerous and unpredictable a place to leave a child unattended

TwiggletLover · 07/08/2022 21:40

You're being ridiculous. Everyone I know does this

diamondpony80 · 07/08/2022 21:46

I always used to take my kids out of the car to go pay. There was a car stolen from a forecourt here earlier this year while the dad went to pay. I think the kid was about 10 though and managed to escape.

StClare101 · 07/08/2022 21:49

What a ridiculous opening post!

SemperIdem · 07/08/2022 21:51

It is more dangerous taking him out of the car and back on a forecourt than it is leaving him in the car.

YABU

whynotwhatknot · 07/08/2022 21:53

hes got to fix the alarm and lock the car otherwise yes take him in

cadburyegg · 07/08/2022 21:55

I agree with the majority - I leave my 4 and 7 year olds in the car whilst paying for petrol. The idea of taking them both into the forecourt is ridiculous tbh

IWasFunBeforeMum · 07/08/2022 21:55

I always leave mine (3 and 4) and if the alarm goes off its only for a few seconds before I'm back at the car. Not a big deal.

Feetache · 07/08/2022 22:13

Childlocks on car doors.
I'd never even think to take mine out of car. Ever. Not even when tiny

NancyJoan · 07/08/2022 22:17

Leaving a child in locked car is dangerous. If someone accidentally drives into it, your distressed child will be stuck until someone opens it.

I always left mine in the unlocked car, child abduction by strangers is vanishingly rare.

SeenYourArse · 07/08/2022 22:19

It’s literally mental to take him in to pay! At 4 and a half he’s in school and old enough to understand when he’s told how to behave and to stay in his seat VERY firmly.

stillherenow · 07/08/2022 22:24

I'm with you OP I always took dd in. Saying it's dangerous is like saying any carpark is dangerous surely? I'd never have left her .

myalternatename · 07/08/2022 22:25

I never took my kids out of the car to pay, I just left them where they were, perfectly safe.

sweeetpotato · 07/08/2022 22:27

The faff of taking them out of the car for such a small task is ridiculous.

Petrol stations aren't knowing for spontaneously bursting into flames on the regs, or high speed crashes.

I pay at the pump if the option is there, if not I go in to pay, then straight back to the car. Less than one minute and I barely take my eyes off the car.

The only reason i might take them with me is if there was a long queue or I needed to get a few things from the shop while there.

Cr22345678990 · 07/08/2022 22:28

I’ve always left my son in the car since a baby ? It takes a couple of minutes and I can see the car , what’s the big deal?

AmateurDad · 07/08/2022 22:33

What does “turn off the sensor”
mean?

And what does “the car alarm is sensitive so he leaves the car unlocked otherwise the alarm goes off” mean?

00100001 · 07/08/2022 22:47

stillherenow · 07/08/2022 22:24

I'm with you OP I always took dd in. Saying it's dangerous is like saying any carpark is dangerous surely? I'd never have left her .

Your child is still safer in the car in a carpark....

00100001 · 07/08/2022 22:48

Carparks are dangerous for people with kids.

Why do you think the parent and child spaces are closest to the shops/ have wide access down the sides/wider spaces and/or are next to pedestrian walkways?

Because of all the moving cars, and pedestrians stepping out and reduced visibility...

hiya89 · 07/08/2022 22:50

Ontomatopea · 07/08/2022 17:39

So dangerous. What if someone nicks the car or there's a spark and a fire. Or kid gets out and gets hit by a car. Petrol stations aren't a safe place for kids.

My thoughts exactly.

SD1978 · 07/08/2022 22:51

Is prefer to not have a child walking over the forecourt- I'm afraid I'm with your husband in this one

00100001 · 07/08/2022 22:51

Inthesameboatatmo · 07/08/2022 21:38

I worked in a petrol station for over 10 years. No way would I do this the amount of accidents that happen regularly. Not just car accidents,big petrol/diesel spills, the amount of idiots with passengers smoking in the car and flicking the cigarettes out the window ive seen it all. Its far too dangerous and unpredictable a place to leave a child unattended

How many people actually got injured? How many children left in cars got injured in those 10 years?

00100001 · 07/08/2022 23:08

hiya89 · 07/08/2022 22:50

My thoughts exactly.

Show quote history

How many cars do you think are stolen from petrol forecourts in the UK? Especially those with the key not in the ignition?

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