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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you leave your baby/toddler in the car while you pay for petrol?

65 replies

Drummend01 · 30/04/2023 17:39

It’s middle of the day, the car is locked and you can clearly see it the whole time. There isn’t a pay at pump option. There’s hardly any queue so you know you’ll be less then 5 minutes. Would you leave your baby or toddler in the car while you go and pay?

OP posts:
Whatkindofuckeryisthis · 30/04/2023 18:28

Yes I do as it’s a hassle getting him out and in theory safer him being in the car.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 30/04/2023 18:38

Absolutely. Safer to be securely strapped into a car seat in a closed car than to be carried across a busy forecourt (and they're nearly always windy). Orders of magnitude safer. Leave the babi in the car

HauntedPencil · 30/04/2023 18:47

Yes I would and did regularly.

iliketoboogie · 30/04/2023 18:48

Absolutely yes.

IrregularChoiceFan · 30/04/2023 18:50

YourUserNameMustBeAtLeast3Characters · 30/04/2023 17:45

No. I know the risk is so tiny as to be negligible, and probably more risk dragging a toddler across the petrol station forecourt, but I wouldn’t leave my handbag in a locked car in full view, and my small children were infinitely more precious.

Also I used to imagine some car careering in and crashing into my parked car, which is also highly unlikely.

Do you pop them by the pump whilst filling up then? With petrol dribbling over their face or do you leave them in the car whilst actually filling up?

LittleDonkeyKong · 30/04/2023 18:52

Yes! This question is asked every bloody week! Would rather they were safe in a locked car than being traipsed across a forecourt!

CastleTower · 30/04/2023 18:53

Not logical but I avoid doing it - only get petrol when with another adult who can stay in the car, when I can go to a pay-at-pump station or when I am on my own. (So, avoid either taking them in or leaving them unattended.)

However, we only need to fill up around once a month, so I realise this is not practical for most drivers.

I think it's because I asked my parents about it and they kept going on about the petrol station near them that had recently had an explosion... As I say, not logical or statistically likely.

Daisydu · 30/04/2023 18:53

I do. A family practitioner once told me it was absolutely unacceptable to leave them in the car to pay for fuel 🙄

Azandme · 30/04/2023 18:55

This was a thread topic when dd was a baby, and repeatedly since. She's 12 in September.

Yes I would.

Yes I did.

Yes she was fine.

🙄🙄🙄

PonyPatter44 · 30/04/2023 18:55

I assure you that anyone who had stolen my DD would have brought her back minutes later....

I would never have taken her out of the car on the forecourt- its far more dangerous than leaving children safely strapped into the car.

Topseyt123 · 30/04/2023 18:57

Yes, it's fine. I always left mine in the car. Far too much farting about otherwise.

Abacusporttaco · 30/04/2023 18:59

Only a maniac takes kids out of a car on a petrol station forecourt.

Hotfootgoose · 30/04/2023 19:00

No. I would never leave them in the car, ever. I have purposely driven to pay at pump, or I have taken them in.

bloodywhitecat · 30/04/2023 19:06

Yes. Have you ever tried assembling then disassembling a wheelchair in a hurry? I can't lug my almost 3 year old across a forecourt as their dystonic movements, their size and their weight make holding them to walk anywhere almost impossible, and if I managed it how would I manage to wangle my card out of my purse to pay and where would the third hand that I would need come from? My nearest pay at pump is a 50 minute drive away, it doesn't make sense to drive that distance just to use it so I fill up at a local station and leave kiddo in the car.

NoKnit · 30/04/2023 21:04

I'd never leave them in a locked car that is just pure stupidity. The likelihood of someone needing to get in to get your child out for whatever reason is much higher than some random getting in to snatch your child whilst you are in full view. Honestly wish people would get a grip

user1496146479 · 30/04/2023 21:05

This question has been done to death!!
Yes I would and do leave my children in the car while getting fuel!

NoKnit · 30/04/2023 21:07

I should add I'd leave them in an unlocked car if I could see it though

nomoredrivingytu · 30/04/2023 21:17

Hotfootgoose · 30/04/2023 19:00

No. I would never leave them in the car, ever. I have purposely driven to pay at pump, or I have taken them in.

Why?

Ifailed · 30/04/2023 21:22

I wash my bedding about once a week, or have I missed the point of this thread?

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 30/04/2023 21:30

No I wouldn't

bloodywhitecat · 30/04/2023 22:03

Ifailed · 30/04/2023 21:22

I wash my bedding about once a week, or have I missed the point of this thread?

Quite possibly.

CurlewKate · 30/04/2023 22:10

@YourUserNameMustBeAtLeast3Characters " I wouldn’t leave my handbag in a locked car in full view, and my small children were infinitely more precious." And significantly less likely to be stolen by a opportunist thief. * when I say "less likely." I actually mean "won't happen."

Saracen · 30/04/2023 22:13

I'd leave a baby but not a toddler who was known to escape from their car seat. I wouldn't lock a baby in, however. In the unlikely event there was some problem, I would want people to be able to open the door and help my baby easily.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 30/04/2023 22:14

Yes 100%

Mumof228 · 30/04/2023 22:41

@Drummend01 omg I always question this! I usually do take mine but since having a second i usually try fueling up when my DH is at home and i can quickly pop out. It's probably okay but I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to them even in a few mins

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