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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What do you do when you get petrol?

97 replies

kayzisbroody · 25/02/2008 18:42

Not an AIBU, I know.

I was at the petrol station yesterday and someone filled up her car and went to pay leaving a baby who looked about 2 months old asleep in the car alone.
An old woman(why is it always old women) complained to the manager.
His response was "each to ones own".

I dont drive but I am having lessons and have just bought a car and I'm now wondering what I would do.

What do you do? or what would you do?

OP posts:
Hulababy · 25/02/2008 19:25

\i always took DD in with me, never her left her in the car. None of the petrol stations I used at that time were the ones where you could see the car clearly from the shop.

DD is nearly 6 now and I do occasioanlly leave her in the car - if I cans ee the car that is, not if I can't.

pedilia · 25/02/2008 19:27

I lock the car and go and pay if for some reason I am not using the pay at pump.

brimfull · 25/02/2008 19:29

Have always left them in the car except when ds went through a stage of becoming hysterical if I was out of his sight.

eandh · 25/02/2008 19:33

I leave them in the car if they are both with me (always use same petrol station and can see car)

If only dd1 with me she likes coming in and as she is in booster seat its easy enough to get her in and out, she is under the assumption coming in means she'll get some sweets , dd2 is a nightmare to get in and out of her seat (arhces back, screams etc) therefore she stays in the car the whole time

BroccoliSpears · 25/02/2008 19:37

I actually think that dd is safer strapped in her car seat in the locked car with me never more than 20 yards away and in full view the whole time, than she would be carried about a garage forecourt with cars whizzing from all directions and me fumbling with my bag, the car keys and her.

Likelihood of being hit by a car if removed from the car to go and pay: Reasonable

Liklihood of being snatched from a locked car in broad daylight by a super-villain who has the ability to smash into and jump start a car in under 5 seconds: Negligable (and he'd have to be a supervillain who was either very VERY good at fumbling with unfamilliar car seat buckles, or one who was after a dented, muddy old Picasso.

flowerybeanbag · 25/02/2008 19:38

DH always gets petrol, but I think if I had to I'd take DS in as he is now, he rarely sleeps in the car and is going through a clingy phase so would scream the place down if I left him.

I think a 2 mo sleeping baby I probably would leave unless there was a mahoosive queue and/or I couldn't see the car.

Pennies · 25/02/2008 19:41

I always leave them in the car - not sure if I always lock it or not though. I figure that it would take any would be abductor bleedin ages to undo the car seat clasps so by that time I could have done my weekly shop, if my own attempts at undoing them are anything to go by.

Oh, and I reckon that a petrol station would also be one of the last places a child would be nabbed because there's CCTV all over the place.

Alambil · 25/02/2008 19:45

I'd never leave DS in the car since I saw someone lock her kids in and the car caught light...

Fortunately, there was a burly bloke on the forecourt who kicked the door in to break the lock (electrics failed and she couldn't get in to unlock it) so the kids were ok but still... pretty bloody close and scared me (well, all of us!) so much

LittleMissBliss · 25/02/2008 19:45

I leave ds in the car when i pay, can't see the harm.

misdee · 25/02/2008 19:50

i always leave them locked in the car.

MadamePlatypus · 25/02/2008 19:53

I always get them out when paying for petrol, but leave them in when getting a parking ticket. Not really sure why.

MadamePlatypus · 25/02/2008 19:56

Good point about CCTV Pennies

loc · 25/02/2008 20:01

I get DH to fill up when he uses the car. When I leave DS in locked car to get parking ticket he always manages to set off the alarm, good deterent if ever there was one!!

DiscoDizzy · 25/02/2008 20:04

I leave them in the car, unless they want to come with me, but generally they don't

readytopop · 25/02/2008 20:07

Was it her business? (re woman in op)

I always pay @ pump or leave them locked in.
Much safer than trying to negotiate a busy forecourt with carseat/ toddler/any combo of above.

If anyone tried to kidnap my 2 they'd probably return them sharpish...

FrayedKnot · 25/02/2008 20:08

Have always left DS in the car, locked.

And I have never seen anyone take a baby or toddler into a petrol station to pay.

beaniesteve · 25/02/2008 20:11

I would leave the child in the car or use those pay at pump things as I usually do. Sometimes it's more hassle for the child to move them. If you're away for a few minutes it's no biggie and it really does get my goat when people claim it's some kind of child abuse.

Original poster
kayzisbroody · 25/02/2008 20:14

I dont know Frayed, I dont think she knew her.

OP posts:
JingleyJen · 25/02/2008 20:16

I always leave the kids in the car

BigBadMouse · 25/02/2008 20:34

I leave them in an unlocked car and watch it closely - far safer than traipsing the lot of them across a petrol station forecourt IMO but each to their own I say - best a parent does what feels right for them (as with most things).

Have to say I've not noticed many people take their children in with them when they pay so that old woman could probably make a career of complaining about parents where I live.

Flibbertyjibbet · 25/02/2008 20:45

I leave them in a locked car at the garage where the whole forecourt side is one big window. or go to Asda for petrol as you drive through to pay.
I have twice left the children in the car when I went into a shop to pick up large celebration cake and large bouquet of flowers on the way to my parents golden wedding aniv - can you imagine trying to carry those things plus 3mo and 19mo as my boys were at the time! I parked right out side each shop and kept my eye on them the whole time, waving etc.
I think a lot depends on the age of the children, mine are 21m and 3yo so I can't bear to think of trying to control them in the sweetie shop that is our local garage.
Also think a lot depends on the type of car -rusty bashed 11 year old Rover pinchability = lower than low.

BreeVanDerCampLGJ · 25/02/2008 20:51

If someone nicked thte Volvo with my DS(6.5) in it there would be a whole gamut of emotions running through my mind.......

How desperate are they, they nicked a Volvo..

Must call DH and tell him we shall be late home....

They would then arrive back roughly 30 minutes later, begging me to take the car and DS back as he would have talked them into submission.

neolara · 25/02/2008 20:51

I leave them in the car but don't lock the doors. I figure the highest risk would be another car bumping into mine and I would want the kids to be able to be got out asap. But then mine aren't yet at the escaping age. I might feel differently when they are.

spicemonster · 25/02/2008 20:51

I always leave mine in the locked car. The alarm goes off if anyone goes near it. I never get petrol when I can't see the car the whole time.

viggoswife · 25/02/2008 20:52

Only leave them if I can see the car at all times while I go in to pay. If I cant see the car I take them in with me. Always park at pump nearest to the shop as well.

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