Do you leave kids in car whilst paying for fuel?

[elm26]

I’m not saying which one of us does which but here’s the scenario, 9 month old and 3 year old in car. You cannot pay at pump (we have one of these which is miles from us).

You’re only paying for fuel, you’re not choosing drink/crisps or anything else, literally in, pay and out.

YABU - you’d take both kids in with you
YANBU - you’d leave them in the car

I always left the children in the car ,far too much faff and more hazards getting them out!

My 8 year old daughter now often stays in the car and I'm completely visible at all times. The door is locked and she has the window partially open to get air. On the odd occasion she's come in as she said she'll miss mummy too much 🤣... swiftly resulting in me buying her a treat!
Prior to her being 7, she always came in with me though.

It’s because people don’t engage their brain and calculate risk. They fear the worst when in reality the worst, ie your child being seriously injured whilst in a vehicle, is much more likely to happen whilst their DC are being driven in the car rather than it being parked on a petrol station forecourt.
In 2021, 6 children under 7 were killed whilst travelling in a car in the UK. Zero children were killed in a stationary car on a garage forecourt.

I once saw a lady take two children in to m&s petrol station bring them back to the car parked by the pump (without shopping). I haven’t ever seen anybody do it before or after. Couldn’t imagine many thing more stressful if I’m honest. I always leave mine in the car as can nearly always see the car at the pump from inside.

Not usually possible for single parents.

I always left the children in the car, never thought much about it. But, today, for the first time ever, I had to shout to warn a child that a van was reversing as I was filling my car.

So leave your children in the car - much safer.

Maybe they can do it while they are driving to work or when the children are with their other parent.

Just another thing to add to the impossible list of never ending tasks...

I didn't have a spare 10 minutes between school drop off and my work starting, and my ex had my son 1 day a fortnight. I needed to fill up the car every week.

Perhaps I should have paid for a sitter?

You're being ridiculous and judgey.

Being in a moving car is way more dangerous than being left in a stationary car for 5 minutes.

No you probably don’t have time but most parents do.

I don’t know of anyone who takes their children out of the car, and I rarely see a child at the payment point.
I know it wouldn’t cross my mind to get my DGCs out when I get fuel 🙄

Bullshit.

I used to take my first born in 🤣 now I leave them and enjoy 2 minutes peace. I can see them from the till/queue x

I voted YABU only because of the risk of fire, personal worry that if a fire started I wouldnt get to them on time. Also can the 3 y/o get out of their seat? If not then statistically they are safer in the car and I never judge anyone for doing this (see it quite regularly). But for personal reasons fire is a big fear of mine. Easier for me all round to get petrol when the kids are not with me if possible. Also fully understand the risk of fire is extremely small and my fear is totally irrational as most fears tend to be but that doesnt take it away. Absolutely 0 judgement from me whatever you do/dont do in this case, once the kids cant let themselves out of the car x

When I was a nervous first time Mum and DD was a few months old, I took her in with me, lugging the heavy car seat across the forecourt to pay.

Absolutely mad. I had a word with myself and realised she would have been fine in the car.

Leave them in the car. A 3 year old and a 9 month old out on the forecourt is far far more dangerous than leaving them in the car.

Much, much safer to leave them in the car.

So, are you going to come back and say which one you are, OP?

Not safe to take them out id say.

And there’s more chance of a child slipping your hand and running in front of a car moving off. Anything CAN happen it’s just which is more likely🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve never left a baby in the car but I have left them all together as my middle and eldest are old enough now to shout for me if needed to watch my toddler. Only to run in and pay though I’d never leave them to shop etc. I think there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer here you have to decide between the two of you if you’re ok with it or not. There was a car jacking in my local (posh) village last year just outside a village shop so now I don’t do it at all.

Yes I did when my children were small. The idea that this is now somehow a controversial thing to do is ridiculous, IMO. Taking multiple small children out of carseats, to carry them into a shop for 30 seconds, only to have to buckle them back in again is nonsense when you could just leave them in a car that you can see at all times.

They are far safer in the car then walking across the forecourt.

I admit to being grateful to pay at pump for this. It's why I always filled up at Tesco for years.

Leave them in the car and take the keys. You’re only a minute or two and can see the car from the shop.

I am absolutely not getting feral Erral out the car, walking him across the forecourt and having to do the reverse action for what is potentially a 30 second job of bapping my phone at a machine

Take them in EVERY SINGLE TIME