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

Leave kids in car with at least 2 windows half open.

Safest place for them is in the car. If you take them out they are at greater risk of being run over and inhaling the fumes.
You can usually see them the whole time from the kiosk. You can lock the car if you
wish.

You know those too aren't mutually exclusive, even if true?

When I had 3 children under 4 I didn't leave in the car because I was lazy, I'd have had to be insane to attempt the logistics of doing anything else

At that age, I took mine in.
Not now they’re older though.

I used to go to a petrol station which was a bit more expensive but the pump was right outside the kiosk so I felt better leaving ds in the car while I went into pay.

My nearest petrol station isn't pay at pump (it used to be but they decided they wanted to force people to go into the shop in the hope that they'll buy something else).

safest to take children with you - I have seen someone leave a baby in the car before whilst going to pay for petrol - the car got stolen with the baby in it! It takes 2 seconds to grab a baby car seat and take with you

Had she also left the keys in the ignition?

No idea - I just saw someone jump in the car and drive off with the baby

Well surely it's common sense to not leave the keys in the car regardless of whether there was a child in it or not ...

In the 45 years I’ve been driving, raised my own child, Nannied for 9 others (all under 7), I have never taken a child across a petrol station to pay. I don't think I’ve ever seen someone take their child in with them either.

I always bring mine in. There was a tragedy locally a few years ago where a mum nipped into the shop for less than two minutes and the car went on fire. Nobody could get her son out and he died in the fire.

even though I know logically the chances are very low, it’s sort of stuck with me as it was so horrific.

Sure you did!

Always tried to avoid it be filling up at pay at pump but when I've had to then yes, as long as I can see through the window every second. Xx

How awful :-( Exactly - accidents happen. Always best to be on the safe side and have your children with you

Well yes I did actually - why on earth would I make that up??!!

Because I'd rather keep them with me than leave them alone in the car....

Even though it's more dangerous?

Exactly! It’s a no brainer - and far safer!!

If you think the risk of your locked modern car being unlocked, stolen and driven off with your children in it or spontaneous combustion is more likely than your children being hit by a car on a forecourt, and the unbuckling/ buckling at either end meaning the second and third child are stood on the forecourt alone while the parent is distracted and dealing with the first child, I really don’t know what to say.

Yup. This is the reason I don't leave my kids in the car too. 300 car fires a day, 100,000 a year in the UK.

Not sure I consider walking carefully across the forecourt quite as treacherous as many of the posters here. But let's face it, they don't either, they just can't be arsed with the hassle.

Most cars these days are keyless and are stolen using tablets/laptops in less than a minute.

Good thing it takes less time than that to pay for petrol.

Like I said earlier I have witnessed a car being stolen with a child inside whilst irresponsible parent has gone inside to pay without a care in the world. Somebody else upthread has said about a car horrifyingly going up in flames with a child inside - these things happen! I have never seen any accidents involving people getting hit on the forecourt - just cars going very slowly as then enter and exit. Locked cars can be stolen you know - in a matter of seconds

Agree.

Carjacking is a thing.

I don't understand how toddlers or small children would be at risk in a forecourt either. Surely the responsible adult would be holding their hands, just as you would in any area where cars and pedestrians are present together, like a car park. Please tell me you hold your small children's hands in car parks, folks.

Tell me you've never given any thought to getting small children into or out of cars without telling me...

You do not leave any child standing outside of the vehicle while attending to anything inside the car (other children, groceries, whatever). Everyone gets into the car and the buckling begins. Nobody leaves the car until everyone is unbuckled.

I managed to drag five DCs into and out of shops and filling stations without once leaving a child standing beside the car.