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Original poster

So what's the usual way to go about filling up a car when you have a baby with you?

81 replies

MrsFogi · 26/07/2006 13:10

Dumb question but as I've managed 6 mths without doing so I figure I'd better work it out now - so, at the garage, once you have filled up, do you leave the baby in the car while you pay or do you take baby with you?

OP posts:
MamaG · 26/07/2006 13:11

I leave mine in the (locked) car. I think its more dangerous to be messing about with a baby/toddler on a petrol station forecourt than leaving them in the car, in view, for 2 minutes while you pay.

Thomcat · 26/07/2006 13:11

I leave both mine in car, look door, windows open slightly in this weather and keep watching car whole time I'm in queue.

PiccadillyCircus · 26/07/2006 13:12

I use pay at pump whenever possible.

Or leave them in the car (DS and DD)

Medulla · 26/07/2006 13:13

I think leavinf them in a car at a petrol station is acceptable. I certainly do!

PiccadillyCircus · 26/07/2006 13:13

Not sure what I'd do if something happened while I was paying, apart from run round like a mad thing.

IME this can be a fairly emotive subject .

JessaJam · 26/07/2006 13:13

leave them in the car...while looking anxiously over shoulder in case of "strangers" and also fearsome MNers with their judgements hats on!

fattiemumma · 26/07/2006 13:15

same as below.
i have a child lock facility on my car which means that it only 0pens with the zapper/key once i have ouble clicked it.
i leave the windows very slightly ajar so they have air and i watch them through the window.

i have 2 kids aged 5 and 22 months. eldest having ASD means it wold be far more dangerous and take at least 5 times as long to get them out and take them with me.

the car is locked and the kids are safe....i think the possibility that someone will steal the car with 2 kids in it is very slim (and with DS they would probably return uit pretty quick smart anyway ) and i doubt the car would just combust for no apparant reason.

fattiemumma · 26/07/2006 13:16

are they still doing pay at pump? all the ones here seem to not work. i figured they were phasing them out.

shame as they were a brillaint idea

MamaG · 26/07/2006 13:17

Don't do pay at pump near me. Wish they did tho, it would stop me grabbing a choc bar when I'm in the queue!

Bugsy2 · 26/07/2006 13:18

Oh, we've had some storming debates about this. There are those who'd never leave their child in the car & get them all out, cross the forecourt, dodging through the pilars & cars to pay & then there are those who leave them in the car.
You may have guessed I fall into the leave them in the car camp. My eldest is nearly seven & to date no harm has come of this decision.
Be interesting to see whether we get a full on Mumsnet battle about this!

joelallie · 26/07/2006 13:18

Leave them in the car with doors locked to protect other customers . As long as the car is in your sight I think that leaving them is safer than taking them with you. That goes for older kids too.

MamaG · 26/07/2006 13:19

I do hope this thread kicks off, I could do with a fight

poisson · 26/07/2006 13:22

put petorl in
run to cash thing rn out

OR pay at one of thsoe "pay at pump" thign
or go int he evenign ewhen baby in bed

GOD YOU LOT NEED T GET A LIFE

poisson · 26/07/2006 13:22

or heres a npovel way

do as you pelase

PiccadillyCircus · 26/07/2006 13:23

it's my lunchtime - I like a little light entertainment .

cleaninglady · 26/07/2006 13:24

it would be a nightmare to get my two out of the car each time (age nearly 2 and 4) so i double lock the car which disables the motion sensor but locks the doors - cant really see a problem here? (looks round anxiously....)

nailpolish · 26/07/2006 13:25

what do people think is going to happen to children left alone in a car for 2 minutes?

sometimes when im in the shop bit of the petrol station i even take 10 seconds to choose a magazine or newspaper

nailpolish · 26/07/2006 13:26

i used to do that in our old car - set off the motion sensors and dd's would pick their nose and the car alarm would go off

cleaninglady · 26/07/2006 13:26

poisson - surely your not suggesting leaving child alone in bed whilst you go out for petrol

cleaninglady · 26/07/2006 13:26

poisson - surely your not suggesting leaving child alone in bed whilst you go out for petrol

fattiemumma · 26/07/2006 13:26

OOh im SOOO up for a fight today ( can't you tell from other threads )

im having a real no nonsense day today.

Medulla · 26/07/2006 13:26

So you leave them for 2 whole minutes AND 10 seconds nailpolish - outrageous. 2 minutes I can accept but not sure about the extra 10 secs! Anything could happen!

Bugsy2 · 26/07/2006 13:27

I'm sure last time we had this debate NP, a MNer said that there was a high risk of cars being crashed into at petrol stations. I think we also had spontaneous combustion, car theft & abduction thrown in for good measure too.

nailpolish · 26/07/2006 13:27

i am so ashamed

and all for a Heat mag

speedymama · 26/07/2006 13:28

Well I have 2yo twins so there is no way I'm going to negotiate a forecourt with cars coming and going with two toddlers in tow. Much safer and more practical to leave them in the car for a couple of minutes. Plus I can see them anyway whilst I'm queuing.

If someone disagrees, I would like the person concerned to explain the Health and Safety benefits of crossing a dangerous forecourt with toddlers vs leaving them safely secured in a car for a couple of miniutes that is visible at all times.

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