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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:
cleaninglady · 26/07/2006 13:28

nailpolish - a mag or newspaper how very dare you....
seiously though - this wouldnt have people saying we were irresponsible or similar would it?
(can you tell im relatively new to mn

nailpolish · 26/07/2006 13:28

bugsy you forgot the machine gun wielding armed robber

cleaninglady · 26/07/2006 13:29

im going to suggest there is a higher risk of being crashed into on a motorway for example?

Medulla · 26/07/2006 13:30

A HEAT magazine - now I am completely speechless!!!

nailpolish · 26/07/2006 13:30

i know!

get the bus

Bugsy2 · 26/07/2006 13:31

Thanks NP, knew I'd forget something!! Yet another every day occurrance at your local petrol station!

Thomcat · 26/07/2006 13:33

And there speaks Cod - LOL - the woman who just started a thread about hedgehogs and their new song!
PMSL - think you need to get out more mate

bundle · 26/07/2006 13:50

I have always taken my children into the petrol station when paying, I can't see what's that hard about it (although I remember a previous thread - so parp! - where a mother of a SN child said it was impossible for her)

poisson · 26/07/2006 13:50

lol
swoon att he hogs

Thomcat · 26/07/2006 13:55

You mad old fish!

Bundle - out of interest why wouldn't you leave a child on a petrol forecourt while paying?
Is it really more dangerous that taking them out of car?????

Personally if I took DD1 out I'd have to take DD2 out. Once is 4.5yr, one is 7 months, neither walk. Don't see how that would work and thing me struggling to carry both across forecourt and having to put at least one on the floor of shop while I took card out and paid is far more dangerous and frankly would be bloody daft of me!

speedymama · 26/07/2006 13:58

Bundle, you obviously have not had twin babies!

rbj949703 · 26/07/2006 13:58

Either pay at pump, or, lock them in car while I pay.

DD2 has already been knocked over by a car once, (not in petrol station forecourt, but in nursery car park). I WILL NOT run the risk of it happening again. And, yes I do know that it could happen again in the nursery car park, or anywhere for that matter, BUT I will take any action I can to prevent it happening again.

Xena · 26/07/2006 13:59

lol

filled up with the 4dc's in the car left window a jar and locked doors.
I can remember when DS1 was a baby though that I used to go when dh was home

bundle · 26/07/2006 14:02

TC, I don't leave my children in the car, full stop, I wouldn't do the Sainsbury's shop with them left in the car either, even if I could see them. As I mentioned I think there are specific situations (eg SN) where it might be "worth" the risk (I live in an area of London where unexpected things happen from time to time - bank robbery close to the petrol stn, cars have been taken with children in them - and I don't want my family to be involved, however remote the chance). Also a car left parked outside my mum's house (a busy one, but 30 mph limit) was literally crushed by a lorry. I'm not saying any of these things are going to happen, but I assess risks every day - including getting on the tube, crossing the road, smiling at mad old winos outside the tube - and leaving my children in the car while I go for petrol isn't one I'd choose to take. And I normally fill the car up when I don't have the children in the car.

Thomcat · 26/07/2006 14:06

ok, thanks Bundle - guess we just think differently re the risk of leaving them in car verses risk of taking them out of car. With my situation it's just not feasible but even if both were walking I'd still leave them in car tbh, so....

Bozza · 26/07/2006 14:08

Bundle - I am slightly surprised. You are definitely in a minority. I leave them in the car to pay and to pop into the shop and last night while I popped a repeat prescription request into the surgery. And that last was totally unnecessary because I could have gone before I collected them from CM/nursery. My biggest concern is them getting upset which is why I am more tempted to leave them when they are both together than when DD (2) is on her own.

bundle · 26/07/2006 14:19

bozza I'm more than slightly surprised at the number of people who leave their children in their cars.

Medullathestalker · 26/07/2006 14:22

Not going for petrol surely? I can understand where you are coming from Bundle but if you didn't live in such a area would you still take them with you to pay for petrol? I wouldn't leave them in the car any reason other than petrol.

Bozza · 26/07/2006 14:25
Grin
bundle · 26/07/2006 14:46

no I wouldn't leave them in the car

brimfull · 26/07/2006 14:46

right this should spice things up!

I left ds asleep in bed last night while I drove 3 mins down the road to pick up dd.

I know I shouldn't have,but I did.I will probably never do it again.

...runs and hides awaiting onslaught....

fattiemumma · 26/07/2006 14:56

I used to live on a council estate in Wandsworth...used to go shopping in battersea and Briton so would need to fill up the car.

doesn't get more 'Ghetto' than that and i would still think it safer to leave them.

its also nothing like going shopping and leaving them in a baking car park.

Issymum · 26/07/2006 14:59

I would leave them locked in the car if they were very little, but DD1 can now hop out of her car seat and would either get very anxious being locked in the car or fiddle with the controls on the dashboard so I'd drive off with indicators going, wipers squeaking and all the interior lights on.

If the car is locked and in full view, is it really likely to be stolen in the few minutes it takes you to pay for petrol? On the 'cars get crashed into in petrol stations and self-combust' angle, does that mean you take your children out of the car even if there is another adult with you, as the presence of an adult isn't going to make the slightest difference to the risk of a crash?

bundle · 26/07/2006 15:02

sigh. I don't leave my children in the car on their own. I would leave them in there if another adult was there. I don't know why this is so strange, I don't leave them on their own in any other situation either.

iota · 26/07/2006 15:04

I very rarely have my kids in the car when I buy petrol - they're usually at school and nursery.

However I would happily leave them in it for 2 minutes, but they usually want to come into the shop and choose sweets.( they are 7 and 4)

If I only have my 4 yr old with me, I take him into the shop.

BTW The local Asda has a pay at pump ** forecourt - no kiosk