Do you leave Dc is car when paying for petrol?

[archiesmummy]

I'm just wondering what other people do.

I'm paranoid about leaving DS in car after growing up hearing so many of these stories where a car was stolen with a child in the back.
Now when cars have immobilisers I assume it's more difficult.

How do you fill up? I know there are stations where you can pay by card at the pump, but haven't been able to find one anywhere close to where i live.

I leave mine, but they're pretty big now and not likely to be missed by potential TWOCers (who would die with shame than pinch my battered old estate i'd imagine) Generally though I try and get petrol when I'm on my own, as then I can buy myself a chocolate and scoff it in the car in piece

I also leave DS1(9) and DS2(7) in the car if I have to run into sainsburys for milk or bread. Any bigger shop and they have to come with, and I wouldn't leave DD(3) with them. But once again, I usually try to do shopping whilst they're in school rather than pick things up on the way home.

Used to take him out when he was a baby. Now leave him in with car locked. More worried about petrol explosion than carjacking though.

I take ds with me but leave dd in the car. Not concerned about car jacking nor explosions. DS has atendency to remove seat belt, climb into the front, open the door and try and go play in the traffic, whereas dd is much more sensible

The explosion thing is an irrational fear

yes leave dd in car far too much hastle to take her out, esp is she is sleeping
gosh some of these fears about children getting taken in cars, and exploding petrol stations are way too irrational imho

gosh how many car accidents are children involved with everyday but we still drive our kids everywhere dont we?

True but I think parents have many irrational fears tbh. Mine don't stop me from doing things though. Since having ds I am scared of getting on a plane but I still do it.

would you leave them in the car at any age? my step dad leaves ds who is 11 months and have done since birth.

I don't have a car, but if I did I would just use the pay by card pumps! Walking across a forcourt is scary!

I get my petrol from Tesco and pay at the pump. You just put your switch/credit card in the petrol machine. Don't know if all Tescos have this?

i have always left them, it's easier than getting 4 out, especially when one needs a wheelchair!

i have left dd from birth she is now 17mnths

If I can, I get dh to fill up the car. If I have to to do it, I use the relatively quiet 'cos bl**dy expensive local petrol station and leave dd in the car. Would never do that at tescos, though.

I quite often get DH to fill up for me, but it is because I am lazy/short of time midweek and nothing to do with the DC.

I wouldn't...My ex did this 2 yrs ago with my daughter in the car,the handbrake somehow failed and the car rolled out of the forecourt narrrowly missing cars and lorries parked in the rest area of motorway services,thankfully the car bumped into a post and although VERY shaken my daughter was unharmed......the car was towed home.You never know,it isn't just strangers you need to be aware of.

I take them in with me. If they are asleep I go to the local one where they man the pumps and just put £5 in to tide me over until I can get somewhere cheaper.

I had 3 DCs in less than 3 years so getting them all out was not practical and not safe.

I do not lock the car as it would be hard to get them out quickly in case of accident/fire etc. Although I don't know which is the greater risk - theft of child or accident.

Admittedly I live in a very rural area where the garage I almost always use is not busy and the pump is right next to the cashiers window. I often have an enormous dog in the back too, who barks at anyone who gets too close.

I leave mine in the car with the doors locked.

I leave mine in the car and don't lock the doors as any movement inside sets off the alarm.

When mine were little I used to pop out for petrol in the evening without them - that's the best solution of all - especially as you can pick up some chocolate and not have to share it

I can't leave mine (age 3) in the car because he'd just take off his seatbelt and get out. I'm lucky though that I don't usually have to fill up on my own with him in the car.

I leave them both in the car when paying but i do try and get feul at Tesco's and pay at the pump, i also leave them in the car outside the house if they are asleep, i leave the car door open and the house door so i can see and hear them.

Yes but I lock the car. The majority of the time I use a tiny little garage in a small village with only a handful of pumps. I'm usually the only car there at the time and I am a few metres away from the car when I go in to pay.

luczluutoo unfortunately the risk that actually such a car lands up crushing a dc walking across the forecourt is more likely than for the dcs to be harmded if they are inside the car. There isn't really a safe answer if your children are in an unsafe car. But I wouldn't let that experience suggest that your children are safer on the forecourt - the statistics for accidents with vehicles are at a peak in car parks and forecourts. They're rarely fatal because of the speed of the cars, but children are most at risk due to visibility. In other countries petrol retailers will tell you not to let your children leave the car (and never leave your keys in the car), though they haven't yet in the UK - mainly because the petrol retailers association are against the idea as they don't want to have pay at pump enforced.

When dd (3.7) was younger I used to take her in but now I have a ds (8 months) as well I leave them in the car - too much trouble and hassle to take both with me. I always lock the door. I wouldnt leave them sleeping anywhere else e.g. to go into a proper shop as you wouldnt be able to see them like you can at the petrol station. You would have to travel about 25 miles from where I live to find a pay at pump petrol station