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Original poster

Do you leave your child in the car when you pay for petrol?

100 replies

mumontherum · 25/02/2016 09:37

I'm really not sure what the protocol is here. If I can park close to the building and see there's no queue, I leave my 2YO in his car seat in the petrol station forecourt. He's always been fine and so far I've never come back to a panicking child (touch wood). If the petrol station is busy then I usually take him in with me, which is a pain as a) it takes much longer and b) he wants to pick up everything in the shop.

What do you do?

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passmethewineplease · 25/02/2016 09:38

Leave in car. I figure it's riskier taking a toddler across a petrol forecourt where cars are bound to be.

AlpacaLypse · 25/02/2016 09:43

I had twins and always left them securely tied down in the car. Far better than undoing two wrigglers, one of whom was also a bolter, on a busy forecourt.

Pay at Pump only became common round here after they'd reached the age of sense grrrr...

You'll probably find a few people with the opposite opinion on this thread soon though. Last time this subject was discussed things did get a bit (ahem) heated!

Muskateersmummy · 25/02/2016 09:45

I pay at pump or try to makes sure I don't need to get fuel when it's just the two of us.

If I needed it and couldn't pay at pump, I would take her in with me. Rather be safe than sorry

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PennyHasNoSurname · 25/02/2016 09:46

Locked in the car. On balance it is the safest of the two options. 9 times out of ten I uses pay at pump or fill up on the commute so no dcs but that isnt always possible. Kids are 16mo and 4.

redhat · 25/02/2016 09:47

I always left them in the car, strapped into car seats and locked in the car and watched them like a hawk through the window all the time I was in the kiosk (which was never very long).

I can't recall the last time I saw a child in the payment kiosk and so there can't be that many people who take their child with them.

LyndaNotLinda · 25/02/2016 09:50

Leave him in the locked car. It's much safer than dragging him across a busy forecourt.

Primaryteach87 · 25/02/2016 09:54

In the car is safer I think

QuiteLikely5 · 25/02/2016 09:54

Leave in the car because taking them would be such a hassle.

I deem this safe and know he doesn't try to climb out of his seat. The other dc just sits and waits patiently for me.

I also offer to get a sweet for them too.

This arrangement suits us all!

KatharinaRosalie · 25/02/2016 09:54

In the car. It's not safer to drag them with me, the chances of car spontaneously combusting or being stolen are significantly lower than the risk that the toddler will bolt and run in front of another car on the forecourt.

PurplePotatoes · 25/02/2016 09:59

Leave her locked in the car. However I always go at 6.30am on my way to work/childcare so there is literally only me there and I'm straight in and out. I don't think I'd do it at a busy time with a big queue.

ShesGotLionsInHerHeart · 25/02/2016 10:02

In the car, have never even considered taking them out! I can see them the whole time. It's fine.

Original poster
mumontherum · 25/02/2016 10:03

Pleased to hear more from the 'Leave in car' camp so far - makes life so much easier, and can justify it through it through the 'it's safer' argument too Grin.

Didn't realise this had been discussed before - sorry for raking over old ground, @AlpacaLypse. I'll search for that thread now too. I like a heated debate!

OP posts:
Owllady · 25/02/2016 10:05

Incidentally my youngest who is 8 got out of the car to talk to me whilst I was filling up and a voice came over the rabbit to tell me to put him back in the cad Blush

AlpacaLypse · 25/02/2016 10:07

mumontherun it was a while ago and I think it was in AIBU so always more likely to go bun-fight!

KP86 · 25/02/2016 10:07

Leave him in the car, every time.

MirandaWest · 25/02/2016 10:10

I left mine in the car. I have seen discussions similar where there is someone who knows someone who knows someone who knows someone whose car exploded but I think the chance of that happening is very small.

Muskateersmummy · 25/02/2016 10:12

To be fair I only have one, so it's not hugely dangerous for me to take my one child across the forecourt to pay. If I had more than one it might be different.

90% of the time I fill up when I'm not with her so it's not a issue. When my mum has her, she goes to the garage we know does pay at pump

Gracey79 · 25/02/2016 10:18

Go out of my way to find a pay at pump but otherwise I would leave in car.

RedOnHerHedd · 25/02/2016 10:19

Leave them in the car and lock the doors. They're 11 and 7 now. But always left them in the car when they were younger.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 25/02/2016 10:22

In the car, strapped in provided I can see them. If the car was at the back of a large forecourt I might reconsider as I can't lock my car without them setting off the internal motion sensors and my 5 yr old thinks it's great to scramble into the front occasionally.

WhispersOfWickedness · 25/02/2016 10:26

In the car (although I do normally use pay at pump, so not an issue). They are 6 and 4.

hufflebottom · 25/02/2016 10:29

I took dd, but now with dd2 on the way I've taught dd (6) that I will leave her in the drivers seat of the car while I pay and I will lock the door. If anyone comes over to the car and/or tries to talk to her or touch the car she's to sound the horn.

Not that it's ever gonna happen but it was what my dm did with me and my db when we were little, no one ever approached the car or anything. But there's always that one time.

UmbongoUnchained · 25/02/2016 10:35

I always try to pay at pump but if I can't then I take her with me. I can't physically leave her anywhere but that's my issue.

slebmum1 · 25/02/2016 10:36

Leave them in the car. I've got twins and the faff of getting them out across a forecourt was more dangerous than leaving them strapped in their seats. I used to go to one particular one if I could where you can see in all the cars from the shop.

They're 4.5 now and I still leave them in the car.

Greengager · 25/02/2016 10:37

I remember a bun fight on a thread similar to this a while back. But basically I would leave in the car and make sure I could see the car from inside the shop.

In contrast to most people on here Id never lock the car. The chances of say a fire starting and there being a need to get them out the car very quickly are much much higher than, say, a random weirdo trying to abduct them in a full view of a shop and cctv. Mind you mine are mostly well behaved and unlikely to climb into the front to try and escape.

There is a risk in almost everything we do but most people have a poor understanding of different levels of risk.