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Parenting

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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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IsItTimeForGinYet · 25/02/2016 10:39

Leave in a locked car strapped in their seats. And I do the same if I pop into the village shop for milk. It takes 30seconds to buy milk with them in the car. It would take a lot longer if I got them out!

LemonBreeland · 25/02/2016 10:41

I've never heard of people taking their children out of the car except on MN. I have never in 20 years of driving seen someone take a baby or child out of the car to pay for petrol.

SocksRock · 25/02/2016 10:42

I have 3 children, they stay in the car. Far too risky (my assessment) to drag them across the forecourt. We don't have any pay at pump facilities within 10 miles so I don't have that option.

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dilys4trevor · 25/02/2016 10:42

I lock all three of mine in the car to go and pay. I think it's fine.

SoleBizzz · 25/02/2016 10:46

No garden shed option?

Yokohamajojo · 25/02/2016 10:50

Greengager I don't lock my car either and leave the kids in there, it takes all but 2 minutes and I can see them! The likelihood of the petrol station going up in flames just then is miniscule

redhat · 25/02/2016 10:54

Petrol stations are different anyway I think. In most you can see the car at all times they're deliberately designed like that. I always left mine in the car.

I didn't leave mine in the car to go to a shop or anything like that (even if I thought I would only be a couple of minutes) until they were 8/9. The fact that I couldn't see them was the difference for me.

Graciescotland · 25/02/2016 10:54

I leave in the car; I have four though at 5,3 and 11mo DTD so it'd be a half round trip to pay for petrol. Normally do it when the girls are sleeping boys get a sweet if girls are still asleep when I get back in the car.

Greengager · 25/02/2016 10:57

Totally Yoko. It's a tiny tiny risk. But the risk of something bad happening because you didn't lock the car is even tinier.

PatMullins · 25/02/2016 11:00

11mo and 4yo I leave them in the car strapped in and door locked.
99% of the time there is a pay@pump which makes things easier

Enjoyingthepeace · 25/02/2016 11:47

Leave in the car.

But I'm not going to kid myself in to thinking it's for safety reasons (wtf... it is crossing about 5-10 meters of space with cars generally going very slowly).

I do it because of the hassle of unstrapping and then re strapping, and the requests for the goodies that line the queue path at garages to the cashier.

MummaB123 · 25/02/2016 12:02

I always try to use pay at pump. Would have left them in the car if paying in the shop, until recently, as I have a Zafira and am terrified it might go up in flames with them in it! However, would still leave them provided there is no queue and I can see my car at all times!

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 25/02/2016 12:03

Leave in car, every time, mine are older now but it never occurred to me to take them in when they were younger. No pay at pumps within at least 10 miles of where I live (rural).

Gillian1980 · 25/02/2016 12:24

I use pay at pump where possible or take her in with me.

Original poster

mumontherum · 25/02/2016 12:27

I live in a rural area too, with no pay at pump options nearby.

And ok, ok, I admit it. This has more to do with time and energy saving than safety!

OP posts:

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 25/02/2016 12:31

I always left mine in the car. Strapped in their seats, car locked.

Roomba · 25/02/2016 12:36

I've always left mine in the car while I pay.

The chances of my car randomly exploding or someone smashing a window, hotwiring it and driving off with two shrieking kids without me noticing seem a lot, lot lower to me than the chances of mi kids running in front of a car on the forecourt.

They are always strapped in. Well, DS1 isn't in a car seat now but he's buckled in and not daft enough to touch anything in the car while I am gone.

LoveBoursin · 25/02/2016 12:42

Leave him in the car. Why on earth would take him with you?? What would be the issue Ruth him being in the car on his ie for a few minutes?

passmethewineplease · 25/02/2016 13:25

enjoying

I do it for both reasons tbh. Our local station has some right dicks go to it, dashing about everywhere.

scifiscientist · 25/02/2016 16:00

I leave mine in the car, for pretty much the same reasons as have already been said. DP won't leave them in the car though, and DSD who is now 10 gets really anxious and panicky if she's left alone in the car because he's made her fear being left, which is another issue of it's own now. SO really, leaving your children for a few minutes can probably be good for their mental health as well, as they know you're coming back!

FreshHorizons · 25/02/2016 16:05

This question crops up regularly and it is refreshing to see a common sense approach this time. Leave them in the car- it is far more dangerous to make them get out.

Fjlb · 25/02/2016 16:13

Hate this dilemma! Luckily they've now got pay at pump. Also have this issue when parking outside supermarket to get cash out (can still see car) and returning trolley after shopping. He's a nightmare leaning over when I'm emptying trolley so strap him in car seat then feel guilty whilst I run put trolley back!

TrashPanda · 25/02/2016 16:13

Leave them in the car, always have. They are 6 and 10 months. I leave the 6yo in the car while I take the 10mo into nursery. Doors are locked and it's a private car park, he reads his school book and I'm about 5 minutes. The extra time getting older one in and out of the car would make us late for school.

CruCru · 25/02/2016 16:13

Definitely leave them in the car.

Woodenmouse · 25/02/2016 16:14

I leave Ds (2.5yrs) secured in his car seat and locked in the car as long as I can see the car at all times. DM told me off when she found out but i think it's safer than dragging a toddler who likes to run off/grab everything across a busy petrol station.

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