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Parenting

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Original poster

Leaving baby in car ?!?!

25 replies

Mammamia2016 · 05/03/2017 08:15

This may seem stupid, but I'm just wondering the general consensus for leaving it 8 month old in the car whilst going to pay for petrol?

I always get her out and bring her in with me, but have seen other parents just go in and pay leaving the baby in the car.

What's the right thing to do here ?

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ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 05/03/2017 08:21

This is a controversial one. You'll get very varied replies.

I use pay at pump where I can or choose the pump that I can most clearly see from the garage, then leave the kids in the car. I wouldn't ever leave them where I can't see them.

QforCucumber · 05/03/2017 08:21

There is no right or wrong. I leave my baby in the car at the petrol station, some people dont. It's what works for you.

ElspethFlashman · 05/03/2017 08:22

Leave the baby in the locked car. It's two minutes, tops.

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Goondoit · 05/03/2017 08:23

I always use pay at pump but I personally don't feel easy leaving dd in the car alone even just for 5mins

countingdown2gin · 05/03/2017 08:25

Personally I also go for pay at pump but don't have an issue with leaving them in the car if you are happy to.

EggsEleven · 05/03/2017 08:27

I leave 8 month DD locked in the car. I can see the car from the garage and tills and it takes 2 minutes.

More is likely to happen imo carrying her across a garage forecourt etc still unlikely though

You'll get posters saying about what if the car blows up, goes on fire, gets stolen etc.

ShelaghTurner · 05/03/2017 08:29

Always did leave them and still do now that they're older. Although I generally use pay at pump because I'm a lazy so and so.

AmaDablam · 05/03/2017 08:32

At that age would depend if she was awake or not. If she was sleeping I'd leave her but if awake or I thought she was likely to wake I'd have to take her in or she'd get distressed. Now at 3.5 I'd give her the choice and she often chooses to stay in the car. I'll always make sure the car is in view though and do tend to use pay at pump wherever possible. If I could see there was a long queue I'd probably take her in regardless, certainly when she was younger.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 05/03/2017 08:34

Pay at pump. Always.

AppleFlapjack · 05/03/2017 08:37

I always go to pay at pump, if I had to pay at a kiosk for any reason I think I would judge it on how baby was (e.g. asleep, playing with a toy or being cranky) and if there was a queue in the kiosk to pay. I left DC1 in the car whilst i paid for petrol from about 18 months old.

NerrSnerr · 05/03/2017 08:40

I either pay at pump or leave in the car. I think you're probably more likely to get hit by another car if walking across the forecourt, or have an accident like slip on petrol. (I have absolutely no evidence base for this- that's just what I reckon!)

ShowOfHands · 05/03/2017 08:40

We don't have pay at the pump here.

What is your reasoning behind taking the baby out of the car op?

Ilovewillow · 05/03/2017 08:42

My head says either would be fine as long as you can see them. I use pay at pump if at all possible and if my 9 yr old is in the car happy to leave her but I always take my son with me who's 3 and always took my daughter until quite recently. No sensible reason it just feels right to me. I wouldn't judge others though.

EdenX · 05/03/2017 08:43

Baby is much more likely to get hurt being carried across a petrol forecourt than sitting safely in a car seat.

robinia · 05/03/2017 08:43

Leave in the car but unlocked and always in full view from the kiosk.
It's my belief that some catastrophic problem with the car (fire etc) is more likely than my child being stolen - but both risks are vanishingly small and smaller than being hit on the forecourt while carrying baby.

RebelRogue · 05/03/2017 08:44

The answer is actually really simple. There is no right or wrong. Do what you are comfortable with.

Oblomov17 · 05/03/2017 08:46

I always left them in the car.
I know others don't. But I thought the risks were minimal, in fact I thought it was safer.

NataliaOsipova · 05/03/2017 08:46

I used to take my baby in the car seat with me.....but when I had two, I left them in the car together on the basis that it was more dangerous trying to navigate my way across a petrol forecourt with a baby and toddler in tow. There are tiny risks on both sides. As there are in many, many aspects of life. Do whatever you feel more comfortable with.

Aria2015 · 05/03/2017 08:52

I leave my lo and lock the car. I don't have the option to pay at the pump (doesn't exist where I live) so I always go to a particular petrol station because the petrol pumps are right next to the pay area and the pay area is all windows so I have a view of the car at all times. If for any reason I have to use another petrol station that doesn't allow the same view then I take him with me.

I just prefer being able to keep an eye on the car - that's what I need to feel ok about leaving him but that's just a personal thing.

Semaphorically · 05/03/2017 08:53

I leave both baby and toddler in the locked car, but only if it's not hot and where I can see the car always.

Original poster

Mammamia2016 · 05/03/2017 09:05

I have always just brought her with, don't really have a reason why! But just thought about it the other day and couldn't pin point why I spend 10 mins getting in and out the car for a two minute job 😂 Thanks everyone for the replies

OP posts:

MrsDustyBusty · 05/03/2017 09:07

I couldn't leave my baby locked in anywhere, even for two minutes, I always bring her. She's at the stage now where she'd be upset at being left alone now anyway.

MyBreadIsEggy · 05/03/2017 09:09

I have a 22mo DD and 4mo DS.
When I can, I pay at the pump. But if I have to go in to pay, then I judge it to be safer to leave them in the locked car for 2 mins, than to struggle across the forecourt holding toddling dd's hand and lugging DS car seat.

mimiholls · 05/03/2017 17:03

If course you can leave them in the car.

Trifleorbust · 06/03/2017 16:26

In my sight for 2 minutes, not a problem.

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