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Parenting

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Original poster

What do you do with your child/ren when you fill up with petrol?

69 replies

fadingfast · 07/10/2008 22:07

Dh says he has always taken ds with him when he goes to pay. I try to avoid filling the car with petrol, but when I have to I have always left him (locked) in the car . We now have a dd to factor in and I am in a quandry about whether it is acceptable or safe to leave them. What does everyone else do? Ds is 4, dd 6 months.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

lilymolly · 08/10/2008 12:51

Oh not this again

always leave dd in the locked car

Never understood the risk of leaving her in versus the minisule risk of fire.

Gosh the idea of dragging a little baby or toddler or child onto the forecourt sounds like hell- the fumes, the danger of other cars and the sheer "cant be arsed" attitude I have

QOD · 08/10/2008 12:54

pay at the pump or I take her in. She's nearly 10 LOL

If I properly lock the car, the alarm goes off if she moves AND more importantly, she can't get out.

Libra1975 · 08/10/2008 12:58

DS is 12 weeks, leave him locked in the car. Pretty sure he doesn't even realise I am gone.

I suppose the only thing I could think of it being a danger to leave kids in the car is if they managed to take the handbrake off.

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Bramshott · 08/10/2008 13:01

I always leave the DDs in the car. I usually leave it open but take the key in with me as I think it's safer for someone to be able to get access to them in case of emergency than the miniscule risk of someone trying to take them (which in any case I would see as I watch the car the whole time I am paying).

FioFio · 08/10/2008 13:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

snowleopard · 08/10/2008 13:04

I think it's safe to leave them. As long as I can see DS while I'm paying, and he's in a good mood, I leave him. I lock the car.

wasabipeanut · 08/10/2008 13:06

I have to say that if ds was awake I'd take him in (he is 13 mo). If asleep I'd let him stay put and lock the doors.

I avoid the issue by leaving it to dh to fill up

WideWebWitch · 08/10/2008 13:07

Oh god, we've had this loads. it's a hot potato

I leave mine in the car
always have

ilovemydog · 08/10/2008 13:10

i never leave them in the car, but I'm phobic about it as my sister died in the car when my mom went off to do something (not her fault)

Morloth · 08/10/2008 14:08

Try to avoid when only one adult, pay at the pump or if absolutely necessary get him out and take him in with me. Will probably stop doing that at about 8yo - I can think of WAY too many things that could happen if little kids are left alone in the car at the petrol station.

I don't care if other people do it, not my kids, not my problem.

PetitFilou1 · 08/10/2008 14:19

I leave them in the car- what a nightmare trying to get them out of the car and back in again just for that! I wouldn't dream of it

GooseyLoosey · 08/10/2008 14:25

Is this a trick question? I leave them in the car (they are now 4 and 5). It has never occured to me that I might do anything else or that I should worry about doing so. What is the concern?

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 08/10/2008 14:28

Leave them in the car (belts on) - always have done - why wouldn't you???

TheBlonde · 08/10/2008 14:34

I leave them in the car seats in the locked car

willali · 08/10/2008 18:01

Morloth - out of interest what exactly is it that you think could happen??

nannyL · 08/10/2008 18:33

i do pay at pump... but normally fill up without the kids...

if i cant pay at pump for whatever reason, then they remain in their car setas strapped in the car, the ar is locked and i go and pay...

they are in view at all times and the 5 year odl knows how to behave and the 3 year old cant undo his seat belt.

one of my local petrol stations has a sign saying children under 16 are NOT allowed on forecourt full stop.... it is afterall a pretty dangerouse place to be, espiciallty if you are a small child so they are much safer in the car

Original poster

fadingfast · 08/10/2008 21:52

Thanks and apologies to those who have found this topic just too tedious for words. It was a genuine question - I have always been reasonably happy about leaving them (on the rare occasion I have to fill up) and have only just discovered that dh doesn't ever. I suppose I just wanted to reassure myself that I wasn't the only negligent parent doing this.

OP posts:

NappiesLaGore · 09/10/2008 09:20

fading - dont take it personally that people may find the topic one thing or another... once you post it up here it takes a life of its own, its not you being deemed dull.
there have been threads on this before, some of which have gotten inexplicably heated (odd i know!) and thats what i was referring to. it is of course utterly acceptable that you may want to ask this question.
just thought id explain as you sounded hurt!

KerryMumchingOnEyeballs · 09/10/2008 09:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

VineGARISHtits · 09/10/2008 09:42

Leave ds in the car and wave and blow kisses to him while i wait in the queue. Sometimes I play peek-a-boo by bending down and jumping up quickly and waving frantically, sometimes i pull faces to him. As long as i can see and not gonna be arsed dragging him in with me.

Morloth · 09/10/2008 10:17

Well in Sydney a couple of years ago a lady had her car stolen a the petrol station with her baby strapped into the back seat, the bastard then left said baby in car and took off when he noticed it - in the Aussie summer the baby was dead by the time they found the car. The car was locked at the time and she saw it happening from inside and ran out - too late, this alone is enough for me to not do it.

My brother and I once climbed into the front seat and pushed the car out of neutral and took the handbrake off (I was about 3 he must have been 5ish) sent rolling into firewood stacked in front of the shop.

My son is able to get out of the car easily and would decide that he wanted a sweet, get out of the car and wander across the busy driveway to find me. Alternatively he may see a balloon and decide to wander off down the street after it.

As I said, I don't care what others do. But given the things that I KNOW have happened the hassle of getting him/them out and taking with me is a hassle I am willing to suck up.

ilovemydog · 09/10/2008 10:22

full service, kerry mom?

KerryMumchingOnEyeballs · 09/10/2008 10:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bozza · 09/10/2008 10:29

I have always left mine in the car. The main reason I would not do is if I thought they were likely to get upset at being left. At that age I would avoid filling up with them in. They are 7 and 4 and I have filled up with them in the car many times and neither has ever so much as undone their seat belt.

ilovemydog · 09/10/2008 10:40

wow - are you in the US?

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