Leaving new born in the car?

[TheScenicRoute]

I am possibly about to ask the most stupid question here (it's a good job MN is anonymous!!!)

Whilst sat waiting for my other half to fill the car up with petrol yesterday it made me wonder about after birth, When I'm on my own filling up with petrol, is it deemed acceptable to leave my newborns in the car whist I go in to pay? Or will that lead to a social services referral??? Jeez, with twins it's going to be a huge job if I have to take them both in with me?

*disclaimer: I know this is something I shouldn't have to even ask!

I leave my baby locked in the car while I pay for petrol. It's fine, you will only be in the shop for a minute and you can watch the car from inside. If you are really worried lots of petrol pumps now have the facility to pay at the pump on your credit card.

Different people do this differently, so it actually a question!

I left DD in the car, reasoning that she was safer there than being taken out, I could see the car, it was locked switch the alarm off if you can separately. As a 2yo it's definitely easier to leave her.

Other people would never do this and so took their children with them because they preferred to.

As with a lot of parenting its horses for courses.

I always use pay at pump for this reason.
If there wasn't one available I would probably leave DS in the car.
That said, usually when I fill up DP is with me (we share a car)

If you search MN you'll see loads of threads about this very same question so it's not a silly one.

Personally I'd for for pay at pump first. If there wasn't one I'd take DD in with me if she was awake and else her if she's asleep. DC2 is on the way soon so I'll probably leave them both in the car then.

Good luck with your new arrival!

Sorry, good luck with your little two!

My order of preference for this is:

Pay at Pump whenever possible.
Plan your fill ups so the babies aren't with you.
Leave in locked car and be quick.

I always left ds in the car as long as they're in sight it's fine imo. Nowadays I use pay at the pump, quicker all round.
Twins would be a nightmare to get in/out for the sake of 2 minutes I'd imagine.

I hate, hate leaving my twins (well, all DC) in car.

I try and avoid it by going to pay & pump or drive throughs.

But when I have to, I do but obviously lock it and keep an eye on it.

My preference order, when DS was newborn (and screamed his head off as soon as a car stopped, even for traffic lights):
1)Fill up when DC is at home with DH / get DH to fill the car (we swapped cars regularly at that point, as the car I had played up with the lack of mileage I did)
2) Pay at pump
3) lock car and run in - they are not normally out of your sight anyway and you'll only be two mins.

Now DS is older and doesn't scream whenever the car stops moving, I just do 2) or 3) from above.

Oh and petrol fumes always put me off getting DS out of the car.

pay at pump

It's crazy the little things you suddenly realise need negotiating! Best of luck with your twins! I use the pay at pump ones too, before they were available I did leave children in car, but nearly had heartattack every time! In early days send your dh to fill up in the evening, you don't need to worry about finding a petrol station when out n about then (plus he can pick up chocolate..!!)

I leave all my 3 in car when I pay for petrol (locked of course) including a baby

It's fine IMO as long as you can see the car

I leave mine in the car with it locked while paying for petrol. You can see the car the whole time and taking them out with fumes and moving vehicles is dangerous. In fact under 16's aren't supposed to be on the forecourt.

I always left mine in the car (including my twins). It wouldn't have occurred to me not to - far safer in my opinion!

Thanks for asking, I was wondering the same mysekf!

Leave in car. I live in what most would think of as a 'safe' area & sometimes I even leave the sleeping baby for 2-4 minutes to get son from school! It's far from uncommon in this area. Where I used to live in Manchester, wouldn't have felt as safe but would still have left baby in car if I had to pay for petrol as long as the car was in sight.

I've always left DS in the car. Safer than crossing the forecourt with him.