Do you leave your baby in the car when paying for petrol?

[ziggie]

Just wanted your opinions....

I try to go to the petrol stations where you pay at the pump. My sister thinks I'm being too over protective, and if I lock the car, nothing will happen in the amount of time it takes to go in and pay.... What do you guys think? :D

[Manxie]

I dont think you are being overprotective at all:D I try and get my DH to fill up the car if he cant I ALWAYS take DD in with me to pay.

There was a terrible show on Oprah once where parents were talking about their cars catching alight at the petrol station with their little ones trapped inside:( I always remember this and just wouldnt risk it.

[Melo]

I always take DS in, even though if I know im only going to be in and out! Just dont want to take the risk! :no:

[xkwzit]

We had a thread about this recently, check it out at:
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=24601&highlight=leaving

Please keep it polite and on topic folks (I seem the remember the above getting a bit personal).

Cheers

[ziggie]

We had a thread about this recently, check it out at:
http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=24601&highlight=leaving

Please keep it polite and on topic folks (I seem the remember the above getting a bit personal).

Cheers

Thanks xkwzit, I'll look at that thread... And I promise to stay polite... :rolleyes: :laughing:

[MonkeyMum05]

I always take my son with me when I go to pay.

[Leeny]

I would never leave DD in the car, even if i locked the door. Its only an extra minute or 2 to put her in and out, and it by far out weighs how bad i'd feel for the rest of my life if something happened. Even if you were to lock the door, those few extra seconds could be the difference in not getting your baby out if something was to happen, like a fire was to start.

[Blairsmummy]

I too have struggled with this and now only put petrol in the car on the weekends when DH is with us or when I am going out with someone. When we leave, we go to the nearest petrol station and watch each others kids whilst we pay for our petrol and then go on our separate ways. 7 months down the line, have never been cut short. :fingerscrossed: Hopefully I can keep it this way.

[MummyCharmzy]

I hardly ever fill my car, DP does it, if I go 99% of the time I dont have the kids with me and if I DO have them with me - they ALWAYS come in to pay.

[Mahjong]

I try and pay at the pump, but if I cant. Wyatt ALWAYS comes with me also. Not taking the risk.

[Mischief]

I always go to the local BP and park at the pump by the door....that way its only a meter away from the car and I always lock it!

I try to avoid going to the servo unless Steven or someone else is with me though, I hate leaving Oliver alone in the car, it worries me so much!

One day I had to go to a big BP and it scared the crumbs off me having to leave him in the car while I paid....I spent the entire time in line standing so I could look at my car......everyone was looking at me strange but I dont care!!!

[SilverStarfish]

Do you get the baby out of the car before or after you fill up?

[Mahjong]

After I fill up. I leave Wyatt in the car when pumping the fuel with all windows up to prevent fumes entering the car.

[Mumshmum]

I always take my girls in with me. Hubby on the other hand has been known to leave them in the car. He knows how I feel about this, so I tell him that if anything ever happened to them while he was in paying, I wouldn't be able to forgive him.

[mumma_jessy]

I leave mine in the car, i fill up then drive it over to the parking right outside the shop, then i lock it and pay.

I don't like to do this, but holding a 9 month old, having a two year old that likes to run, and trying to pay all at the same time is too much.

I actually think it is safer if they are in the car, i worry more about my son running in front of a car than anything else.

[vanillabean]

I try and get DH to do it otherwise I have to take 2 kids in which I always do. I worry about silly things like what if the servo is held up and my kids are left in the car?

[Percy]

I always try to fill up when im on my own.

Otherwise i ALWAYS take DS in. You would never get over it if something happened.

[Sara's Boys]

There was this exact thread only a few months ago.

I leave DS in the car. I park close to the entrance and always have my keys with me and the doors locked.

The threat of some one taking your baby and your car is only there if you leave your doors open and keys. I have never heard of any thing happening to a child left in the car and certainly don't see it as a big issue. But then I try not to be too over paranoid about things like this. I always make sure I can see in clear view.

My father ran Service stations for 29 years and never had an issue involving a child left in a car (ie, there was never any abduction or any thing else) But there were more than 5 hold ups and in a couple of them, there were kids in the shop and the baby/kids crying were aggrivating the robber.
So I see there being more danger in taking your child out of the car. Once a lady had her bub in her arms and toddler holding her hand, she let go of his hand to get her money out and pay and within seconds he was almost on the mainroad. And my dads sites were all semi rural.

[sam's mum]

I have never heard of any thing happening to a child left in the car

the other thread that has had the link put into this thread, had examples of the sorts of things that has happened to kids left in cars. :crying:

[Sara's Boys]

sams mum, do you mean being left in cars for 5 mins at a petrols station in a locked car? what link is that?

[sam's mum]

same one. these are the examples that I found in it. I don't think that anyone has mentioned yet that has been established that it is actually illegal with very steep fines - $22,000 and $30,000 - in at least two states.


mum used to leave us in the car all the time when she ducked into the shops, and one day I fed my sister a Serepax tablet that I found in the glovebox. She had to have her stomach pumped and could have died.


my sisters ex boss left the kids in the car for two secs in her OWN driveway as she forgot something. the 6 year old managed to undo his and his baby sisters seatbelt and was just about to lift the baby out of the seat to put her int he passenger seat ( this would be fun!!!).
the child was only 6 weeks old


There was a mother in England that left her baby in the car whilst she went to pay for petrol. She watched the car the whole time. And then she watched a man break into her car and drive off, with her baby inside. She started screaming but by the time she had got outside, the man, car, and her baby had gone!


A car was stolen from the petrol station near me with a child in the back seat and they didn't notice, when they did they dumped the car


A few years ago there was horrible screams heard from my next door neighbours house when she left her two children outside as she ran back in for something... the one in the car knocked the handbreak off and the car knocked the 18 month old over and ran over his HEAD.


On Christmas Eve a few years ago in a small town in Victoria a mum stopped outside the shops to quickly run in and get something. She left her young son in the back seat of the car, and being a small town, there was someone standing, watching the car while she went into the shop.
That person watched in horror as a semi-trailer that was passing through the town changed lanes and ploughed straight into the back of the car.
That little boy sadly died.


I remember when me and my twin sister were little we were left in the car while my mum went to the church and my sister and i released the handbrake. Lucky mum ran to us and reefed it back up as another car was backing out and we could have hit eachother.


I remember being left in the car often (only for a few minutes) with my brothers and we'd turn EVERYTHING on - radio, wipers, headlights, indicators - so that they'd all go on when mum returned with the key we were just so funny! The handbrake was a matter of MANY debates - once the car rolled a bit we'd all scream and the handbrake would be put on again.

[Mumshmum]

Sara's Boys,
They are really good reasons for keeping the bubs in the car. I guess I am one of those over-paranoid mums. I am so scared that something awful is going to happen to my girls, it consumes my thoughts quite alot. I don't know if this is healthy, but I couldn't imagine my world without them, so I will do whatever is in my power to protect them.
Although now I will be so paranoid that someone is going to come in and rob the ruddy place while they are with me.:( :confused: :banghead:

[Sara's Boys]

Well I am not going to feel guilt as I know that a) I dont leave drugs in my car b) I lock the door c) it is only for petrol and I park close to the door where I can see clearly I could go on. I love how people just love to make mums feel guilty. I really don't believe those laws are referring to petrol stations . If they were they would be charging every body and make 100's of thousands of dollars around australia daily. I think they would be doing that for revenue. I know first hand in the case of petrol stations, the dangers of armed robbery, chemical fumes and an opportunity for a toddler to run off. I refuse to feel guilty and to live in a paranoid manner over a simple weekly job. I am amazed at how many come under fire for saying that they do this. I wonder if those percet mums give their kids food that contains no carsonagenic and cancer causing preservatives, or too many sweets that lead to obesity. Oh I could go on and on.

[Sara's Boys]

I understand mumshmum, didn' want to give you another worry:eek: I totally understand though, I think every one makes the decision that sits well with them, after all that is what being a mum is all about. Doing what you feel is the right thing for the well being of your child. I just hate the way so many people act like you have put your child in immediate danger. Every onw will always disagree on how others do things, but I dont think we should be so quick to put others down for not sharing the same view.;)

[sam's mum]

Sara's Boys, I am not trying to make you feel quilty. I have a different opinion and I am trying to offer a stimulating debate in an effort to change your mind. :)

With regards locking the car, I don't think that offers the protection that you think it does.


The threat of some one taking your baby and your car is only there if you leave your doors open and keys

Thieves don't only steal unlocked cars with the keys inside, they steal locked cars, very successfully, every day. I have watched police and racq officers give examples of just how quick and easy it is to gain access to many types of cars. They can be in and gone before you walk 10 feet. I know that this is not true for every make of car - some cars it takes a little longer, but no car is totally, 100% secure.

[xkwzit]

I have a high level of paranoia about fire, not based on actual risks, but just the sheer horror of it. In my mind, I cannot tolerate it and so the children are taken with me, particularly in a petrol station.

Please share your different ideas, we all have a different perception of the risks - this is only natural. But share without making it personal, keep it polite or this thread will be closed.

Cheers

[Sara's Boys]

but in all honesty sma mum, do you really think thats going to happen in broad daylight while you are watching your car from not even 10 metres away? Like I said, my dad was in the business for 29 years, and he had several ampol sites accross vic, and the only car thefts were when cars were left with the keys in..so I have to go with what I know is real, not hypotheticals. I admire you trying to change my mind....but it ain't going to happen. I try to focus that kind of energy on things that are in my home , a daily threat, like cancer causing additives and preservatives that cause obesity adhd and all sorts of terrible allergies. These threats happen to a lot more kids than being kidnapped from a locked car at the pump....

I mean no offence to you, I just think there are many people who used examples where no common sense had been used. And every one places their childrens risks in a different priority, I respect that.

[sam's mum]

I try to control the risks that I can, and I see this as one that is so easy to control. I take my son with me. It isn't always the easiest thing to do physically, but over all considering my mental state if I left him in the car - the easiest thing by far. I have spina bifida and scoliosis, so I understand when people say that it is hard to take them when it is only for a short time.

I also understand considering what risks are likely to turn into reality. After all, I haven't built a bomb shelter to protect us from the Russian invasion. (about five years ago we finally convinced Mum that they definitely weren't going to invade) :D

I guess that because I see it as something that is so important, I find it hard to understand that other people don't see it as a problem. I mean I understand intellectually, it is emotionally I have the difficulty.

[Sara's Boys]

Well I promise you I am a good mummy and care for my child to the best of my ability and I dont take unnecessary risks and I appreciate your effoert, for me it just doesn't take the top priority, but then I practically grew up in petrol stations, working there with my Dad, so for me it's first hand and I am completely comfortable with my decision.

I do however fear leaving my children in childcare. I just can't do it, even occasionally. I have been offered a nanny but I just cant. So thats my big fear...I simply can't leave my child in the care of some one who is not my MIL mum or husband. We al have fears.

[Sara's Boys]

Oh and when they invade you can stay in our shelter!!:laughing:

[sam's mum]

:laughing:

I will be the one with the alfoil helmet hiding from the aliens. :D

[mummyof5]

I Have 5 kids at least 3 of who are usually with me when I fill up - I do try to go without them, but not always possible, especially earlier on when DH was still in the navy, and on deployment for 6 months....
There is no way in hell I would take them into the petrol station with me, I do on long trips for a loo stop or to stretch legs, but that would be in the car for a couple of hours or more. My 3 year old has absolutely no impulse control at all, due to his developmental issues, and his hefty 18 month old sister is not much better, so how am I supposed to get money out or use the eftpos machine without putting one or both down to wreak havoc in the store and/or take off straight out the door into the path of what ever oncoming vehicle happens to be there?? When someone can tell me how, I'll start taking them in with me.
I figure there are risks in everyday life, this is just another one....

[Sara's Boys]

sounds like you'd have to leash them:laughing:

I am with you for some it's absolutely the only way.

Don't feel guilty!

[mummyof5]

Then I'd get in trouble for having them on the leash!!!:laughing:

I'm up for any idea's though...god it takes forever to get them in and out of the car too....

[Imgoingnuts]

I'm with you Mumof5. Scares me more how fast my four can move in a driveway with cars going everywhere and I only have two hands. Also by the time I have them out of the car I could already be inside paying and then back outside.

[Mamaduke]

I never leave my boys in the car when paying for fuel.
And if we go in and one of them happens to knock over a stand (that is placed right next to the line) or knock over the millions of chocolate bars conveniently placed in childrens' eyelines then so be it...I would rather be on the receiving end of the 'stink eye' from the console operator than risk something happening if I left them in the car.

[the_queen]

In the other thread on this topic a few months back, I said "no i never leave DD in the car, but it might be different when i have 2 kids" well now I have 2 kids, and still, would never leave them in the car while I pay for petrol. Like Mamaduke said, it can be a hassle etc to take them both in, but I'd rather that than the possible alternatives.

Plus I just love any chance to cuddle my bubba. :D


Having said all that, my number one preference is to use a petrol station that has pay-at-the-pump. :thumbsup:

[SamanthaJane]

I think this one is purely personal choice... there is no right or wrong.

I honestly don't know what i am going to do!

To start with i will only go out during the day, and with my mum by my side, so it wont be an issue...

But later on.... i really dont know. Guess i'll just do what feels right to me when the time comes :D

[vavavanny]

I dont think there is a wrong or right.

But everyday we run the risk of our children being hurt, lost or kidnapped*. I would do my head in if I tried to steer totally clear of all of those "risks". On the petrol station issue, I feel that my son would be at more risk at the hands of a complete stranger in a child care centre... which is why I chose to be a stay at home mum.

That said, I hardly fill the petrol tank. Lucky for me I have a sweet husband that usually does it for me, however, on the few occasions that I do fill the tank - my little boy sits comfortably in our safe little Volvo sports wagon.

As for those hefty fines that were mentioned, I would think they are for the likes of those troubled few that leave their poor kids in the car while they gamble their weekly earnings at the casino.

And lastly, the "leash" was mentioned earlier - I have one of those!!! Fantastic and safe is all I can say.


*Kidnap rates in Australia are pretty low, especially compared to places like Argentina and Colombia.

[FourAngelKisses]

If DS is sleeping, I will leave him in the car. I only fill up on Wednesdays and we are out and about between 8:30am and 3:30pm doing the grocery shopping (in a town 45mins from home), so if he is sleeping, there is no way that I am going to wake him up as it will be the only sleep he gets all day.
Saying that though, if I was in a city, I wouldn't leave him there.

[elissas]

Personally I never do it. I either use a pay at the pump service station, or go out and fill up at night when DH is home. I only have to fill up once every few weeks anyway.

The few times I've had to go into the store to pay with just DS with me, I've taken him in with me.

There are so many things in life that are "just a minute, it'll be ok", and the potential of what can happen is huge. I don't ever want to say "if only I'd taken that extra minute to ..."

We have a house rule that tanks never go below a quarter, so we always have a buffer and don't run into emergencies - or I've never had to worry about filling up and going into the counter when DS is asleep.

[*Chels*]

I get DF to fill up car or we go together.The last time I went to get petrol,I was on my way out.I planned to take DS in with me but I ended up splashing petrol all over me!!had to run in and pay then run home and leave him in car while I raced inside to get changed.I hated leaving him,but I didnt want petrol all over him:barf:

[ziggie]

Sorry to all that have such strong opinions on this! I didn't mean to cause any probs!:( Thanks for all the feedback though :laughing: . I might make DH go and get it so I don't have to make any decisions either way...:D

[twins+another]

Having twins means that you don't really have a choice but leave them in the car.

It isn't practical to get the double pram out of the boot, get 2 babies out of the car, buckle them into the pram, wheel them into the petrol station, pay, wheel them back out, buckle them back into the car seats and put the pram back in the boot.

I can just imagine the abuse from people waiting behind me as well.

[annsam]

I think Ive only ever filled the car up twice in 2 years with DS in it. DH does it normally or I do it when Im alone.

[jenna_due 28th oct]

:idea: untill now i haden't even thought about it, when the baby comes i will probably get my partner to put petrol in the car

[FourAngelKisses]

:idea: untill now i haden't even thought about it, when the baby comes i will probably get my partner to put petrol in the car

I wish I could do that, but with the service station being 45km an hour and me only going there once a week, it's not possible. :(

[RachWA]

I try to do it when either DH or my mum is with me then they wait in the car with the kids. Occasionally I have left them in the car although I drive up to the dorr parking spots wind a window down slightly and lock the car then run in and out ASAP.

The pay at the bowser stations are great but they got rid of most of those because they don't encourage in store shopping!!!!

[jessgray]

well i dont drive yet... so DP is the one who goes and fills the car up if me and ds are with him we stay in the car :) ds is never left alone in the car.
all right you will all laugh at this but i honeslty dont know how to put petrol in a car lol so as you can tell its DP's job lol

[FourAngelKisses]

i honeslty dont know how to put petrol in a car lol

Don't worry, I didn't either until about 12mths after I got my licence, hehe.

[xkwzit]

I complained when they took away our pay at the pump in Qld (didn't do any good though *harrumph*)

Cheers

[ladybug]

No, I don't. I take her with me.

[BlessedWithBlue]

I haven't had to fill up with both of the kids in the car yet as i usually get df to go fill my car up or he watches the kids while i go fill it up. I have filled up with one of the kids at a time and i have always taken them in with me.

[Ange&Seth]

As I said in the other thread that has the link posted on first page of this one, I do leave DS in the car. It's something I never even considered when he came along. I live in a rural town though so I think if I was in Sydney or another major/bigger town, then no way would I be leaving him in the car, unless I could see the car 100% of the time I was away.

Interesting that this thread came up again actually cos I've been thinking about stuff that was said in the first thread in regard to the fines etc for leaving kids in the car. I know quite a few police officers, all of different ranks, and I have asked each of them 'is it illegal to leave kids in the car while paying for petrol?'. Each one of them have said no, that they wouldn't say a thing to anyone they saw leave their kids in the car for the few mins it takes to race in and pay for fuel. They said that the laws are there more for the ppl that leave their kids in the car to go gambling or shopping etc.

As someone has already said, i think it comes down to what you're comfortable with for your family and your situation. I refuse to let anyone make me feel guilty for leaving my son in the car while paying for fuel, but to those of you who DO feel guilty, that's fine - you're not comfortable with doing it, so don't. I'm a firm believer with anything in regard to parenting, that if you don't feel comfortable about it, then it's not right for you :D

[melbryan]

I only go to pay at the pump petrol stations. My DS screams when you walk around to his side of the car to let him out. I think he gets distressed when he thinks he is being left.:no:

[pookiesossige]

Well, I just read most of the other thread that's been done on this topic (thanks for the link xkwzit) and was horrified when I came across my own post saying that in my country town I have moved the car away from the pump and up to the parking spots by the window before ducking in and paying, leaving my toddler alone and locked in the car.
I will now never, ever do this again and I'm ashamed that I've done it in the past. Now that I have two kids, I never put fuel in the car. It' DH's job and he understands why.
I don't think it matters what size the town (I won't do it in the town I grew up in and it only has 200 residents but lotsa trucks/cars/stangers passing though). I also think that you never know what could happen to yourself- I could collapse (people do) while inside and no one would ever know that I had kids in the car outside.
Being close to a window in the shop doesn't really matter if you're in the middle of a que anyway. Same for if the card's being processed inside an ATM- are you gonna leave it in there, pin number and all, to attend to the kids? There's too many things that can go wrong and they occasionally do. I liked what Sam'sMum said in the other thread- "The thing is that the kids that didn't turn out fine aren't here to put up there hands and say DON'T DO IT"

[Ana Gram]

On the very rare occassion I have to fill up, I do leave her in the car. I've hurt my back more times than I can remember getting DD in and out of the car. The odds of me hurting my back again is greater than anything worse happening.

[jessgray]

Don't worry, I didn't either until about 12mths after I got my licence, hehe.
glad i am not the only one :D

[RuthK]

I have 3 under 4. If I got them all out of the car when I went to pay, the hazard of them running amok in front of moving vehicles would be a much greater hazard than leaving them in the car for a whole 2-3 minutes. I always put the windows down slightly and lock the car. If the weather will be over 30 degrees I try and put off getting petrol until it's cooler.

[Leez]

I leave DD in the car when I'm paying. Having said that, I only fill up at the local, which is small, not one of those mega-stations, and I only go to the pump nearest the door to the shop. When I'm at the counter I'm less than 3 metres away from the car and can see it and the surrounding area clearly. I feel that given these precautions, the risk of something happening is low.

In the case of fire, well, I would think that if there's a fire in a petrol station, you're in deep sh*t no matter where you're standing.

[Tannie]

I too leave my bubs in the car when getting fuel. I too think it would be way more dangerous for me to take them out - the toddler would run a amok and petrol stations all seem to have auto doors - so she'd be straight out and into the traffic in 5 secs.

I nevr really worried about it, I live in country areas and i always have the windows down a bit and lock the doors. I seriously doubt my car could be stolen with bubs in it in that short time.......and besides, we have a model that is apparently one of the hardest to steal - so I'm sure carthieves wouldn't bother - in broad daylight to try get into my vehicle, with 2 screaming kids in broad daylight!! :laughing:

T

[rynosmum]

I always take DS with me, regardless of how far I am from the pump. Sure it takes a little longer but I get the benefit of an extra cuddle from him so that's okay. He enjoys seeing new things too so likes to get out and have a look in the shop:yes:

[Tannie]

Clarification!
I think with me it would really depend WHERE I am, time of day, other traffic etc........for example, I wouldn't leave them in the car in a strange city. But my local servo, regional town - I don't think theres' ever been a carjacking here? But kids run out on roads all the time........so it's a risk assessment issue I guess!

[*~alegna~*]

This was an issue for me before I had my Baby....what will I do when I'm alone without someone to sit in the car???

Luckily we have a family business & get petrol from the same place all the time so I feel safe in knowing that the owner is always walking around outside & delights in keeping an eye on my bubba whilst I go in to sign.

Otherwise....I'd be a mess:(

Cheers

Ang x

[Briannabear]

I always take my DD in with me. Or I try to fill up when I have someone else with me in the car that can stay with her.