Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on paying for petrol, do you leave your child/children (sleeping or awake) in the car to run in and pay, or take them in with you?
(I think this question was asked last year sometime but I can't find it, sorry)
Paying for petrol with kids in the car???
Paying for petrol with kids in the car???
Posted in:
Life Lessons, Relationships & Marriage, Self Care, Parenthood Guilt, Kids
17 Replies
I leave my one year old in the car awake or sleeping, all petrol stations the car remains in view the whole time that's how they are all set up so the counter person can see all the petrol tanks. I don't see any harm or problem in that at all
It's illegal, it's dangerous, I've never done it and never will my kids are 6 and 10 and still don't do it....
In winter I would do it, not in summer though. Now I go to a petrol station where you pay at the pump. It's so much easier and less stressful as you never leave the car.
We try and get fuel when I goto the gym at 5am, the kids are at home. We also have a jerry can at home so we can top it up. But I have left the kids in the car with all the windows down.
I was taking my boy in when he was tiny, my 2 are 14 months apart, taking 2 sleeping babies in wasn't ideal, hence the jerry can.
The other day got got them out to pay, my boy got out, my girl was fiddling in the car ( I always get them out of the same side) my boy pulled away from my hand and ran I front of a car. Lesson learnt! Get fuel when alone. My kids are now 3 and 4 years old
Aside from it being illegal there are just so many things that can go wrong that I wouldn't risk it no matter how inconvenient it was for me or my children. So if kids are with me they come in.
There are risks for both options. And you will be judged by other people for either (people are so judgemental). At the end of the day you have to do what is best for you and what you feel is the safest. Of course the first option is to avoid filling up petrol with your children, however this probably isn't possible? If you leave your children in the car there is a risk that they could get locked in the car, over heat, or even the car catching on fire (extreme but has happened). On the other hand if you choose to take your children out of the car they are exposed to fumes and could come in contact with petrol on their clothes or bodies, or they could even run in front of a car. At the end of the day I don't think either is wrong, just be careful.
Sigh can we please not blanket the term illegal, in qld it is NOT illegal to leave a child under the age of 16 in car provided the ignition is off the keys are removed and the parking brake is on. I don't know about other states but I'm fairly sure its similar in most states, don't feel bad if you feel comfortable doing it no problem as I said the car remains in your view what will happen in 2 minutes if you are no more than 15 meters from child
I say to each their own
I only ever had one so I took him with me. It would be so much harder with more than one though. Usually if I'm at the servo and a mum leaves her kids I stay until she's back just to keep an eye on the car.
I was under the impression that a child under the age of 12 left alone in a car, even without the keys etc is illegal in qld.
Personally, I wouldn't leave a child under the age of 12 alone in the car.
Personally I wouldn't. Recently in QLD there was an attempted abduction of a 7 year old at a service station. As much as the chances of this happening, or anything bad that could go wrong are slim, I would much rather have my kids with me if anything was to go wrong. I usually try and get fuel when I have my husband with me or when I am on my own.
As a busy mum to 2 kids with my partner working away all week (only home on weekends) I find its not always easy to get 2 kids out to go and pay. 1 reason I leave them is that petrol stations are busy and not everyone is on the look out for small children (sometimes my 3 yr old can do a runner before you even realise it), 2 I never leave keys in the car although I leave the windows down and lock the doors and can see them from the counter. If its hot though they come with me. For those who give a bit of a bash to those who leave kids in, its always easy to condemn but some of really dont have the chance to fill while our other half is around
I have a 14 and 5 yr old and I've always left them in car while I pay for petrol. By the time they get out the car you could have paid and been back at car it doesn't take long. Petrol stations are busy it's more dangerous getting them out I think.
I have 4 kids ages 7.5, 5, 3.5 and 1.5 and always take them all in to pay.
No way would I ever leave my children in the car while paying for fuel!! It's hot without the car running and you never know how long it will take to pay!!! Rather be safe than sorry!!
We had 3 (THREE) car jackings AT gas stations this week; one ended badly. Each woman said the same thing "I just ran in the shop" and when I came out, I was shoved and the car stolen WITH THE BABY!
I personally have 4 kids under 4 in my car so I think it is safer to leave them in the car strapped in their seats. But I try and avoid filling up when I'm on my own.
I just pay at the pump with the self service card payment thing, easy.