Hello!

I haven’t yet had to get petrol alone, but was wondering what other mums do when they have to go in to pay. Do you take your baby with you? Or do they leave them in the car while you quickly run in?

Posted by anon, 4/7/2013

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  • I would not leave my baby alone in the car ! Either get petrol when you don’t have your baby in the car, get you husband/partner get the petrol or take your baby with you when you pay


  • To be honest I try and fill the car when the kids aren’t in the car but you can’t always be that’s lucky. I think if it’s not hot out I leave them in the car but I make sure I lock when o leave and I race in as quick as possible


  • I would always fill my car when I didn’t have my children with me. If I did have them with me then I would make sure I used the bowser right near the door, leave the windows down a bit but lock the doors then check how many people were waiting to pay. Living in a small country town though it’s much easier to do than when living in a large town or city. If in the city I would still lock my car but I’d also take the children in with me.


  • If my baby is asleep, I’ll park close to the door so i can run in and pay, if she is awake then i take her in.


  • Whilst sometimes it might just be necessary to take bub in the car for petrol, I tended to work around hubby and manage it so one of us could go to the petrol station and the other stay at home with bub. It was all about being very organised and on top of the petrol situation.


  • I think you should take baby with you.


  • No seeing you are only going to be a few minutes hopefully but l always make sure l lock the car


  • My mum always would say “it doesn’t matter how long or short, always take your baby with you”. While it may seem short to you, you don’t know what’s going to happen. While it’s inconvenient for you and possibly the person waiting behind, your child’s life is the top priority.
    (sidenote: if a person behind you chastises you for taking your time because you need to take your child with you, then they are heartless)


  • I have never, and would never leave my child in the car when paying for petrol.


  • We have twins, usually my husband and I go to the petrol station together so our babies aren’t alone but once my husband left then while he filled up. He rolled the windows and it was a very small petrol station so he watched them the whole time. I still felt uncomfortable that he didn’t bring them in. It’s a toughie.


  • I would never leave a baby or young child alone in the car. I always get petrol when I have all 4 kids in the car (my eldest is 15years), or get petrol when I’m alone.


  • I take my baby in with me everytime.
    If hubby is with me one of us will stay with baby.


  • If I don’t have a responsible person in the car I always take my kids in. I move away from the pump so as not to hold up traffic but my kids are to young to be left alone in a car.
    Accidents happen so easily, I would never forgive myself!


  • If the kids are with me when I am putting petrol in the car, to pay I leave one of the doors open and go by myself to pay, but I keep an eye on them and try to pay very quick.


  • Personal choice. I try to fill up when I am by myself or do it at night. If my older 3 are at school and I just have my little one I always take her in.


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