so tell me what u do....

[wysiwyg]

Leave in car, car locked windows shut, unless was a super hot day, normally am in and out in less than two mins. If can see is a queue then would take in, but normally isn't - I try to do when on my own but not always possible. To be honest until moved to Australia would never have dreamed of taking in with me, we certainly never were as kids - and is only the overheating aspect in Melbourne that would be rare anyway I see as a more dangerous option than crossing forecourt. The smell of petrol makes me feel sick so I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving windows open and as car has air con even though is off when filling, opening window would in 2 to 3 mins have more of a warming than cooling effect.

Apart from heating what are the other dangers if children are strapped in?

[OceanPrincess]

I'm so annoyed that they are phasing out the pump card swiper things.

But yeah I leave in the car too. The worst I had was one night where we were on our way home from my parents' house, Dh and I and the kids thankfully... Stopped for petrol, DH grabbed the hose and I ran to get in the queue... They had the night cashier window open and it was quite busy so I thought I'd get in the queue...

The cashier was yelling something over the loud speaker but we couldn't understand, Dh is gesturing that the pump wasn't working, we realised the cashier was trying to tell everyone that we had to pre-pay! No one understood, it was so messed up, both kids ended up waking up and crying it took so darn long!

Thank goodness DH and I were both there...

Normally I just run in quickly, as other people have said.

[little_mrs]

Oh I've been wondering the same thing, have managed to avoid the situation so far tho! Thanks!

[helle]

I move my car for the next person, then take DS in with me.

[MrsFabuloso]

When I was living in SYdney and only had two kids, I took them in with me. But I managed to avoid having to do it at all with the kids in the car all bar about 3 times. And they were both awake and easy to bring in with me and pay. Now we live in the sticks and I have 3 kidlets it's that bit harder, I would be very tempted to leave them in the car. I haven't been faced with it though thankfully. Though for me leaving ithem in the car would probably be just as traumatic for everyone as if I brought them in with me becaseu they would all probably end up screaming when I left them. So I'd probably end up taking htme with me anyway! Lucky for me I don't drive anywhere anymore any way everything is within walking distance!

[sas85]

I get the attention of another pump user and tell them I have to leave my babys in the car for a minute to run in and pay and would they mind keeping their eye on the car quickly . . . lock the doors, windows up and pay (am too afraid of someone breaking into my car and driving off with my kids accidentally trying to steal it), everyone's always been more than happy to help.

[LimeSlice]

There isn't much point moving your car for the next person to use the pump - they can't start it until the previous amount has been paid and cleared.

[Doing my best]

There isn't much point moving your car for the next person to use the pump - they can't start it until the previous amount has been paid and cleared.

That depends on the customer service operator in store. It is the press of a icon on a computer screen. We always started it. It is not classed as theft until the car leaves the premise, not the pump.

[Beautiful Disaster]

I had this same dilemma.,my dh put it like this. What would u do if u were a single mum? True I guess. I leave him in the car window cracked and doors locked. Plus the one I generally go to is 5 steps to the pay area

[peanutter]

I take him with me. I pull the car forwards into one of the car parks, if any are free, so I'm not stopping others from filling up if possible.

But I raised the exact same point at maternal health care group, when DS was only a few weeks old, and the nurse said just to leave them in the car, which a few of the other mums said is what they did.

[appletree]

In NSW it is considered an offence to leave a child unsupervised in a car and can carry a fine of up to $22,000, but if you read the legislation it does leave some room for running quickly into the petrol station and back out again, you just need to judge the situation for yourself at the time to make sure your child won't over heat, be exposed to any danger or become distressed that you aren't there:

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS (CARE AND PROTECTION) ACT 1998 - SECT 231 Leaving children and young persons unsupervised in motor vehicles

Me personally, i have never/will never leave my kids in the car unsupervised, i just don't think its worth the risk and have always taken the time to get both kids out and put them back in again.

[sas85]

We had a thread on this a while back and someone actually checked with the police who said it is not considered abandonment or being left unsupervised in this situation. Probably because it's only a couple of minutes and bub is within sight - otherwise we'd all be getting fined for carrying one sleeping child into the house and leaving the other one in the car for a minute till we came back for them ay. Unless you're incredibly fortunate and always have someone else with you.