Bubbas and petrol stations WDYD

[raffy]

So I have managed, somehow, to avoid having to get petrol while I have DS in the car. But df is going away for 2 weeks soon so it seems my lucky run is going to have to end consider it a stupid first time mother question, but do I just leav DS in the car while I run in to pay? What do you do?

[Amaunet]

I have a Woolworths credit card specifically so I can pay at the pump. If I have to go somewhere else I make sure I can move the car to directly in front of the building where the cashier is. I have been yelled at (by the cashier) but stood my ground and she apologized.

[CrazyLady]

My friend was saying she moved her car to a car park right near the door to keep an eye on it and central locked her running car with the a/c on in summer. Her car let her lock it with the motor going though and she was always within sight of it. I don't drive but I really couldn't leave DD in the car while I went to pay. I'm paranoid like that.

[Erin_25]

It's like any of these type of issues, it is really up to you and as a parent at the time you will be able to make the decision you feel is best & as long as you are happy with that than that is all that matters. I would never leave my children in the car for a long amount of time, nor would I leave them where I could not see them, but yes if I get the pump right out front (the one I always go for) then I leave them in the car. But at the same time we have a coffee shop just a few streets away that is on a corner, I get a take away coffee often & always get kids out to get it as I can never park out front. You will know what feels right for you.

[JLeigh29]

I have the same issue here. DH usually gets it, or I have DH, Mum or someone else in the car with me, or DS is left with someone. I left DS asleep in the car once, but it just didn't feel right. I wouldn't do it again. A friend found a full service station (yep, apparently they still have at least one in the country!) and uses that, even though it's a bit more expensive. It's illegal, and I have heard of people calling the police. They'd have to be pretty mean though.

Can you leave DS with someone or take someone with you? Or just don't drive much, lol!

[Kazzo]

There was a thread started a while back on the same subject.
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...t-u-do-158677/

[sloane]

i agree that it needs to be whatever you feel comfortable with. i do leave DS in the car while i pay for petrol - like everyone else it's within eyesight & i run in & out, small petrol station & no queue. it's the only time i leave him in the car though - i know people who leave their kids in the car while they go to the atm or similar but, for me, petrol is the only thing i'm comfortable with.

[Livinthedream]

I try and do it while DS is asleep. I just lock the car and go in.
If it looks really busy, or is one of those 30 bowser truck stop type ones I take him in with me.

[~Hestia~]

I don't often have to fuel up but on the odd occasion I have to, I leave Moo in the car. I never would've done it while he had separation issues I lock the car & leave the windows up. If it was busy I'd probably take him in with me, same goes if it was hot.

For some reason this is the only time I ever feel comfortable doing this. I take him with me everywhere else, even just to get a takeaway latte.

[Glamourcide]

Each to their own. We don't really have any big petrol stations here, most are small so whichever bowser I park at, I can see the car from the counter inside and if the kids are quiet/asleep, I happily lock the car and leave them in there. If there's a big line-up on a hot day, or they're fussing, I'll take them in (can't leave the a/c on if the keys are taken out), but most of the time it's not busy so I just whip in quickly and pay while keeping one eye on the car to make sure they're okay. I've done this with them since they were newborns, I find it a hell of a lot faster to just lock the car and go in to pay by myself, than to unload one or both squirming kids and try to get them safely into the building You'll know what feels right - some days I leave them, other days I take them in, just go by what feels 'okay' for you. FWIW I've never had anybody even second-glance me when I've left the kids in the car, I'm sure most people understand why I do it even if they choose not to themselves

[buliej]

I've also avoided getting petrol when with DS - but on the occasions I've had to, I leave him in the car while I pay - it has never taken more than 2 minutes to pay and it completely stresses me out - but I can see the car from the counter. That being said, I was talking about this with another new mother and she told me that someone told her it was illegal to leave your child unattended in a car at a petrol station. Sounds really weird to me, as technically isn't it illegal to leave your child in a car unattended full stop (not that the legality of it all is why we don't!).

[misty]

I try not to fuel up with kids in the car if I can help it. But otherwise I unwind the windows a crack and lock the car when I go and pay. I know some people feel you should never leave a kid unattended in the car (I used to be one of them) but there is no way I can get all three out just to pay - even if by some miracle they were all being angels and were willing to do as they were told and get back in afterwards. Truth is that it is much more dangerous for me to be getting them out of the car and dragging them into the shop area. I do try to go to fuel stations that aren't very busy too, makes it much easier and quicker.

[misty]

It's illegal, and I have heard of people calling the police.

It is actually a 'grey' area under the law. It isn't downright illegal, but depends on circumstance and discretion. Basically it isn't illegal to leave children in the car provided they are still within veiw of the guardian / parent. But the law is very much open to interpretation. If any police officer ever tried to charge me with such a thing, I am pretty certain that I would be able to get that charge overturned in court. In some states in America it IS illegal, and I think this is another area of the law where people get confused because so much of our media comes from overseas.

[Sopdet]

as technically isn't it illegal to leave your child in a car unattended full stop

Yes it is illegal, by the letter of the law. It differs in each state. This is just an example of NSW legislation. In most States if you move more than 3m away from the vehicle it is classified as unattended.

NSW
The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 2000. Section 231 of the Act reads:
A person who leaves any child or young person in the person’s care in a motor vehicle without proper supervision for such period or in such circumstances that:
(a) the child or young person becomes or is likely to become emotionally distressed, or
(b) the child’s or young person’s health becomes or is likely to become permanently or temporarily impaired, is guilty of an offence.

The maximum penalty is $22,000.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

I only go to petrol stations where they put mine in for me and take my money. So I just need to make sure I have cash, which isnt hard. That way, i dont even need to get out of the car, let alone walk away from it.

[Junglemum]

Yes it is illegal, by the letter of the law. It differs in each state. This is just an example of NSW legislation. In most States if you move more than 3m away from the vehicle it is classified as unattended.

NSW
The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 2000. Section 231 of the Act reads:
A person who leaves any child or young person in the person’s care in a motor vehicle without proper supervision for such period or in such circumstances that:
(a) the child or young person becomes or is likely to become emotionally distressed, or
(b) the child’s or young person’s health becomes or is likely to become permanently or temporarily impaired, is guilty of an offence.

The maximum penalty is $22,000.

Well guess I don't break the law then as I always take the keys, lock the car and go in and pay. and my girls never get distressed or become impaired.

I do wait for the pump closest to the door or I move the car.

There is not a chance I am going to take my 2 and 3 year old out while I'm 38 weeks preg and drag them inside. I'm having enough trouble just getting them in the car at the moment.

I used to always go bp and use pay at the pump bur they have taken that away now.

This thread is sure to turn into a **** fight as all the others have before, so before you pass judgment remember what you do with your kids is your choice, likewise for others. I have no probs with people taking their kids in to pay, but it's not something I do.

[shan23]

I fill up, then move the car to somewhere I can park it (so I leave the pump free so I dont potentially hold someone up if the come in behind me) and take DS in. The central locking on the car is broken, so I cant lock it so definitely dont feel safe leaving DS in there. But even if I could lock it I would still take him in. I'm a bit paranoid haha

[Sopdet]

It is just common sense, you basically do a risk assessment of the situation and make your decision based on that.

Things like:

State of the kids, are they awake, restless, sitting quietly
Distance from where you are to where you need to go, like have you been lucky enough to get a pump close to the door
How busy is the service station
The weather of the day, hot, cold, wet, dry

I have done both, left kids in the car, taken the keys with me & locked it, and other times dragged kids out of the car to pay for the petrol, which can be a nightmare because of all the sweets/lollies by the counter. I make a judgement call for myself in each individual situation.

You do what is best for you, in your situation, at that point in time.