Would you...NOT ME

Kaitlin'smom wrote: Okay so this moring after droping Kait off I went and got some green tea at the gas station, when I got back to the van and started to back up I saw a child out with dad (I am guessing it was dad) by the car, okay so I am very careful backup incase he were to run or something the just as I was getting ready to trun the wheel and go on I saw the kid pick up the gas hose and pump the gas I so so shocked the child was maybe 5 or 6 years old. I am sorry I just dont think a child that young sould be pupming gas. I dont even think I would let my nephew who is 11 do it. Would you?

fashionmumofboys replied: I to agree that 5 to 6 is quite young especially to pumping gas.

booey2 replied: Nope, way too dangerous. I have a friend who won't even let his wife pump gas if they are together.

MomToMany replied: OMG! Nope, no way, WAY too young!

You have to be 16 here to pump gas.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: No way! Wow that just seems to risky. Like Mollie said you have to be 16 to pump gas in Minnesota - there are always signs on all the pumps.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Olivia now is fascinated by this (she's 5) and usually gets out when we stop for gas to "help" us. She holds on to the hose with us but doesn't do it alone. Unfortunately, she's just like me~she LOVES the smell of gasoline. I don't believe she's ever stayed the whole time to fill the tank (thank you for the short attention span ) and usually gets back in the car before it's done. She is not permitted to stand anywhere other than right by us holding onto our coat or shirt. She can pump her own gas when she drives her own car, though!

luvbug00 replied: We let Mya "pump gas". But she is not strong enough to actully pump it. she puts her hand on the handle while one of us does the actually pumping. I'm not seeing the big deal?? except the kid was doing it by himself?

Oscar replied: Ok so A five year old pumping gas, no way.
This may sound silly but I am 23 and I still don't like pumping the gas!
five; Crazy!


Oscar

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
I would be okay doing this. Holding the pump with Wil, but never alone. And probably not until he's a lot older. BTW, I absolutely hate the smell of gas. Makes me want to puke every time. Funny how smells effect people differently!

Kaitlin'smom replied: he was being 'helped to actually pump it but he rgot it out himsefl and tried to put it in, had load of troubel with it, then got it and was helped to squeeze the handle. I just dont think he sshould have been messing with it at all, what if he spills it, or get it on him or in his eye or face, it winter time here and static can build up what if it sparks? I just dont think its safe to let such a young child try and pump gas.

BAC'sMom replied: OMG! NO way.... far to young

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well I guess I am in the minority. Tanner is seven and he pumps gas. Around here it is just a boy, man thing. I can pull up to a pump and he wants to pump for me. I let him.

If we are going to ride the 4 wheeler and it's out of gas he can go to the gas jug and fill it and the same for the lawn mower.

I don't think he has ever spilled it or gotten it anywhere. Usually if it is real cold I tell him to stay in the car.

But I never felt like a bad parent for letting him pump gas..

Am I doing something wrong?

C&K*s Mommie replied: no way would I let my child do that! Nevermind that you also have to be 16 here in Florida, but if they inadvertently touched their eyes or mouth before we had the chance to wash our hands.... ....that would be a horrible taste in their mouths.

I know as an adult to always touch the car, before I pump the gas, because of the slim chance that I may spark a fire. (a tip I heard on Montel Williams long time ago). A child may not know to do this.

Anyone younger than 18 is still too young to pump gas by themselves!

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
Exactly! FAR TOO DANGEROUS. I hope I don't offend, but your children should be no where around gas pumps or in and out of the car at gas stations b/c it could cause too much static and cause a fire. There are warning signs everywhere and this exact thing happened around here not too long ago. The car caught on fire and children were killed. I play it way too safe I guess, but it freaks me out.

MamaJAM replied: I would never allow my 5/6 years old to handle a gas pump! I wouldn't even allow my 5/6 year old out of the car as a gas station near the pump!
My oldest is 13 - and I don't allow her to pump gas....and won't for a long while yet.


I remember that places around here starting having self-serve gas stations when I was around 10 years old. My grandfather taught me how to pump gas soon after. I remember when I was 10.5 years old - my mother was desperate for gas and only self-serve places were open -- she had never learned how to pump gas...so she sent me in to pay and to pump the gas. The guy in the store that I paid said "So - you the only one who knows how to pump gas?" I said yes - he laughed.

A&A'smommy replied: OMG no I would NEVER allow that... I think my brother was about 10 or 11 when my father taught him how and that was because he wanted to (begged was more like it ) BUT I didn't know how to do it unti I was 17, pg and I needed to put some gas in my moms car it took two people (me and my best friend) to figure it out!!

luvbug00 replied:

umm right..I knew that.
No, Mel your not a bad parent.
It's pumping gas people, really. I've been pumping gas since I was a kid and I have yet to set myself on fire, and I've done it smoking, on the cell phone with keys in hand ( when i was a teen) before. I'm not seeing a major hazzard.

kimberley replied: i wouldn't let them pump the gas but might let them "help". if they want to hold my hand as i put the gas in, i think that would be ok but honestly i'd prefer them not to be in the fumes at all. i'd probably give them the squeegee instead and let them wash windows.

TANNER'S MOM replied: Well to be honest I never considered the bad side of it.
Here it is a gentlemen thing to do like carrying in your Mom's groceries. The boys also start my vehicle in the mornings so it will warm up.

Ummmm I need more research I guess.

MommyToAshley replied:
I agree, and not only would it leave a horrible taste in their mouth... it is way too dangerous. Of course, as you all know, I am very over-protective and error on the side of caution.

I hate to pump gas myself and can't stand the smell, especially if it gets on my hands. I'm lucky that DH fills up the car for me, but if I happen to be out with Ashley alone when I need gas, I am so thankful for the "Pay at the Pump" option so I don't even have to get Ashley out of the car.

jcc64 replied: I'm in the minority too, Mel. I let my 13 yr old ds pump gas- honestly I never considered it a highly hazardous activity.

MommyToAshley replied:
I think there is big difference between a 13 year old pumping gas and the 5 year old boy that Di mentioned. I can't see Ashley actually wanting to pump gas when she is 13, but at that age I might let her.

zdk753 replied: I have let Zach & Dylan "help me" pump gas. I let them turn the pump on & hold the nozzle w/ me, but no I would never let them take the nozzle out of the pump or car for me.

coasterqueen replied: OMG NO WAY!!!! I would NEVER. I didn't get to pump gas til I was old enough to drive a car. That will be the same time my children get to pump gas. I hate pumping gas as an adult, lol.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I think what shocked me the most was not actually help with pumping, but the attempt to get the pump off and into the car. Mel I dont think its bad you let Tanner help I can see that from him but he is older. It just shocked me to see this 'dad' stand there and have this 5 yr old do it for him.

punkeemunkee'smom replied:

ITA! I see alot of younger boys pumping gas or carrying groceries for their moms down here. I never thought of it as dangerous and although 5 IS young if his dad was out there with him I don't think it is a bad thing! I have not let Tay do it yet,mostly because we used to pump diesel and the bays get slick BUT she has already asked to help She is interested in EVERYTHING!

ions_momma replied: No way!! That is wwwaaayyy to young to be pumping gas!!

My3LilMonkeys replied:
My sisters and I used to fight over who got to pump the gas for my mom. I can't remember exactly at what age that was, but I couldn't have been more than 10.

In this day and age I would not let my kids pump gas for fear of someone snatching them. I would let them help when they were older though.

holley79 replied: We had a very young boy here burned severly pumping gas. I'm not sure all the details but I think he was only 6 or something like that. It just ignited from what the father told investigators. A friend of mine that works FHP and I still think the dad was smoking.

I didn't let Brandon start pumping gas until he was 12. I always pumped gas as a kid put I probably won't let Annika until she is about 12 or older.

I just read where Nicole said you have to be 16 here in FL also. Oops! See I told ya'll I suck as a mom.