"absolutely acceptable to leave a child"

[prufrock]

Has anyone else read the unbelievable story about the English couple arrested in NY because they left their 4 month old in a locked car by herself whilst they went into a shopping centre? Their defence is that the Americans have blown this out of all proportion because it is completely culturally acceptable to do this in Great Britain!

[alohappychristmas]

Hmmm.... well I have to say I was stunned (and still am, a bit) by the number of people who told me off when I posted that I called the police on spotting two children - a toddler and a baby (the baby was crying), locked in a car on a deserted London street on one of the hottest days of last summer. So maybe it IS culturally acceptable. It's sure as hell not acceptable to me.

[Roscoe]

I saw it in the news but hadn't heard the 'culture' excuse. What a load of b**cks!

[StressyHead]

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[StressyHead]

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[melsy]

Why was it such a problem to take the baby shopping with them??? I could never leave my child in the car, I would worry far to much. Thats just me , I like showing her off round the shopping centre!!!!!!

[melsy]

The more I read this the more angry it makes me. It seems selfish to me, I watched a horrible american talk show on exactly this issue and the baby died, the toddler was ok, the women in question is now serving time, as it wasnt her her baby . Sorree dont want to upset anyone , but it could be hyperthermia or over heating.

[StressyHead]

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[LIZS]

The story is here baby left in car . Don't know why they should have imagined that it was safe to do so or why both parents had to accompany daughter to toilet which is their defence.

[melsy]

Stressy head - yeah I feel the same too, its like leaving a body part!!!scuse the strange metaphor.

There is an enourmous litany of reason why you DONT leave a child/ infant in a car.

[Roscoe]

Why didn't one parent either stay behind or carry the baby???

[StressyHead]

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[tiktok]

It does seem odd....and one would like to know the full story.

I do remember having to collect ds from nursery, and having to park the car about five minutes away (not on the street), with dd asleep in the car seat....but although moving her would always wake her, and make her cross, I still wouldn't have left her alone. What worried me then wasn't kidnapping, but anxiety about the car bursting into flames (you do occasionally read about that) or her waking up and trying to get out of the straps and strangling herself.

The parents were misguided leaving a six month old alone, that's for sure, but arresting them on a charge sounds over the top.

[StressyHead]

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[StressyHead]

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[philippat]

Actually I think this says a lot more about the American culture of fear rather than any European culture of leaving kids alone - the quote alongside that article says hijacking, kidnapping etc is the reason Americans don't do it rather than any more likely safety issues.

Obviously they were stupid, but considerably less stupid than the 100s of Americans who let their kids find find their loaded guns about the house every year.

Sorry any american MNs! Feeling a bit Michael Moore today!

[StressyHead]

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[StressyHead]

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