I know safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and this weekend I met a child at an event. He was the nephew of a couple whom I know. They also have a child who is friends with my son.
Anyway I had never met their nephew before but he is the same age as my son and their son (4).
He couldn't talk and seemed to not understand how to socialise with others.
He stared at the food on his plate and only ate when being spoon fed like a baby.
His teeth were also almost completley black.
The wife of the couple I knew had her concerns and she said it makes her cry when they have child as he never wants to go home. He also had shoes on that were too big for him and visibly flopping off.
Speaking to his aunt and uncle they had their concerns (the wife more so) but felt they couldn't do anything about it. His mum apparently doesn't leave the house and the child doesn't attend nursery so only sees his aunt and uncle and his grandparents. The child just had such a frightened temperament it made me really sad and I couldn't stop thinking about him all weekend.
I reported anonymously to safeguarding in my area mainly as the child isn't in a childcare setting so potentially nobody has eyes on him. I only knew limited info so couldn't give exact information.
I later discussed this with my
Mum who said I shouldn't of done anything ! And made me feel terrible asif I have done something wrong?
I just wanted to know if anyone else would do the same in this situation or if I was being abit hasty with limited information I suppose.