Calling the police to check on a crying baby

It is better to call and it be nothing than not call and it be something major. U have done the right thing.

If it’s 100m down the road how can you be sure that all these noises relate to the same house? Also with windows open noise travels and we can all hear a lot more from our neighbours houses right now than usually. I think I would have needed more to ring the police than just a crying baby. As PP have said, babies can cry and if someone had called the police to check on mine I would have been mortified. You could have tipped a new mother over the edge. If you wanted to check on the welfare of the baby I think there would have been more discreet and kinder ways to do it than this.

Sorry if this sounds provocative but surely ‘from here to Fred and Sue’s’ would be a better measure for you than two Olympic pools? I’ve never been next to an Olympic pool; maybe you have.

Someone with a fucking learning disability alright!

Actually he reminded me because I have dyscalculia and struggle with spacial awareness and measurement but sure turn this into some BS misogynistic thing...

You have done the right thing. My (adopted) son was removed from his birth mum due to neglect and domestic violence. No baby should ever have to experience that. If you have a concern, isn’t it better to check it out and make sure the child is safe? I’m grateful that people who were worried about my son had the courage to contact the police and social services when they were concerned.

Just like the call handler, you weren't there either. I'm sure OP has heard many babies cry but something about this situation was off and worried her.
I called the police once when I heard a child crying hysterically and a man shouting. I have a child that cries when he's told no or I wipe his face. I grew up in an area where lots of parents shouted and swore at their own children, I've seen parents shout at children to tell then off and seen their children cry over it but I've only felt the need to call the police once. In words, the incidents sound the same but it was only that one where something really worried me and I was scared for the child.

I wouldn't have called the police, as babies and toddlers can cry a lot (30min is really not long for some babies). I find it odd you say so confidently that no one was trying to comfort the baby, when you have no way of knowing if this is the case. Even if you live next door, you wouldn't be able to hear whether someone was trying to comfort the baby, let alone when they're 100m away.

I wouldn’t have been surprised if my neighbour had called the police. My DD was terrible at having her nappy changed, crying ‘no mummy no, Dont do it mummy’
Luckily said neighbour was her godmother and completely understood.
edited for grammar.

Yes I had this too. I was reporting a man who had collapsed in the street and I was told that there had already been a car and ambulance on their way as they had had several calls.

Its a Saturday night and they have all been on the wine. I would like to see the stats between the "why did no one do anything?!" on threads about poor wee Preston and those slagging you off now.

Door slamming indicates bad temper and potential risk to child or mother.

especially heard 100m down the road

Incorrect.

I once phoned the police to alert them about something and they confirmed to me that they’d had multiple other calls to report to the same incident.

The police disagreed with you.

you were right to do what you did.
Another option might've been to contact NSPCC, because they assure anonymity.
When a concerned neighbour contacts the 'authorities' they run the risk of being identified. This can lead to reluctance to refer when referral is what is needed.
You did well OP.
Even if it was a 'false alarm' a baby was protected. That often doesn't happen.

And to be clear - obviously I do believe that people must intervene when they can see something is wrong. But we have to use our brains and apply logic to the situation actually in front of us not. Hours of screaming, lots of raised aggressive voices or banging and sounds of physical harm, and especially if this happens more than once and is particularly extended, of course. We should look out for our neighbours and children. We should take action. But this scenario just is not in that category.

The police told your friend which neighbour called them? Really? That is a breach of something or other of the highest order.

They do tell. My friend know her neighbour's are the ones making the call. Her issue is that they have never asked her about why her dc scream.

Edit: sorry I see you mean the police wouldn't tell op anything. I agree.

You have to go with your gut OP. You're right safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and there have been to many cases where people have decided it's not there problem and tragedies have occurred. Never apologise for looking out for a child, hopefully it's nothing. As others have suggested why you didn't go round there, for what purpose? and leaving your own children alone at home 🤷🏼. You wouldn't be given access to see if the baby was ok, that is why the police are needed to do a welfare check. I think, in the context, you did the right thing

Why do you say this?

The police were dispatched, do you think they made the wrong decision?

But obviously they couldn’t do that. If someone calls and describes something as a concern, and obviously believes something is wrong, they can’t exactly turn around and say it isn’t. They can only rely on your retelling of the incident - they aren’t there. So they don’t have the context and they can’t know if you’re overplaying it or underplaying it.

And fine, you clearly thought and think you are in the right here and nobody online is going to convince you. But nevertheless, it is completely and entirely unreasonable to ring the police because of what you’ve described - a baby crying for 30 minutes, doors slamming and raised voices. The amount of people who are convinced this is worrying and a clear sign of terrible things and throwing around “better safe than sorry” as if that means anything and bringing up completely unrelated examples of horrific child abuse…it’s shocked me tbh.

I wouldn't have called the police for a one off situation. A lot of babies can cry for that long or longer while being comforted and cared for, our little one used to throw the most awful screaming crying tantrums over bed time and nothing would settle her. If it had happened a few times and you were concerned then I would have called the police.

The police wouldn't give you the information that you're not the only caller.

You said your husband was in. No reason one of you could not have investigated a little first.

100%. It makes me feel really angry actually. “Better safe than sorry” is just a cop out for people not needing to critically engage with the situation. This situation just does not meet the bar for police intervention and I’m pretty appalled how many people seemingly think it does.