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Original poster

My son found a toddler

410 replies

HerRoyalRisesAgain · 08/08/2021 19:24

My 12 year old son went out with his friends around 4.30.

He came home at 6.10, carrying a toddler in just his nappy, already on the phone to the police!
He'd found him wandering around our estate by himself in just a nappy (it's windy and rainy here) He tried to ask him where his mummy or daddy were but the toddler has just grabbed him and clung to his leg, so he's pulled out his phone, dialled 999 then picked up said toddler and brought him home so that he had somewhere warm to wait for the police.

I got a blanket for the little one, and got him warmed up. He was very scared bless him, but receptive to having a cuddle and letting us help him have some water. (My youngest is 6, so no sippy cups)

Police turned up just now with social services and took him with them. Theyre going to try and find his parents and take care of him, have him checked over etc.

The police and the social worker massively praised my son and said he was immensely brave and sensible to do what he did.
He took the officer out and showed him exactly where he had found the toddler and gave as much info as he could about what happened when he found him.

I hope the little one is OK, and glad he's safe with social services now.

I am also immensely proud of my son. He's so amazing. I would have panicked at that age and knocked on the nearest door for help.
Hes just jumped into action straight away and decided to get him warm and safe.

OP posts:
SamVimes6 · 08/08/2021 19:49

Having read of the toddler that was left home alone for almost a week, to starve to death whilst her mum partied, your son has definitely done the right thing.

LittleMowf · 08/08/2021 19:50

Oh bless him, he did so well. I am always so paranoid about locking doors and putting the keys out of reach - my DD in particular loves people-watching and looking outside, and I wouldn’t have put it past her to try the door when she was a bit younger.

Starlightstarbright1 · 08/08/2021 19:50

Well done to your ds. Hopefully toddler is safely home.

BikeRunSki · 08/08/2021 19:51

Nice work @HerRoyalRisesAgain‘s son.
I’m pretty sure my 12 year old wouldn’t have done that, or even anything.

Whattheschitt · 08/08/2021 19:51

Well done to your DS. He sounds incredible for keeping so calm and level headed when many would panic and fluster. Hope little one is home safe and sound soon x

EmmaGrundyForPM · 08/08/2021 19:51

Your DS has done brilliantly. Hopefully the toddler will be reunited with his parents shortly.

Years ago, just after the James Bulger murder, i found a toddler wandering by the side of a main road (NSL with lots of lorries). I stopped my car, picked her up and then headed off into the woods (because I thought that's where she'd come from) to find her parents. No mobiles in those days. I found her frantic mum after a few minutes, absolutely beside herself. Apparently the little girl had wandered off from a family BBQ in a house the other side of the woods.

When I recounted the story to colleagues the next day, all the men said that there was no way they would have stopped to help incase they were accused of kidnapping her!

littlebilliie · 08/08/2021 19:51

Sadly these event do happen. Local to my parents a toddler wandered out on to a roundabout and was killed. He was in the garden worked out the gate and was on the main road in a few minutes.

ivfbabymomma1 · 08/08/2021 19:52

Well done to your son. What an amazing boy you've raised.

I'm also immensely sad for the toddler Sad

LuluJakey1 · 08/08/2021 19:53

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 08/08/2021 19:54

@HerRoyalRisesAgain - your son is a sensible and caring young man - I’m sure you are very proud of him.

I hope the police will let you know what happens to the child (in general terms, of course).

FlyingRabbitsAtNoon · 08/08/2021 19:55

You should be exceptionally proud - what a fine little boy you’ve raised. I have always been so scared of losing sight of my little boy because of the James Bulger story so this kind of smart thinking and kindness actually makes me tear up a little bit. Well done, OP’s son!

PrawnofthePatriarchy · 08/08/2021 19:55

Congratulations on your parenting! What an impressive son you have.

viques · 08/08/2021 19:55

@WorraLiberty

That was a lovely thing he did, you're right to be very proud of him Thanks

My advice would've been for him to stay exactly where he was, incase a panicking parent came racing down the road.

However, if he was only wearing a nappy and your DS didn't have a coat or anything to put round him, he obviously did the right thing.

Hope the poor little thing finds its parents soon.

He did the right thing. At least now SS are informed. A toddler wandering around on its own needs investigation.
Original poster
HerRoyalRisesAgain · 08/08/2021 19:55

@littlebilliie how awful, poor little one, and poor parents.

I really do hope it's a case he's just slipped out and his parents are reunited with him soon, and not anything more sinister

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 08/08/2021 19:57

Well done your son, did the police say they would let you know ? (I'd be worrying all bloody night !)

Bassetlover · 08/08/2021 19:58

Aw! He's a credit to you, you should be proud!

Original poster
HerRoyalRisesAgain · 08/08/2021 19:59

Unfortunately the police didn't say they'd keep us updated. I'm guessing safeguarding will play a role in that.

OP posts:
hedgehogger1 · 08/08/2021 19:59

As someone who's toddler once managed to unlock a door and escape, so glad your son was there to catch this one! Well done to him!

Goatinthegarden · 08/08/2021 19:59

What a sensible lad you have!

I found a toddler wandering on a busy city centre road with no clothes on at 7am one morning when I was about 21. I was off to work and saw him, I definitely wasn’t as cool about it as your son. I had no experience of children at that stage in my life and was off to work. My home was a student hovel full of several others who were all still in bed and I wasn’t sure what I should to do with a naked toddler.

I spotted a house with the front door open with a pram in the porch so I rang the doorbell. I was holding the child and explaining my predicament to the woman that lived there and we were discussing what to do when a hysterical mother came running down the street. Turns out tiny toddler slipped out the front door whilst she was running his bath. He seemed happy to see her and I was so relieved I just passed him over, no questions asked and skipped off to work.

drinkingwineoutofamug · 08/08/2021 20:00

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happytoday73 · 08/08/2021 20:00

I'm so glad your son did the right thing... And somewhat disturbed the police hadn't already received a frantic call from a parent missing a toddler ...be it parent is sick or hasn't yet noticed

Bythemillpond · 08/08/2021 20:00

I was out in my front garden when I noticed a little boy of about 2/3 years old run over the road and was heading down the lane towards me.

No one about. I stopped him and asked where his mummy was but he just looked at me so I took him back from where I had seen him appear and up the road looking to see if anyone was missing a child.

Found a door wide open so knocked. A woman was coming to on the sofa. She had fallen asleep and he had let himself out of the house.
She explained it wasn’t his first time and they had had bolts fitted (showed me the door) but it looked like he knew how to open the bolts. There was a dining chair in the hallway.
Apparently he had kept her up all night as he just didn’t sleep.
More than likely there is a sleeping woman blissfully unaware her Ds has made an escape. Or now awake and panicking that she can’t find him.

Fiddliestofsticks · 08/08/2021 20:01

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Rockdown2020 · 08/08/2021 20:01

That’s fantastic. Well done to your son. You’ve a lot to be proud of!

fairynick · 08/08/2021 20:01

The exact thing happened to me when I was about 19, and I don’t think I handled it as well as your son!