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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:
Raisinandcheese · 08/08/2021 20:15

Well done your son.
I hope the little lad is reunited, and things with parent (s) are ok.
I found a 4 year old wandering down the path near me years ago. He only had a top on, no trousers. He said he had come out of the house looking for his daddy, as he couldn’t find him.
Turned out, sadly, the father had, had a heart attack and passed away in the bathroom. He was separated from the boys mum, and it was his weekend to have the lad.
Really hope your Toddler has a happier ending.

Lovemusic33 · 08/08/2021 20:15

Sadly it does happen often. It happened here last summer, toddler got out in just a nappy and was found by older children. I also found a toddler in the middle of a road in a little tikes car making his escape 🤣, he managed to sneak out of a garden whilst his parent was busy.

AngelDelightUk · 08/08/2021 20:16

Such a shame you won’t be given an update, it would be nice to know he was reunited with his mum and dad. Although if all the time he was with you there wasn’t any noise or commotion of them looking for him it makes you wonder.

Big well done to your son

Panda8383 · 08/08/2021 20:16

Poor little guy, but gladly your son was around to help him. Well done to your son and what a brave boy he is also :)

Stickywhitelovepiss · 08/08/2021 20:16

The saving grace is that 99.99% of people are good, when it comes to little ones.

Original poster
HerRoyalRisesAgain · 08/08/2021 20:17

I'm starting to think it may be a good idea to restrain toddlers until they're old enough to know not to wander off! Grin only half joking

OP posts:
Bigassbeebuzzbuzz · 08/08/2021 20:18

Well done to him. I remember when I was in my 20s working in a corner shop and a little girl of about 4 came wondering in alone. Called the police straight away but it was still nerve wracking to know there was a poor lost child whose parents were probably frantically looking for her.

ElephantOfRisk · 08/08/2021 20:19

Same DS prompted a lock in at Freeport in Maine when he went missing in a store. He was hiding under a clothes rack but I was amazed at how quickly security sprang into action. Shops locked, announcement made and gates to the carpark shut in seconds. he was honestly a well behaved child and not prone to running off. That was his brothers job so he had enhanced security measures.

BakewellGin1 · 08/08/2021 20:19

Well done to your son!! Very sensible and level headed.

We found a toddler last summer.. We were heading to a country park taking DS for a walk in his pram and the little boy (guessing around 2ish as couldn't speak well)came wandering toward we had parked car on a main road shouting Mammy over and over... Absolutely sobbing...

We kept him with us and walked back toward Park entrance trying to decipher had he came from one of the houses on the road or park and calmed him with a Kinder bar (thank god for baby bags)

His Mum was hysterical (as would I have been) and came running through the gates toward us, literally as I was on the phone to operator.

He had slipped out of play area whilst she was changing a younger baby and as it led to several sets of gates she had no idea which to try.

Toddlers are quick little things. Hopefully this one has slipped out and has a loving home to go back to.

missnonames · 08/08/2021 20:19

Aww your son is a superstar !
It does happen a lot. My SILs son used to open her windows (locked) and climb out onto the street when he was 3, did this a few times (luckily she noticed as he got to end of the path but Could of been a lot worse )
She had to get the windows changed in the end so they only opened from the top and he couldn't reach the handle or fit out the gap if he grew to tall! So not the actual window opening out anymore.

Glad this little one is safe, you'll not sleep tonight wondering how they are 🙏🏼

GingerBreadTeddy · 08/08/2021 20:20

Well done your son!
Hope the toddler is ok

feelingfree17 · 08/08/2021 20:20

What a wonderful son you have raised.
He should be very proud of his actions

GrouchyKiwi · 08/08/2021 20:21

Well done to your lovely, caring son. Star

We discovered our 3-year-old could open the front door when we saw our large, fluffy dog enthusiastically greeting some teenagers in the park opposite our house. DD was halfway down the hill.

littlebilliie · 08/08/2021 20:21

[quote HerRoyalRisesAgain]@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[/quote]
I think these cases pass quietly through the press. There was no negligence it was just a sad turn of events.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 08/08/2021 20:23

Congratulations to your amazing son, @HerRoyalRisesAgain (just realised who you are, doh!)! He's a credit to you and to your parenting!

Simpop · 08/08/2021 20:25

Ah you must be bursting with pride over your son. Sounds like a really level-headed and caring boy.

I hope it's a case that the toddler just saw an open door and decided to go for a bit of an explore, rather than it being a case of neglect. Poor little sausage.

Kanaloa · 08/08/2021 20:26

What a lovely boy you’ve got op! If I was you I’d have a good chat with him about how proud of him you are - so often we chastise bad behaviour but never make a fuss about wonderful things like this.

Hope the baby is safe and happy and there’s a harmless explanation.

BuffyFanForever · 08/08/2021 20:28

You must be so very proud of you son. What a sensible, kind and caring chap. Hopefully the police will at least let you know that everything’s ok (probably not to obviously with confidentiality) even in a roundabout wanted to say well done to your son!

ToastandJamandTea · 08/08/2021 20:29

It has happened to me too. Last year I found a toddler out in a heavy nappy and nothing else at 7am. They had let themselves out the house while parents were getting ready for work. The police had already arrived by the time they noticed he was missing.

Bettyboopawoop · 08/08/2021 20:29

Well done to your boy, I know in Liverpool just the other day a toddler was found roaming the streets apparently his dad had collapsed.

Kanaloa · 08/08/2021 20:29

I also wouldn’t rule out a simple explanation because this could have easily happened with my third child, right down to having no clothes in. When he was a toddler he hated wearing anything and wouldn’t ever keep shoes especially on. He was also an escape artist and once escaped from mother in law’s by squeezing out the dog door. Luckily she noticed him in the garden but she still got a massive shock. We couldn’t even have windows open as he’d be out them as well. He is autistic so we think in hindsight it’s possibly to do with that, and he also would have had no words at this age. I hope it’s something like that!

Feedingthebirds1 · 08/08/2021 20:30

Something on the same lines happened to us walking along a seafront promenade. I'd seen a small child up ahead, coming in our direction, and couldn't see any adults around. Little one stopped dead in front of us, flung his arms round (6'2") DP's knees and cried 'I've lost my mummy'. I picked him up, promised him we'd find her, and eventually did. She was extremely relieved and grateful. And the little boy seemed at least content, if not exactly happy, that he'd found people who made him feel safe.

Original poster
HerRoyalRisesAgain · 08/08/2021 20:30

@Kanaloa I've told him how proud I am and have told him he deserves a treat and asked what he wanted. He told me nothing then asked if he could play minecraft! So he's playing minecraft acting like it's no big deal, he just did what anyone would do. Tried to explain that most people would panic and he said he did, but he was more worried for the little one.

OP posts:
itsgettingwierd · 08/08/2021 20:32

What a very sensible and caring young man.

Especially sensible to come home to his patents rather than wait in the street with a toddler and possibly come across the child's parents who may not have reacted in a manner safe for your son.

Simpop · 08/08/2021 20:32

Awww, @Feedingthebirds1, that's lovely. Sensible little kid though, looking for help Smile