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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:
MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 08/08/2021 21:44

@MiloAndEddie

Wow what a sensible boy you’ve raised OP! I’m not sure even as an adult I’d have handled it as well as him!
Really?

It's great that he was so sensible, but I honestly think most 12 year olds would have managed the same. Kids are a lot more capable than we usually give them credit for.

AfternoonToffee · 08/08/2021 21:45

I had a FB memory in the last couple of days regarding a then toddler DD, we had gone out and I let everyone into the house (have two older ones) between getting in, perhaps unloading / locking the car, she had snuck back out unnoticed. It was a few minutes before I noticed, luckily she was just popping stones down the drain Blush but she could just have easily have wandered off.

surreygirl1987 · 08/08/2021 21:46

My son has a little rubber wristband with my mobile number on it. I know this won't be of any use if he wanders into a road or gets snatched, but just in case I ever somehow manage to lose him, and he is found my a decent person like your son, at least there is a way of somebody contacting me.

Antwerpen · 08/08/2021 21:49

Well done to your son OP, you must be very proud.

dontblamemee · 08/08/2021 21:49

I found a toddler once too. We waited where we found him for the police who took about an hour to arrive and didn't really seem to know what to do with him when they did get there. So we stayed with the kid while they made enquiries and about 30 minutes later (so about 90 minutes after I found him) a very unconcerned woman appeared having been alerted by a neighbour and claimed the child. The officers put her straight in the back of their vehicle, no idea what happened as we left at that point. We were on our way to lunch to celebrate my husbands birthday.

Plumtree391 · 08/08/2021 21:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted as it quotes a deleted post.

Original poster
HerRoyalRisesAgain · 08/08/2021 21:51

@surreygirl1987 I have stickers with my number and a little explanation of my DDs condition for when we're out and about (she has selective mutism. She can't speak to strangers, but does understand what you're saying) but I'd never think we'd need them unless we were going somewhere crowded, certainly not at home! It's just not something you think about.

OP posts:
littlebilliie · 08/08/2021 21:56

@ShesAPeachSconeBob

My dad's little brother was hit by an ice cream van. My nana was washing up and could see outside. She noticed a commotion and went to see if she could help. Someone told her to go back in the house and a neighbour physically picked her up to take her back in. She was confused because she thought all her kids were in the house preparing school uniforms, bathing, in bed etc. They didn't want her to see her 6 year old son lying there dead. He was an identical twin and the priest at his funeral said in his sermon this was because God wanted 2 angels but decided to leave one on earth. My granddad told the priest to fuck his God. Its why my grandparents moved from Glasgow to Manchester. To escape the gossiping of the neighbours who put the blame on my grandparents and then judged my granddad for his outburst in church at his sons funeral.
That's so sad, but I think sometimes people say stupid things at difficult times. We had a hard year and some of the comments were unbelievably stupid but people were speaking out of embarrassment.
Maddison12 · 08/08/2021 21:57

I seen a documentary about the emergency services a while ago, a member of the public had phoned police about a little boy of 2 or 3 walking near a road in just a nappy (it was winter). The little boy was sitting in her car wrapped in her coat when police arrived. Police knocked on every door on the road where he'd been found, eventually found his house, the mum and dad were off their heads on drugs and didn't even know the little boy had gone Sad at the end of the programme they said SS had been working with the family and the little boy had eventually been placed back with mum and dad. Made me so angry, it's little wonder really that there's all these awful headlines about little ones dying. Sad

MotionActivatedDog · 08/08/2021 21:59

Well done your son OP!

Hopefully just a case of a toddler being an escape artist.

When my youngest was 2 I was in the kitchen washing up having left him snoozing on the sofa. My eldest came running in minutes later telling me DS2 was outside naked running around! Thankfully we live in a cul de sac and there were loads of kids running around and they all knew who he belonged to so he was delivered straight home by the time I’d gotten to the front door. Unfortunately it gave him a taste for running away Hmm Grin

magimedi · 08/08/2021 21:59

Dear Lord, what a load of unkind cunts there are on this thread, questioning you, Royal.

Your son acted with wisdom & maturity - well done to him.

Many would have just walked by.

He didn't & did the most sensible thing he could have.

Well done Royal Junior Flowers

dryasaboner · 08/08/2021 22:00

@AfternoonToffee

I had a FB memory in the last couple of days regarding a then toddler DD, we had gone out and I let everyone into the house (have two older ones) between getting in, perhaps unloading / locking the car, she had snuck back out unnoticed. It was a few minutes before I noticed, luckily she was just popping stones down the drain Blush but she could just have easily have wandered off.
Reminds me of my DS. We had ordered a Chinese and DH was emptying the bin. He must have snuck out when he had his back in the bin. Five minutes later there was a faint knocking and I said that delivery driver knocks like a child. I answered the door to an indignant DS (aged 3) asking why I shut the door on him
FrangipaniBlue · 08/08/2021 22:01

I too have both found and lost a toddler!

I lost DS in Debenhams, total panic when I thought he'd gone in the lift..... security locked the building down and watched the doors on camera to make sure he couldn't leave while the staff searched..... little bugger was hiding in a clothes rack Angry

I found my neighbours toddler running out of our street early one morning as I was opening the curtains. DH legged it outside, chased him and grabbed him before he could run into the main road. His parents were still in bed asleep and it turned out his older brother (5/6 I think at the time) had unlocked the front door Confused

clareykb · 08/08/2021 22:01

I once found a random toddler in the street, when I asked where Mummy and daddy were she just said "Grandma Gone!"... I had my iwn 2 toddlers with me and was just about to call the police when frantic granny ran round the corner, child had escaped from the garden whilst granny was in the loo. She had got quite a long way though so about 8 houses along a side street and about another 8 along a more main road... made me very paranoid about our side gate! Your son was an absolute star.. I was a 30 something year onld Mum and still had a bit of a panic!

Maddison12 · 08/08/2021 22:02

Meant to say your son done amazingly, such quick thinking too. I'd have been a panicking wreck.

SimonaLynn · 08/08/2021 22:02

Well done to your son, what a great young man!

Maskedrevenger · 08/08/2021 22:03

@ CityCommuter
Quit with your blaming OP about not caring enough about the outcome for the child, I can assure you that the OP could call the police everyday from now til Christmas asking for an update and would receive one. Professionally I know this for a fact.

Maskedrevenger · 08/08/2021 22:03

Would not receive one

Natsku · 08/08/2021 22:11

Glad the toddler was found by your son, who had the presence of mind to call the police and take him home. My uncle once got a call from his neighbour, asking him if he knew that his daughter (then around 3 years old) was riding her tricycle naked down the street. Why on earth did he call instead of just going outside and stopping her and bringing her home?!

Bingbongbash · 08/08/2021 22:17

Knocking on nearby doors as you think you would have done as a 12 year old would have been a better idea than bringing him home!

dryasaboner · 08/08/2021 22:18

@Bingbongbash

Knocking on nearby doors as you think you would have done as a 12 year old would have been a better idea than bringing him home!
Why are you criticising what a young lad did to keep a vulnerable baby safe?
AttaGirrrrl · 08/08/2021 22:19

This has just reminded me that I found an older boy lost and alone earlier this year. I noticed he had no shoes on so stopped to ask if he was okay. He burst into tears and told me he’d had an argument with his mum, ran out of the house and was totally and utterly lost. He’d tried to approach several people but they’d ignored him Sad

The police never updated me and I didn’t chase them for info. Like the OP, I was sure that he was either safely back with his family or being looked after by SS.

dryasaboner · 08/08/2021 22:20

My son also escaped from his grandmas when DH was there (can you see a theme here) he proudly told us he went on a hunt....but was found a few houses down by a man just as DH realised and ran after him

dryasaboner · 08/08/2021 22:20

@AttaGirrrrl

This has just reminded me that I found an older boy lost and alone earlier this year. I noticed he had no shoes on so stopped to ask if he was okay. He burst into tears and told me he’d had an argument with his mum, ran out of the house and was totally and utterly lost. He’d tried to approach several people but they’d ignored him Sad

The police never updated me and I didn’t chase them for info. Like the OP, I was sure that he was either safely back with his family or being looked after by SS.

Ahh the poor lad stuff like that really sticks with you
Plumtree391 · 08/08/2021 22:20

@magimedi

Dear Lord, what a load of unkind cunts there are on this thread, questioning you, Royal.

Your son acted with wisdom & maturity - well done to him.

Many would have just walked by.

He didn't & did the most sensible thing he could have.

Well done Royal Junior Flowers

Well said!

I think some people just like to rain on someone else's parade, I don't know why, resentment perhaps. Sneering is unattractive.

The boy 'done good'.