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Original poster

If someone abandoned a baby on your doorstep, would you be tempted to keep it?

212 replies

acassadei · 03/02/2023 19:46

Inspired by the Dumbledore thread over in AIBU. Someone mentioned that (imaginary) Harry Potter was abandoned on a (imaginary) doorstep in November, and I felt a little stab of pure sadness and baby hunger. Should mention that DC1 is 6mo and I am VERY flooded with baby hormones at the moment.

anyway I know if someone abandons a baby in my doorstep legally I’d have to call the police and give it to social services, but I’d WANT to just keep it. And ethically, is there not some justification for that? Baby could just slot right into the family. Surely that’s less traumatic than going through the care system? You’d have to forge a birth certificate I suppose. But then you could just move right on with giving the baby a lovely life. No fuss, no mess, no drama, no tragedy. Would anyone else be tempted or is it just me? 😂

OP posts:
Octopusmittens · 03/02/2023 20:46

Yes please 👶🏻

HagridTheGiant · 03/02/2023 20:46

I'd love to, but obviously you can't!

Highdaysandholidays1 · 03/02/2023 20:47

Kitten, yes, baby, no. But if no-one else could take it, I guess I'd have to crack on with it!

LaurieFairyCake · 03/02/2023 20:48

I'd keep it a couple of days to see if I liked it

But most babies are crap, deffo prefer a puppy 🐶

MrsMitford3 · 03/02/2023 20:48

acassadei · 03/02/2023 19:46

Inspired by the Dumbledore thread over in AIBU. Someone mentioned that (imaginary) Harry Potter was abandoned on a (imaginary) doorstep in November, and I felt a little stab of pure sadness and baby hunger. Should mention that DC1 is 6mo and I am VERY flooded with baby hormones at the moment.

anyway I know if someone abandons a baby in my doorstep legally I’d have to call the police and give it to social services, but I’d WANT to just keep it. And ethically, is there not some justification for that? Baby could just slot right into the family. Surely that’s less traumatic than going through the care system? You’d have to forge a birth certificate I suppose. But then you could just move right on with giving the baby a lovely life. No fuss, no mess, no drama, no tragedy. Would anyone else be tempted or is it just me? 😂

oh @acassadei I'd be tempted...

can someone please link that thread??

Hibernatalie · 03/02/2023 20:49

mahrezzy · 03/02/2023 19:58

No. I’d be concerned about the mother - what led her to abandon her baby? - and would want to set the wheels in motion to find her and get her the help she needed so she could reunite with her child.

He head agrees 100% - it's the only answer really.

My perimenopausal hormones on the other hand....

Saschka · 03/02/2023 20:50

I’d happily take in another person’s child if they were known to me and couldn’t look after them. A relative, or one of DS’s friends, for example. DH would hate it, he has trouble enough coping with one.

But a random baby on a doorstep probably has a very desperate mother out there somewhere, and she needs to be found and helped, so no I wouldn’t just keep quiet in that situation. Too similar to finding a lost child in a shopping centre and just keeping them.

merrymelodies · 03/02/2023 20:51

Yes 😍

Keepyourmummysboys · 03/02/2023 20:51

I’m mid fifties, yes, I’d keep a baby before a puppy. Having had both.

GaslitlikeaVictorianparlour · 03/02/2023 20:52

As long as all the legals were sorted out and the parents couldn't be found, yes absolutely no problem at all, there's always room for one more in this house.

Indecisivebynature · 03/02/2023 20:53

I’d keep it 😊

Marshmello33 · 03/02/2023 20:53

Yes!

MacDoodleofredbrookcounty · 03/02/2023 20:54

Ohhh, a tiny newborn?

I would hold them close until i saw sense.

I loved my own newborns and have a weakness for this stage of human.

Caterguin · 03/02/2023 20:54

I don't even like relatives' children. I feel absolutely no connection to them at all, so it's safe to say I wouldn't.

queencactus · 03/02/2023 20:54

I'd phone the police but hope they'd let us adopt the baby. After all, someone has chosen us, right? A baby could fit right in to our family.

gamerchick · 03/02/2023 20:55

Not a chance in hell. But my baby days are long behind me.

I wouldn't keep an animal either.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 03/02/2023 20:55

No chance

OldFan · 03/02/2023 20:56

NO Grin I would be straight on the phone for emergency assistance.

70sShmeventies · 03/02/2023 20:57

Yes! I’ve always wanted to adopt and have a third but husband doesn’t so I would absolutely.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 03/02/2023 20:58

A box of kittens was dumped on our doorstep when I was about 14. I've never really forgiven my parents for not letting me keep all of them even one. Explains why I've always had rescue cats since leaving home, though...

Sunriseinwonderland · 03/02/2023 21:01

No I'm not interested in babies and would be a terrible mother. Kittens on the other hand.......

Needmorelego · 03/02/2023 21:02

Actually can I have a baby and some kittens all in the same box....

Original poster
acassadei · 03/02/2023 21:04

@MrsMitford3 it’s here

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4734845-dumbledore

all about how Dumbledore is a big old dick

OP posts:
LuckyLuckyWoman · 03/02/2023 21:05

I'd look after it until the authorities arrived. Way too old for that :)

TurtleTriplets · 03/02/2023 21:05

I can't think of anything worse!

A box of muffins - now you're talking!