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Original poster

Little boy yelling for help

32 replies

Keytochebakia · 19/04/2025 20:03

If tou had heard a little boy yelling "help me!" Twice when you were walking down the street, and then heard his mum yell back "what are you doing?", would you have called 999, even if you thought he might have been messing around and pranking you?

OP posts:
UpUpUpU · 19/04/2025 20:04

I’d probably investigate what was going on then make a decision from there

Original poster
Keytochebakia · 19/04/2025 20:05

UpUpUpU · 19/04/2025 20:04

I’d probably investigate what was going on then make a decision from there

Nothing else happened, if you werent sure which apartment it was from as you were just walking past that building

OP posts:
LeaveTaking · 19/04/2025 20:05

I think it’s too hard to say from what you have described.

I wouldn’t ignore a child I thought was genuinely crying for help, but this doesn’t sound like that.

There’s a few steps between this and calling the police surely!

nottheplan · 19/04/2025 20:05

It would really depend on his tone and whether or not he looked frightened tbh
There aren't many abductions these days so it would be quite unusual.

mikado1 · 19/04/2025 20:07

Doesn't it sound like he was crying help and his mum responded? But the tone etc could change things.

DearBee · 19/04/2025 20:07

No, I wouldn't call 999. Is this a wind up?

TaggieO · 19/04/2025 20:07

he was probably shouting to his mum to help, and she responded?

Original poster
Keytochebakia · 19/04/2025 20:08

TaggieO · 19/04/2025 20:07

he was probably shouting to his mum to help, and she responded?

No he was screaming out the window. It was quite loud. He sounded around 10/12

OP posts:
x2boys · 19/04/2025 20:09

My now 18 year old did this when he was about 2 or 3 because i wouldnt give chocolate,he yelled help all around the shopping precint whilst i was pushing him in his pushchair😬

ToBeOrNotToBee · 19/04/2025 20:09

Probably not.
But I am the child that wrote "kidnapped" on a piece of paper and held it against the window of the car as Dad drove miles and miles along the motorway 😇

TheCurious0range · 19/04/2025 20:11

DS shouted help me this morning, he'd tried to take his pyjama top off without unbuttoning it and it got stuck on his head. So it would very much depend on the tone

TobiasForgesContactLense · 19/04/2025 20:11

I think it partly depends on the mums tone. If she sounded exasperated then it was likely he was shouting for attention rather than out of genuine need.

My niece started screaming "help me" aged 2 in a supermarket as she wanted to get down from the trolley but her heavily pregnant mum didn't want her running away.

Kimmeridge · 19/04/2025 20:13

My niece did this. She was in the naughty step (in the front porch) for a brief time out. She opened the letter box and was shouting for help.

The mums response sounds pretty normal for someone finding their child shouting out the window

I cant see anything that warrants calling the police. Certainly not 999

Whinge · 19/04/2025 20:15

Keytochebakia · 19/04/2025 20:08

No he was screaming out the window. It was quite loud. He sounded around 10/12

Edited
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I wouldn't call a child of 10 / 12 a little boy. I assumed you were talking about a toddler.

It sounds like he wanted help with something and he yelled at his mum because she was some distance away.

I can't imagine anyone calling 999 with just the information you've provided.

HeySnoodie · 19/04/2025 20:17

Ring the police and ask them to do a welfare check on the boy

thestudio · 19/04/2025 20:18

Yes I definitely absolutely without question would.

No lasting harm will be done by the police knocking and talking to her and him separately. If nothing's going on, it will become an amusing anecdote in her wedding speech.

Lots of harm could be done if they don't.

thestudio · 19/04/2025 20:18

Whinge · 19/04/2025 20:15

I wouldn't call a child of 10 / 12 a little boy. I assumed you were talking about a toddler.

It sounds like he wanted help with something and he yelled at his mum because she was some distance away.

I can't imagine anyone calling 999 with just the information you've provided.

Edited
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"He was screaming out the window".

HeySnoodie · 19/04/2025 20:18

Obviously if the boy sounded like he was having fun I wouldn’t call the police

Burntt · 19/04/2025 20:19

What was the mums tone like?

I think I’d struggle to walk past a child screaming for help out of a window. But then I’ve got a child court ordered to see his abusive father who will lock him in his room so I’m sensitive to it. If he screamed for help that phone call would help me go back to court and keep him safe because I tried and lost on lack of evidence. His sister tells me he screams and fights it so there must be people who have heard and done nothing. But I think the mums tone would tell you if the child was in danger most likely?

Whinge · 19/04/2025 20:20

thestudio · 19/04/2025 20:18

"He was screaming out the window".

Show quote history

OP has said screaming and yelling. So it's hard to judge based on her choice of words alone.

pearbottomjeans · 19/04/2025 20:22

Whinge · 19/04/2025 20:20

OP has said screaming and yelling. So it's hard to judge based on her choice of words alone.

Show quote history

OP said he was screaming out the window.

HeySnoodie · 19/04/2025 20:24

I had a similar situation with an neighbour and later found out the teen had been strangled by a close relative. The teen went to live with his aunt after the police completed a welfare check

Whinge · 19/04/2025 20:24

pearbottomjeans · 19/04/2025 20:22

OP said he was screaming out the window.

Show quote history

I know, but she's also used the word yelling. Both in the title and the first post.

thestudio · 19/04/2025 20:24

Whinge · 19/04/2025 20:20

OP has said screaming and yelling. So it's hard to judge based on her choice of words alone.

Show quote history

I think you are seeing this through the prism of 'don't interfere, I could be humiliated if I'm wrong' - and that for you, being humiliated would be psychologically devastating.

It's hard to see our own belief systems, but if you step back you will probably be able to see that, if there's any possibility they are real, ignoring cries for help from a child is wrong.

Whinge · 19/04/2025 20:26

thestudio · 19/04/2025 20:24

I think you are seeing this through the prism of 'don't interfere, I could be humiliated if I'm wrong' - and that for you, being humiliated would be psychologically devastating.

It's hard to see our own belief systems, but if you step back you will probably be able to see that, if there's any possibility they are real, ignoring cries for help from a child is wrong.

Show quote history

I'm simply pointing out the words Op is using have changed.

Originally it was yelling and the mum yelled back. Then it was screaming.

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