leaving baby alone in car

[monkeyfeet]

Last night I was walking through retail centre carpark with my son and saw a car with a baby asleep in a child seat in the back of the car. I had a look around there was no one about ant the car was a fair way from the shops so i tried doors they were locked. I didnt have my mobile phone on me so went into the nearest shop and told the manager to phone the police or make an announcement, so we went out again to get the registration and confirm the car was still there it was. Then we went back into the shop to phone I decided i would go back out and see if anyone showed up but by this time I saw the car driving away. All of this was over the course of about 15 mins no one had been keeping an eye on the car or they would have seen me trying to get in the store manager trying to get in and come over. It was freezing outside and the baby looked to be about 6 months old.

So the store manager decided not to ring the police as they had gone but when i got home I rang the non emergency line to make a report. Hopefully it was someone being thoughtless and not negligent and a visit from the polce could make them understand what is not appropriate.

But AIBU to report this to the police?

[SoupDragon]

"The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK, was 38.1 degrees Celsius, recorded in Gravesend in Kent and this was in the long and VERY hot summer of 2003."

[SoupDragon]

I don't think anyone on this thread advocates leaving child in a car in that heat or, in fact, in what passes for a hot day here.

[NoWayNoHow]

YANBU at all. This is ! I wouldn't even leave a dog in the car, never mind a baby!!

YOu did the right thing, well done.

[Teaandcakeplease]

Hmm my post earlier didn't make sense Sheep, I was typing in a hurry, I meant if those had been my kids and there were two of us. One would have stayed with them without a doubt.

LOL Ladybiscuit

[sheeplikessleep]

i understood teaandcakeplease

[Tanith]

Someone claimed earlier that it's impossible for the car to catch fire whilst stationary. The fire brigade would disagree. The most likely time for a car to catch fire is just after it's been left, when the engine is warm: when a child is most likely to have been left to sleep.

There are cases in this country of children who have died in car fires after being left cars. Two young children were killed in my home town a few years ago in a car fire after their mother left them for a few minutes.

Risk assessment is about minimising risks, not ignoring them because you think they're unlikely to happen.

To me, it's irrelevant how great or small is the risk of a car catching fire.
I personally could not take even the slightest risk of returning to my car and finding that my own child had been burned to death and knowing that I could have prevented it just by taking my child with me.
There are many things I can't control and many risks I can't minimise, but this is such a simple precaution to take.
I'm rather surprised that some of you are prepared to take that risk: I'm disgusted at the small minority on here ridiculing those who won't risk it.

[purepurple]

well said tanith

[backwardpossom]

And then they have the nerve to look surprised when the baby dies

PMSL, really?! I'd imagine it's grief rather than surprise...

This thread is hilarious

[BuzzLightBeer]

its not only minimising risk though is it?

Can you tell me statistically, which is more likely?

a) leaving 3 children in car while paying for petrol, nipping into corner shop etc

b) taking all 3 children out of the car, across forecourt, into large shop yokey. Bearing in mind you need one hand to hold the baby, one hand to get your cash/card out..whose holding the toddler, or the slightly older one.

You can't really tell me can you? It is my job as their parent to decide that for them, I do not need you to tell me.

And as for being"disgusted at being ridiculed for not risking it", those you say are being ridiculed are the ones calling those of us who do it, lazy, irresponsible, negelctful, abusive, and practically murderers. You don't think we are allowed a little barb in too?


Life isn't about minimising all risks it is about balancing them. If it was, crossing a road with a child is off limits unless strictly necessary, as are a million other things. Living is risk. You choose for yours, I'll choose for mine, how about that?

[tinierclanger]

I'm actually inclined to agree with the forecourt issue. Never faced it as we just make sure not to be alone with DS when needing petrol but I appreciate that's not feasible for everyone.

Still wouldn't agree with leaving a child in publicly parked car in most other circumstances though, but do agree it's down to parents to make their own judgements. Which should be informed ones obviously.

[LadyBiscuit]

Tanith - that is utter bollocks. The most likely time for a car to catch fire is when it's most flammable which is when it's being driven.

FFS - I really hate these threads stuffed full of Snopes-shite. Christ knows why some of you actually drive cars, given you seem to think they are death-traps with built-in paedo-alerts

[LadyBiscuit]

... and after an accident when fuel is likely to leak. A well-maintained car doesn't generally burst into flames on a forecourt - whenever this discussion has come up (about 100 times in the three years I've been on MN), no one can ever cite an actual example

[Starbuck999]

I think some people are being a bit OTT. It really is sensible to leave the kids in the car, strapped in and locked in the car on the forecourt whilst you pay for petrol and whilst watching them for the whole 60 seconds it takes.

But leaving babies in cars and going away from the carpark and into the supermarket shopping?!? I really cannot see how any parent feels that is acceptable! Yes, it is our job as parents to decide what way we wish to parent, but some people are just not responsible enough to be parents. Who in their right mind leaves a baby in a car int he carpark and goes into a supermarket for 15 mins +! I agree with the other posters who have said that it is lazy, irresponsible and neglectful. No question.

Most of us know that the chances of a kidnapper or paedophil coming along are slim, but there is a very very small chance, siblings flighting, babies waking and being distressed, toddlers escaping from the car etc etc - all the endless lists of possible problems that can be avoided by having taken the child with you.

If I found a baby alone in a carpark locked in the car for 15 mins + like the op had I wouldnt hesitate in calling the police.

I'm genuinely interested to know if those who leave their kids alone and unsupervised whilst shopping do the same at home, do you leave your babies in the house and pop out for 10 minutes or so?

I have a very sensible and bright 6yr old and I wouldnt even contemplate leaving her in the house and popping down the shops. Young children NEED to be supervised, not wrapped in cotton wool but they need to have a respsonsible adult within earshot at least.

[littleducks]

CAn i be an example!

Our car caught on fire, it was parked on MILs driveway, had been driven earlier, cant remember how long prior exactly but maybe an hour or more and we noticed smoke

It was a very slow burning fire, it did not burst into flames at all, the rear lights was the initial site and the buggy and some things in the boots were damaged. Not horrifically so, i had the buggy repaired, it had to have new ribber wheels and handles as these were melted out of shape.

We called the firebrigade as fire wasnt going out immediately and i was worried about petrol but by the time they arrived it was extinguished. They stated it was electrical after a brief look, car was written off immediately so was never examined to fully explain the fault.

[ohnoshedittant]

YANBU

My friends car was written off, while parked in a supermarket carpark. An elderly man had lost control of his car and smashed into theirs. Luckily they were not in it. Imagine if you'd left your 6 month old in there!

[darleneconnor]

They would have had more chance of emerging uninjured if they were strapped in their baby seat than if the car had hit them in the process of getting in or out.

[Newgolddream]

Celtic footballer Charlie Mulgrew and his wife have been charged with child neglect following avery similar incident where they left their baby in a cash n carry car park, and the baby was spotted, by Michelle Mone (Ultimo boss) of all people.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/celtic-player-and-his-wife-charged-with-child-neglect-1.1078834


I guess different people have a different definition of child neglect, I would leave my kids whilst I pop into pay for petrol because its only minutes and you can see the car - but I wouldnt leave them whilst I go into a shop. Or go out for a meal whilst on holiday abroad either come to that.

[harverina]

YANBU, you did the absolutely correct thing. If the car door was open I would simply have made sure that the baby was alive and well and not in any distress - how could the OP have told that by just looking in the window?

[ohnoshedittant]

darleneconnor that's true...but I'm not sure what the point is?

[Newgolddream]

altinkum - if you believe they wont be prosecuted why do you think the Police have taken the time to charge him (with all costs involved in this) , just curious about how all this works legally.

[Newgolddream]

Thanks.

Im still not sure about this case, - I know no harm came to the baby but also the potential for harm was there, it will be interesting to see what happens.