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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sleeping child in car...WWYD?

31 replies

tethersend · 21/03/2011 21:52

On my way home from a meeting today I saw a child of about three asleep in a parked car, alone.

It was a quiet residential street, although there was a garden centre about 100 yds away.

Just wondered what others would have done in this situation and whether I was right?

OP posts:
SingingSands · 21/03/2011 21:53

Whether you were right in what?

MarionCole · 21/03/2011 21:53

I won't leave DS asleep in the car on our drive, let alone out of sight.

doutzen · 21/03/2011 21:54

If I had time I think I'd wait at the car just to make sure he was alright until the parents got back
I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have time

ilovemyhens · 21/03/2011 21:56

That's really irresponsible Sad The child could easily be stolen or wake up and be scared. Did you try to find its parents?

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 21/03/2011 21:56

What did you do?

I don't know if you were BU until I know that.

oopslateagain · 21/03/2011 21:56

I would have hovered around the car looking concerned. Any decent parent would be keeping a very close eye on the car.

I have done this Blush but only right outside my house, and with a baby monitor in the car (and myself practically glued to the window making sure she was OK). It was worth it for her to get a good nap after she'd been up half the night.

babyapplejack · 21/03/2011 21:57

Looked around to see if someone was watching the child from their window?

Checked whether the car was locked by looking (only can do if old style locks)?

Considered whether the car was a safe temperature (sunlight can make cars so hot even in mild weather).

What did you do?

thisisyesterday · 21/03/2011 21:59

i wouldn't have done anything. i'd have assumed it belonged to the house it was parked in front of.

MotherJack · 21/03/2011 22:00

I would have thought, oh, how sweet, he/she has dropped off and is fast asleep and the parent/s don't want to wake them. They probably know their child and know that they would a) sleep for a long time or b) were perfectly happy to wake up in the car and not be distressed.

... and walked on, happy in the knowledge that it was very unlikely that the child would have come to any harm, by being asleep in a car.

Original poster
tethersend · 21/03/2011 22:06

OK, here's what I (and my colleague) did-

Waited for 5 mins next to car; nobody came.
Knocked on doors near the car to ask if child was theirs (she wasn't)
A police officer walked past and we shouted to him. He came over and we explained the situation. He took it from there; we left to go back to work.

We were with a third colleague who seemed more unsure about doing anything, so I just wondered what you all would have done... Thanks Smile

OP posts:
IwishIwasmoreorganised · 21/03/2011 22:09

I would have done nothing tbh.

The child was asleep.

It was a quiet residential street, not at the side of the M4.

What you did WNU, but I wouldn't have done it myself.

I often leave ds2 asleep in the car on our drive, checking out of the window every few minutes.

DuelingFanjo · 21/03/2011 22:19

I think you over-reacted by getting the police involved.

Original poster
tethersend · 21/03/2011 22:20

The policeman was passing and we had to go- would you have left her there and let the policeman walk past?

OP posts:
Original poster
tethersend · 21/03/2011 22:21

Oh, that was a genuine question, not meant to sound like I'm starting a fight Wink

OP posts:
cerealqueen · 21/03/2011 22:22

I'd have done what you did. The parents were obviously not within reasonable distance or they would have seen you waiting or enquiring. To not have done anything and for something to have happened...unthinkable.

DuelingFanjo · 21/03/2011 22:24

yes I would, but I would also leave my baby in a car to go and pay for petrol and I have left my baby in he car outside the corner shop while I bought a paper.

ENormaSnob · 21/03/2011 22:24

I would have done the same.

SarkyLady · 21/03/2011 22:25

I'm quite laid back on stuff like this and often left ds2 asleep on our drive but I think you did the right thing. The fact that nobody saw you loitering shows there was nobody keeping an eye out.

Original poster
tethersend · 21/03/2011 22:26

I think in the end, that's what made our decision, cereal... I would rather take the flack for doing something than do nothing and for something to happen.

OP posts:
DebiTheScot · 21/03/2011 22:28

It's hard to know without knowing what the street was like. I left my 2 asleep in the car in the drive in our old house but wouldn't in our current house (mainly in case someone saw them and worried to be honest). I definitely wouldn't leave them asleep while parked on the road for any longer than nipping in with the shopping, dropping something off etc.

I think I'd done the same as you, seems sensible to ask the police man since he was there.

LargeGlassOfRedPlease · 21/03/2011 22:29

I know someone who this happened to as she popped into a shop.

Police took her plate number and turned up at her house that night and they HAD to tell SS.

Original poster
tethersend · 21/03/2011 22:30

Street was Victorian terraces, no drives, car parked on street. About 100 yds from main road. Outer London.

OP posts:
Original poster
tethersend · 21/03/2011 22:31

Am actually a bit worried the parent may be an MNer now...

OP posts:
bringonthegoat · 21/03/2011 22:35

Agree with motherjack - I have left DD asleep in car outside friends - popping out to check on her every 15 mins or so. There was a similar thread a while ago - someone said about cars spontaneously catching fire, etc.

DebiTheScot · 21/03/2011 22:39

when parked on the road- even if I could see the car from a window- I'd worry about 1. other people seeing and worrying/judging and 2. another car driving into my car.