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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think normal mothers wouldn't do this?

244 replies

pinkyp · 15/04/2012 00:42

Was at a party at a play centre today with my ds - other kids were also there that wernt at the party. I found a seat, a mum I know sat next to me, there was a woman with a tiny baby sat at the opposite side to us. The woman started talking to the mum and next min got up walking off leaving the baby. The mum turned to me and said the woman had nipped out for a cig and asked her to watch her 3 week old, she didn't know her. Ten mins later the woman came back then went away for 5 more mins for a drink. Me and the other mum moved when the party had lunch and 2 times when we looked over the baby had been left on her own. The last time we saw her other boy (5) was watching the baby whilst she was having a fag.

Now I'm no perfect mum but to leave a 3 week old baby with a stranger then alone twice and again with a 5 year old watching for a cig is a bit...well shit really?

Baby was in a car seat so could of been taken with the mum, not ideal when smoking but surely better than risk being taken. Or maybe the mum could of not had 4 fags in the space of 1&1/2hrs perhaps just one? You could see the mums back through the window from where we were sat inside so not even looking.

OP posts:
AberdeenAgnes · 15/04/2012 20:23

I don't understand where the reference to a mouse came from Confused

I've read back a few of your posts and can't see any other reference to a mouse, so I'm confused Confused

Please explain! I'm sure there is a post I have missed - but I am using pages here and a crap version of IE with a terrible find function.

zookeeper · 15/04/2012 20:23

I really don't think it's a big deal. If she's had her back turned to run after a toddler for five minutes I doubt you'd have posted. I'd be more worried about a passing toddler trying to feed it a biscuit or something than someone snatching the baby. It's just such a ridiculously unlikely scenario

zookeeper · 15/04/2012 20:26

and this "offering your baby up to opportunists" stuff is just mad - do you really think there are baby snatchers on every corner?

everlong · 15/04/2012 20:28

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everlong · 15/04/2012 20:31

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zookeeper · 15/04/2012 20:31

it's ok to leave your baby alone.

everlong · 15/04/2012 20:32

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zookeeper · 15/04/2012 20:32

and, I suspect, for many mums

learningtofly · 15/04/2012 20:37

Tbh the lady opposite me in hospital left her 2 hour old baby under my watch whilst she nipped out for a fag - the ward was 4 floors up - so 3 weeks old is nowt.

everlong · 15/04/2012 20:42

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

zookeeper · 15/04/2012 20:52

I've left my babies alone in the house (sitting in a bouncy chair) to have a fag (when I smoked), to put out the washing, etc etc.

I always would leave them in a car in the forecourt of a petrol staion - why take the risk of carrying them across a busy forecourt whne they are asleep in the car?

And yes I used to be that mum who would ask another mum to keep an eye whilst I nipped out for a fag. Big deal.

bronze · 15/04/2012 20:52

What I wonder is if something had happened to the baby, I don't mean abduction but maybe stopping breathing then would the babies mum blame the watcher? And what if it had happened when there was noone asked to watch would the previous watcher who is still nearby be held responsible? What about big brother?

I

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 15/04/2012 20:53

I have been reminded a few times by DH that when DS1 was 5 weeks old I bumped into a work colleague of his in Sainsbury's. DS1 was hungry I was at the till, I had forgotten something. Apparetnly when said chap (single early 20's) said hello, I passed him DS1 and said, OOH brilliant can you hold DS1 for a minute I have forgotten the milk. and I promptly legged it to get the milk.

Chap had never held a baby before, was just being polite. I scared him shitless Blush just seemed like the perfect solution to me!

zookeeper · 15/04/2012 20:54

Well then I suppose I would have felt pretty rotten about it but it's not terribly likely in five minutes tbh.

zookeeper · 15/04/2012 20:56

lol Neverknowing. But did you really know him? Had he been CRB checked? What with all the child snatchers out there you never know Hmm

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 15/04/2012 20:57

No knew his face from the Christmas party, knew his name but Fark all else..
Praise the lord he didn't run away with the screaming and hungry baby

zookeeper · 15/04/2012 20:59

You were very, very lucky Wink

everlong · 15/04/2012 21:00

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bronze · 15/04/2012 21:00

I'm surprised you didn't come back to find the baby left in the pile of baskets at the till Grin

bejeezus · 15/04/2012 21:01

what if there had been an alien invasions at that very minute, and they had planned a mass hit of soft plays across the world, looking for unattended babies ripe for abduction?

Phew! She was lucky...

zookeeper · 15/04/2012 21:03

would you leave your baby alone to hang out the washing Everlong? Or are you worried the ceiling might drop on them if you're not there to watch it? Hmm

everlong · 15/04/2012 21:06

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zookeeper · 15/04/2012 21:07

would you carry him to the loo with you? You've never left your baby alone???

bronze · 15/04/2012 21:07

I always took my babies into the garden. After all it's not likely to be raining is it Grin. We do tend to spend a lot of time outside though

everlong · 15/04/2012 21:12

This reply has been deleted

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