To be a bit surprised by this

[pigsDOfly]

In the park today with my dog, not my most regular park so don't know anyone there although people are generally friendly.

Sitting on a bench throwing a ball for my dog when a man and a small child came towards me. The man asked if his daughter could stroke my dog (we're very used to this as dog is smallish and fluffy).

After the little girl had stroked the dog for a while the father told her he was going to the loo (we were sitting near the cafe) and asked her if she wanted to go with him or stay and talk to my dog. She said she'd stay and we had a nice chat, during which I found out her name, her birthday, her age (2 years) and a few other bits and pieces; he wasn't gone long, but long enough to wee obviously.

When he came back we chatted a little bit more and off they went.

Now, I'm a respectable looking woman, I think, and it was about 4.30 in the afternoon in broad daylight in the middle of a public park. The town is generally friendly and safe and obviously the father felt his child would be fine to be left, so aibu to think it a bit odd to just walk off and leave your 2yo child, albeit a very grown up 2yo, with a complete stranger?

Public gents are pretty grim tbh though

People who want to harm children are rare, as another poster has said.

And generally to be found within the 4 family walls rather than sitting on a park bench tbh.

Lunatic- there are a fair few, especially since policemen disappeared off the beat.... Usual advice is to ask a mummy-with-children.

Well at the rate public loos are being closed the question will be academic

Yabu. It is very very very unlikely for q stranger to abduct a child. Out of all the risky things in life leaving a2 year old with a woman for a few minutes is fairly safe.

I also don't think it is an issue for small children boys/girls to see a penis.

The issues in my opinion with taking a child into the men's toilets would be hygiene, I think a 2 year old would be likely to touch things. I would personally feel the risk of a toddler getting ill from public toilet germs was greater than the risk of leaving the toddler with a stranger for a couple of minutes.

Another problem could be if the child liked to comment on other mens penises "look daddy that man has a littlewilly" or "that will doesn't have a hood!"

I leave my baby asleep in his pram outside shops and cafes but I avoid public toilets if at all possible.

It is the kind of thing I would do and, have been judged for by many parents. I have AS and use logic to judge situations, rather than emotion.

YANBU to be surprised but I don't think he did anything wrong (apart from not checking w you but you could have spoken up if not comfortable).

Nor do I think it would have been wrong to take his little girl into the gents.

As for the 'what to do when you are lost' info mine are told to:

1. Stand still and wait to be found.
2. If they are in a shop/building not to leave it for any reason, with any person.
3. If they need help to ask a policeman (fat chance), or go to the tills (if in a shop) or to tell a mummy with children they are lost.

On the few occasions they have been seperated from me they have always stood still, started crying, and been immediately 'found' by a 'mummy w children' who has waited with them. I have also found several lost children and done the same.

I think it was rude of him not to ask you if it was OK, but I don't think it was a terrible thing of him to do. 2 year olds touch everything and mens toilets are generally vile. I'd have done what he did as well. Often when PT an older one I've left (a happy to be left) younger one in someone else's care. Usually in a cafe though, but still...

Thanks for your responses.

I wasn't annoyed that he left her with me, just a bit taken aback. She was a lovely little girl and we had a lovely chat, but people seem to be so suspicious of strangers these day and I did think it was a bit unusual and was just interested to know what other's thought.

In my Mother's day she would have left her babies in their prams outside shops, as someone said they did, but by the time I had my children no one I know would have dreamed of doing that.

I think it might be the town I live in as well. People here tend to be quite trusting and you still see children out on their bikes with their friends.