Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry about this child asleep in car

413 replies

StrangeMusic · 08/11/2013 13:54

There's a child about 2years old asleep in a car (in car seat) on road near my work (quietish residential street). I've been here about 10 minutes and no one has come back for him. Might be overreacting but would never leave my son asleep in car for more than a minute or two. Don't know what to do, should I report it?? Just concerned maybe he's been forgotten about, after reading some stories where this happened, and worried for the little thing

OP posts:
KeepingUpWithTheJonses · 08/11/2013 13:55

Phone 999.

If I came across this, I give it no more than 5 minutes before phoning them.

Clearlymisunderstood · 08/11/2013 13:57

Agree with pp, 999

TartyMcTart · 08/11/2013 13:58

Are there any houses nearby? Could he have been left while his mum is in the house? I used to do this and would leave them until they woke up, be it 1 minute or 1 hour.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 08/11/2013 13:58

Is the car parked in front of a house? Perhaps you knock and ask them if the child is theirs. The've probably just left him outside having a sleep but I can understand your discomfort.

To be fair assuming you're in the UK the car is not likely to overheat today and if the boy has a blanket or a coat he probably won't be too cold either. I wouldn't call anyone yet but do knock on a few doors and find out whose child he is.

CaptainSweatPants · 08/11/2013 13:59

Er if it's a residential street the parent will be checking the child from the house
We often left ours asleep in the drive & kept an eye out

TinyTear · 08/11/2013 13:59

Phone 999 definitely...

Too many stories of children dying being forgotten...

OHforDUCKScake · 08/11/2013 13:59

Is it on a drive? In view of a house? In a dangerous place?

Hold back on the 999 yet!

CinnamonPorridge · 08/11/2013 13:59

Mum possibly watches from a window, I've done that.

Lexiesinclair · 08/11/2013 13:59

Are you sure there's nobody watching him from a nearby window?

Brittabot · 08/11/2013 13:59

I know some people who leave a sleeping child in a car and then watch from the house (not me I hasten to add!). I would call 999 to be on the safe side.

flatpackhamster · 08/11/2013 14:00

Is the child in distress? In danger? Then 999 is ridiculous. Call the police if you absolutely must, but use the local number not the emergency one.

I think you're over-reacting myself.

Leopoldina · 08/11/2013 14:00

have you been standing there all the time for 10 minutes or could someone have come along and checked during that time? I used to leave mine sleeping (but off road outside house) but wouldn't leave that long without checking, esp on a road.
Would probably veer towards 101 (or whatever non emergency is) rather than 999 - a peacefully sleeping child with someone (you) watching over them isn't a sirens and lights event.

MerryMarigold · 08/11/2013 14:00

Yes, I used to do this when I had twins. I used to watch them from my living room window. If I brought them in, they'd wake up and it would ruin their whole nap schedule. 999 is a bit OTT. If the child is screaming their head off, perhaps.

Brittabot · 08/11/2013 14:00

Ha ha cross posted lots!

OHforDUCKScake · 08/11/2013 14:00

Tiny unless she is in Oz, why would the child die? Confused

I always leave my son asleep in the car, in full view of me. What would kill him in November?

DoJo · 08/11/2013 14:00

Have you stood by the car to see if you can see someone watching him? I have left my son asleep in the car with a direct line of sight from my house, front door open and car window open. However, if there is none of this in place, then I would call the police - it's better to be safe than sorry and even in the cold a car can warm up quite significantly if it's in the sun.

Perspective21 · 08/11/2013 14:01

Can you nip out and look to see if chest is rising and falling? Then phone 999... May have been innocently left for a few minutes and mother/father got involved in something else and not popped back as soon as they thought.

Better to be safe than sorry...

DoJo · 08/11/2013 14:01

A billion cross posts later...

OHforDUCKScake · 08/11/2013 14:01

Why is everyone being so hysterical about leaving a child asleep in a car.

What is going to happen?

MerryMarigold · 08/11/2013 14:02

Lordy, it's not going to warm up significantly in this weather unless it was in direct sun for several hours, by which time I assume the child would wake up before they completely dehydrate.

World gone mad.

OHforDUCKScake · 08/11/2013 14:03

can you nip out and see if his chest is rising and falling

Seriously, this hysteria is hilarious.

MrsBungleScare · 08/11/2013 14:04

Surely if there's no immediate danger op shouldn't be phoning 999?!

Phone 101 but I think I'd knock on the door of near-by houses. Mum or dad are prob watching from the house.

CinnamonPorridge · 08/11/2013 14:04

and I always thought I was a bit overprotective.

If he wakes and nobody comes I would go and ring doorbells, but call the police? Why? Is it a crime?

Rockinhippy · 08/11/2013 14:04

If you can clearly see it, then surely it's possible others can too & that his/ her careers are watching til they wake up - not ideal but if its a toddler that doesn't like to be woken then maybe the careers think they are doing the best thing & are actually nearby watching over just as you are ??

999 is way OTT if you must, 101 for a community support officer to check perhaps - or can you not pop down to the car & look suspect - that should soon bring out its family - if not then ring 101

Rockinhippy · 08/11/2013 14:05

Carers not careers obviously ( sod you autocorrect),