WIBU? Should I have just minded my own business?

[Bogeyface]

Parking outside the supermarket there was a toddler asleep in the car next to us, no windows open (my car was very hot when I got in it earlier) and no one around. I took my time sorting DD out, took a good 5 minutes and no one appeared, so not a panicky rush in and out job.

I waited a bit longer, faffed with the trolley, still no one. So I told the staff at customer services who got the reg number and put a call out. I was concerned that a) the child would be over heating and b) if it awoke alone in the car he could panic and get in a right state.

The customer service woman called me over as I left and said no one answered the call but they checked 2 minutes later and the car was gone, and coincidentally a half full trolley had been abandoned in the shop You could tell she wasnt impressed if someone doing a full weekly shop had left their child in the car alone.

Told my mum and she said that I didnt know why the child had been left, that her and dad used to do it all the time (I know, thats one of the reasons I reported it, I remember the fear!) and I should mind my own business.

So, did I do the right thing or not? I feel that I did but she was adamant I should have "kept your nose out".

You definitely did the right thing. My dad once called the police to break into a car in the car park at the Malvern Show, where a baby had been left in a car on a really hot day. He called them because the baby was looking really unwell, and the ambulance men who took the baby away said if the baby had been left much longer in the car, he'd have been dead.

These parents hadn't even left their child whilst they did something essential, like shopping - they were off wandering round the tents and stands of a country show.

You did the right thing. Aside from the concerns you stated what if someone had reversed into the car in question. What if the mother had slipped or had an accident in the supermarket. Highly unlikely I know, but just not worth the risk imo.

Just call the police directly next time. I did it once for a baby left in a hot car (it can get to 40 degrees here in summer) and she was in distress. The police asked me if I had anything that I could use to smash the window of the car while they were on their way. I had one of those window smashing tools in my own car so I broke the window and got the little girl out and they arrived with an ambulance a few minutes later. I'll never forget picking her up, she was as limp as a ragdoll and the look of her face was just terrifying. Dad arrived back just as the baby was being put in the ambulance and was more upset about the broken window and claimed he was going to have me charged. The police told him they gave me authorisation and he was actually charged over the incident. Even as he was put in the police car he was more worried about the car than his child.

There's simply no excuse for it. Aside from the constant advertisements and news stories during summer, just simple common sense says that it shouldn't happen.

Thanks all.

I wouldnt have felt happy calling the police in that instance because the parent was clearly in the supermarket (no where else within reasonable walking distance), so I felt that telling the staff so they could put a call out was the best thing. Obviously when they checked the car had gone, but if it hadnt I suspect they would have one more call out and then called the police themselves.

What is it with some people though? Running in for a pint of milk rather than risk disturbing a sleeping child, I can see. We have all had to make that judgement call (although personally I would have waited until I was closer to home and done it at the corner shop where there is less chance of delay and I can see that car at all times), but it does suggest that a full shop was being done!

It worries me when people do things like that in public, because it suggests an ever looser attitude to safety and child protection when in private.

Teeny update. I spoke again to mum (DSis is in hospital) and I said that I had thought about it and decided I did the right thing. She started about "minding your own business" and I said "What if the child had died?" She sort of mumbled something about well yes...better to be safe than sorry I suppose....which is the closest I will ever get to "Sorry, darling, you are right of course"! :o

You definitely did the right thing.

I have been thinking and I rather suspect that mum telling me off was because she knew I was right and therefore her leaving me and DSis in the car for extended periods of time was wrong. It was (in her head) an implied criticism, so she went on the defensive.

I rather suspect that she will bring this up again soon, just a hunch...

I also rather suspect that I use the phrase "I rather suspect..." too much

A unanimous YANBU. Is that a record?

You absolutely did the right thing.

Absolutely you did the right thing.. I have done similar and would do again.

Yanbu and I say that as someone who regularly leaves children in the car (they are 14 months apart, when they sleep I ain't waking them for no one!).

There is a huge difference between running into the corner shop for bread or milk or the pharmacy to pick up a prescription (that you handed in earlier) and leaving the windows open a little and doing a super market shop. Poor baby :(

You were right, it has been known for drivers to be arrested for leaving a dog like that.
I do frequently leave my DC in the car - but they are much much older, so also have the keys, so if they need to get out they can and can then lock the car. I've never left a baby for longer than 5 minutes, and then not on sunny days.

It is a pain to have to move a sleeping baby, but sometimes needs must.

I rather suspect y did the right thing

You

Good for you.

I have an acquaintance who left their baby in the car on a hot day, entirely by accident, and the baby died. Just awful.