Baby left in car

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

On my way back to our car, My husband noticed a baby in the car parked next to ours. Alone, two front windows were slightly open, he looked about 12 months. We fretted a bit, stayed sat next to him waiting for 10 minutes and no-one came. So I called the police on 101, and they immediately put me through to 999.

The woman arrived back at her car a minute before the police did. I told her I'd called the police, and she couldn't leave her baby like that. She cried and said she was having a shit day and needed to get the item she' bought (big and bulky box, maybe a buggy?) to the car. I hugged her, cried with her, and said I understood but she still can't do that, and then directed the police to her and left.

Was I being a busy body? AIBU to think it's illegal to do that?

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

That's true great but same goes for when you're driving with them in the back

[MyKingdomForBrie]

calpol cars are broken into and stolen from all the time!! Why would you take that risk with the most precious thing you have? You wouldn't leave your hang bag on the car seat because it might get stolen, why a baby?!

[MunchCrunch01]

It shows poor judgment on the parent's part so you did the right thing. I do feel sorry for mums that are so desperate they have to take a baby with them when picking up something bulky though, surely someone could've done that for her?

[greatbigwho]

Calpol but then you can do something about it.

[FreedomIsInPeril]

cars are broken into and stolen from all the time!! Why would you take that risk with the most precious thing you have? You wouldn't leave your hang bag on the car seat because it might get stolen, why a baby?!

Again, when was the last time someone broke into a car and stole a baby? In the UK? I'm going to go with....never. Handbags, yes. Babies, no.

[Gottagetmoving]

The shit people talk on these threads, about how if you leave them in the car while paying for petrol your car will simultaneously explode, overheat the baby, be stolen with kids in it, AND be abducted by aliens

Who is talking about leaving a baby whilst paying for petrol? You are now trying to change the situation to a 'nip out of the car'
We are talking about leaving a baby in a car whilst you go shopping. Leaving the baby for more than 10 minutes!
The car can be stolen. THAT has definitely happened in this country.

If you don't even try to assess risk properly, you have no hope at all of keeping your children safe. You will feel smug and superior, but you won't actually be protecting them at all

How the hell are you NOT protecting them if you don't leave them?
No one feels smug about keeping their children safe. However, you come across as smug with your fixation on risk assessments.

[pinkie1982]

But it wasn't only ten minutes was it. You don't know how long the car was parked there before OP returned, then the ten mins OP waited, then however long it took the police to get there.

Saying 'What could have happened - the baby was in a locked car'.. How stupid! Someone not kind could have seen the baby, you get kidnappers so often (not to mention the other), the mother was extremely lucky it was someone that wanted to protect her baby and not do it harm.

I parked outside the pharmacy the other day, my 13m old was asleep, I could see the car the whole time but was uncomfortable about leaving him there for the 2-3 mins it took for my prescription to be handed over. No way on earth I would leave him in the car in a car park and go into a shop - that's madness!

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

Who would want to steal a baby? You can't exactly sell it for drugs babies who have been taken in hijacked cars are taken by accident, no one is trying to steal them.

Can you imagine someone breaking into a car and stealing a baby the CR seat they're in is worth more money wise

[Katedotness1963]

It's from 1999 and mentions not to leave babies in cars in hot weather...

www.independent.co.uk/news/baby-left-in-car-dies-of-sunstroke-1103139.html

[Gottagetmoving]

Again, when was the last time someone broke into a car and stole a baby? In the UK? I'm going to go with....never

So you are wrong - again! Yes they have. You don't know much do you?

[FreedomIsInPeril]

Logic lecturer here and I can assure you that is rubbish thinking! You need to brush up on your statistics before reassuring people about babies in hot cars

I was vastly oversimplifying for the people who have no concept of either risk or statistics.
But you should know as well as anyone that if X number of babies left in cars (x being a large number in this case) has resulted so far in 0 number of dead babies (in the given location) over a long period of time then we can project that the risk leaving babies in car has a low risk of death. And if you don't know that you shouldnt be teaching logic to anyone!

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

You don't get kidnappers often. They are extraordinarily rare. And if you in a family dispute which makes you vulnerable or an important/ rich person which makes you vulnerable... Well it ain't gonna happen

[Dontyoulovecalpol]

If you are not vulnerable that is

[Porcupinetree]

I don't know how there can honestly be any argument, of course you did the right thing.

[dontmakemedothis]

Wow, some of you really never worry about your babies/young kids being alone in public?? A baby is completely defenceless and vulnerable. Okay so the chance of something happening is probably minuscule, but I still wouldn't take that risk with my own baby!

Maybe I'm just a worrier.

[Gottagetmoving]

babies who have been taken in hijacked cars are taken by accident, no one is trying to steal them

Taken by accident....How reassuring.

[FreedomIsInPeril]

You found ONE. Well done. Statistical anomaly, considering the very large number of babies left in cars.

Again, I'm not saying its ok to leave babies in cars. But even in very hot places, the deaths have occurred when they are left for longer periods. Not while popping into a shop.
I'm arguing that people try and assess risk properly, not just assume things are deadly and wrong.

[Gottagetmoving]

I was vastly oversimplifying for the people who have no concept of either risk or statistics.But you should know as well as anyone that if X number of babies left in cars (x being a large number in this case) has resulted so far in 0 number of dead babies (in the given location) over a long period of time then we can project that the risk leaving babies in car has a low risk of death

An avoidable risk. Low risk is not no risk is it? I think a patent would ned a guarantee not your stupid statistics on a paper,

[FreedomIsInPeril]

An avoidable risk. Low risk is not no risk is it? I think a patent would ned a guarantee not your stupid statistics on a paper

There are no guarantees. You know what is a thousand times more risk for your child than sitting in a car alone for 10 minutes? Being driven in your car. Totally avoidable risk. You do that though, don't you? An avoidable, high risk, and you do it everyday.
There are risks everywhere to children. You HAVE to understand what is a real risk and what is incredibly unlikely, or you are useless for keeping them safe.

[Gottagetmoving]

We are talking about a baby. Leaving a baby alone is a different matter to being driven in a car. You have some control in a car. You have none over a baby left alone.

[LifeInJeneral]

With regards to babies being left in hot cars I saw an article about an Australian chef who was doing a cooking demonstration on a beach. What the public didn't know was it was actually a demonstration on safety and children in hot cars, while he was cooking the side dishes he had left a lamb joint in a car in the sun. By the time he had finished preparing the side dishes he went to the car and took out the lamb. The lamb was fully cooked. His point was that cars literally turn into ovens in hot weather.
I know this was in Australia and so much hotter than here but it really hit home to me.how dangerous it is and I found it quite upsetting so it's stuck with me.

[LifeInJeneral]

(So OP i think you absolutely did the right thing, better to cause the mother some minor distress than have anything happen to the baby)

[FreedomIsInPeril]

We are talking about a baby. Leaving a baby alone is a different matter to being driven in a car

Yes, we are. It is a different matter, in that driving a baby in a car is far more likely to result in injury or death than leaving the baby alone in the car while you go into a shop. Finally, you are getting it!

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

you did the right thing

and as for the whole "forgetting", how fucking distracted do people have to be to leave a baby in a car? I cannot fathom this and never have - how can you forget a baby is there

the UK does not get that hot, but cars do. have you ever left a bottle of water in the car and poured it on your hands, its like warm bath water

[FreedomIsInPeril]

nd as for the whole "forgetting", how fucking distracted do people have to be to leave a baby in a car? I cannot fathom this and never have - how can you forget a baby is there

There are a few accounts online from people who have done this, very moving. You shouldn't be so quick to judge.