To report this to police

[Joovy]

Via the local police surgery.

Child being left outside a pub for 5-10 minutes at a time on a pavement of a busy road. It happens almost daily and the child is about 10 months old. Yesterday people started asking if it was mine and I stayed with it until parent returned and pointed out they were bloody foolish and explained people had been concerned and that anything could happen.

I'm not sure if I should leave it or I should mention it to the police. It seems so freaking dangerous but is perhaps not illegal? Or am I being a busy body and should I just ignore it in future.

Viques sadly mine too any other reason why wouldn't you take baby in with you

That's what I thought viques. 5-10 minutes, several times a week, must be drugs.

Arghhh I hadn't even thought of drugs. Shite bags. I will call 999 next time. I am such an eejit for not doing so beforehand.

Thank you Mumsnetters!

Meh, this used to be normal and still is in some countries. Kids and babies being snatched by strangers is incredibly rare.

Yeah they’re either dealing or buying. I’d report.

Don't people often leave babies in prams outside shops? I know I used to.
Can't see the problem myself

Don't people often leave babies in prams outside shops?

No

Yep it's probably drugs

Out of interest OP, what leads you to be seeing this child all the time? You say you we're outside the pub? But you see this several times a week?

piscus
really? You've really never seen any prams outside a shop?

Don't people often leave babies in prams outside shops?

I've never once seen this is my life.

I'd assume drugs OP and would be calling the police.

well maybe it's cos I live in a village then but there's always prams outside the shops / chippy

hidinginthegarden I think taking someone else’s baby would be a form of abduction even if you yourself knew you were going to the police station! - wouldn’t seem most sensible idea compared to ringing police imo

@cruncymum - I was drinking last night, other times I've been walking past, other times I've been having a drink again, other times I've been on the bus riding past.

I do see vandrew’s point as context is helpful - there are still plenty of villages where everyone knows everyone and I am used to young children feeling safe round us. Is the pub in the outer Hebrides?!

@Junglefowl - no it's a major city.

My mum once forgot about me, and left me in my pram outside the local shop. She got all the way home when she remembered. I was still there when she went back. This was late 70s in a little village though, so I guess times have changed!

I'm old, it used to be normal (50s/60s/70s and even early 80s) to leave babies outside shops and anywhere else really. My DM used to forget to take the pram (and baby) home sometimes and a neighbour would sometimes wheel us home at some point. We also lived in a flat so the prams were never taken upstairs, we were generally fastened in them and left outside a lot. It's quite a recent phenomenon, taking prams and DC indoors into shops or elsewhere. I'm not saying it's right, but it was very normal. I've done it with mine, other than in the pram and in the (private) garden and think I would find it a bit unusual now.

I've done it with mine crucial word missing! I've NOT done it with mine...

really? You've really never seen any prams outside a shop?
Not even once

5-10 mins, my assumption would be drugs too.

If it was somewhere with steps or for whatever reason was awkward to bring the buggy into then I might leave the buggy in sight and just step inside the door to call to whoever I was so desperate to see that couldn't wait, or I couldn't call. But essentially, no, not acceptable.

OP, call the police if you see it again.

Police? NSPCC?

Personally, if it was a regular thing, I'd try and have a chat with the mum and see if she was OK and then if I still wasn't happy with the situation I'd report it to social services or whatever it's called nowadays. I don't think the Police are the right people at all unless the child's in immediate danger.

Don't people often leave babies in prams outside shops?

Well yes, they always used to. But most people don't rely on the local greengrocer/butcher/baker any more so it's not something we're as used to.

And regularly leaving an unattended baby outside a pub isn't quite the same thing as leaving it outside the greengrocer's in a quiet market town.

I live in a village and no - people do not leave their babies in prams outside the pub, or even the shops

WaxOnFeckOff

Yes, I think everyone forgot the baby at least once. But then we weren't quite as paranoid about the baby-snatcher on every corner - even though there were probably more then than there are now.

That's really odd leaving such a young child outside on a busy street if it's family friendly & no one would blink an eye if she took then inside. I'd report. What's she doing in there? I'm nosey, I'd ask bar staff.

I would video next time

And yes drugs was my thought. Friends dodgy drug dealer ex did 90% of his business in the local pubs .