Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I called 111 tonight

92 replies

Sxxyfing · 15/08/2021 00:19

Had a few drinks.
Went to McDonald's.
About 11pm.
Bitmg group of youths. And they had a baby less than 1 Yr old in a car seat. It went on and on and the babys needs were being ignored. I called 111 and they shut me down and treated me like an idiot
I've gone home in tears for that poor little girl and how no one would help her

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 15/08/2021 01:19

Best lay off the drink.

SquirrelNutkins2000 · 15/08/2021 01:23

@VenusTiger Have you ever thought that maybe baby wouldn't settle at home. so they took him/her out for a drive to try & get him/her to sleep? Ringing the authorities over something so ridiculous.

PumpkinKlNG · 15/08/2021 01:27

I wondered if they perhaps had to take the baby to hospital and stopped off at McDonald’s after, not great ignoring the baby but NOT a police matter either, it’s not a crime to take a baby out at any time nor is it a crime to ignore crying, no the wonder they weren’t interested. 🤦‍♀️

BastardMonkfish · 15/08/2021 01:27

@VenusTiger

I don't know what's going on here with PPs, but you all seem to be ignoring the fact that a baby should be asleep in a cot at 11pm, not out at night being kept awake in a brightly-lit McDs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MN is F shocking at times!

OP, I'm sure you meant 101 - hope you're okay.

Any chance you could tell my baby she's supposed to be asleep in a cot please because she thinks it's party time and I am knackered Grin
Siepie · 15/08/2021 01:29

@VenusTiger

I don't know what's going on here with PPs, but you all seem to be ignoring the fact that a baby should be asleep in a cot at 11pm, not out at night being kept awake in a brightly-lit McDs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MN is F shocking at times!

OP, I'm sure you meant 101 - hope you're okay.

It's "F shocking" to realise that a baby being awake at 11pm isn't a police matter? Really?
Blue4YOU · 15/08/2021 01:35

Ffs OP - you’ve no idea what was going on.
A group of youths ignoring a baby… or maybe a tired young couple trying to eat and their baby doesn’t sleep well so combined the two things..?

vodkaredbullgirl · 15/08/2021 01:36

My ex would often take our dd out late at night, to get her to sleep. That is over 23 yrs ago.

MissCruellaDeVil · 15/08/2021 01:47

"Had a few drinks"

Maybe a few too many OP? I think it's possible you're just a little over emotional and the baby was just fine. If your call made as much sense as your post, I'm afraid they may have struggled to understand you.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 15/08/2021 01:49

FFS OP it's Saturday night there was probably a DV victim trying to get through and you're getting your knickers in a knot about a baby in McDonalds

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 15/08/2021 01:51

And until OP tells us what needs weren't being met we can't say MN is 'F Shocking' - what does a 1yo baby need? Were they not getting her a happy meal?

OaxacaChihuahua · 15/08/2021 05:23

Sorry you were upset OP. There is, perhaps unfortunately, a large gulf between ‘behaviour that is clearly not in the best interests of a baby’ and ‘child abuse requiring police involvement’. Most would agree that leaving a baby to cry without being comforted in a car seat in a McDonald’s late at night is far from ideal, but it’s not sufficient to warrant police involvement.

Try to comfort yourself that what you saw was just a snapshot - it may well have been a one off or an unusual situation in the life of an otherwise well cared for baby.

Propagandalf · 15/08/2021 07:02

Bilbo Baggins - eleventy one

Emergency service - 111

The OP - McDonald's

kitkatsky · 15/08/2021 07:45

OP, sometimes babies cry and you're at the end of your tether so you don't respond immediately. Sometimes you take them out to change the energy. You might take them somewhere that benefits you too- McDonald's for example if you're hungry and feel like a treat after a miserably day with a miserable baby. What did you want the outcome to be exactly?

VoiceOfCommonSense · 15/08/2021 08:03

She hasn’t even come back with more info. Probably sleeping off a hangover after getting pissed..

JazzerMcCreary · 15/08/2021 08:10

@OaxacaChihuahua

Sorry you were upset OP. There is, perhaps unfortunately, a large gulf between ‘behaviour that is clearly not in the best interests of a baby’ and ‘child abuse requiring police involvement’. Most would agree that leaving a baby to cry without being comforted in a car seat in a McDonald’s late at night is far from ideal, but it’s not sufficient to warrant police involvement.

Try to comfort yourself that what you saw was just a snapshot - it may well have been a one off or an unusual situation in the life of an otherwise well cared for baby.

Yes this. Probably quite shitty parenting. Possibly part of a wider pattern of neglect. But not an urgent police matter.
Original poster
Sxxyfing · 15/08/2021 19:52

Thanks everyone. Was a few too many drinks and feeling a bit silly now. I have a baby similar Age and haven't been out much obviously..

It was a big group of youths with the baby and they were just out and it didn't seem like the baby was a priority which got to me. I did call 111 as I used to live in new Zealand and got confused. So feeling very silly, embarrassed for wasting 111s time and grateful for my lovely baby who doesn't get dragged around on my nights out with me

OP posts:
emuloc · 15/08/2021 20:08

Op there was no need for what you said in your update. You do not know that this baby was being dragged around on a night out.

Lumpwoody · 15/08/2021 20:12

God help the fact when I was a single parent I’d have to take dds with me when collecting my older one at that time of night.

I’m obvious f shocking. Dragging them around.

Nicknacky · 15/08/2021 20:13

@Sxxyfing What did you actually think the police would do?

newnortherner111 · 15/08/2021 20:24

You were trying to be caring, don't feel bad about what you did.

I'd be delighted if the issue did not arise because McDonalds was not open at that time of night (and indeed all other takeaways). People who work shifts if they knew would make other arrangements.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 15/08/2021 20:28

@newnortherner111 you want takeaways not to open at night Confused

GalaxyGirl24 · 15/08/2021 20:29

Hmmmmmm, if it was a young couple with crying baby I'd maybe be a bit blagged as to why they're out at 11pm as you say less than a year. Well, most people can tell a newborn so I would assume baby isn't newborn from what you've said - in which case, baby should be asleep most likely as past first few months you would generally ASSUME that a baby would be in bed sleeping. So yes, I'd be confused but maybe not worried.

HOWEVER, if it was an actual gang of young people and baby was being left in car seat crying at that time of night while they're ignoring it and having a laugh then I would be worried for baby's welfare yes and I would call the Police.
No idea why people are tearing you apart. Having worked in Childrens Services these sorts of reports of validated, are the things we would raise with parents as concerns as it may be a common picture for them and baby having poor routine, poor sleep, maybe poor health as an outcome etc...however that's all conjecture and we will never know!

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 15/08/2021 20:30

I’m not sure how NHS direct will help you in this situation....

Name change OP, did you have a few too many Gin —hic—

GalaxyGirl24 · 15/08/2021 20:31

*if validated

crimsonlake · 15/08/2021 20:32

How bizarre you thought of posting this??