Should I have said something to this mum?

[rocksonrocks]

I was waiting for my husband in my car earlier when a woman pulled up next to me and got out of her car. As she walked away from her car she said "do not open the door or talk to anyone" and when I looked inside she had left her her daughter in her car seat whilst she went into the shop. It's really hot where I am and she didn't leave the window open, and the little girl can't have been older than two.

We left after about 5 minutes but it's been niggling me ever since. Should I have said something? WIBU if I did?

It's not great, but she wouldn't have thanked you for it.

I would have hung around to make sure the girl was ok, then driven off as soon as Mum returned.
I’ve done this with a child before, who must have been about 18 months. She was beside herself, so I tried to show through the window someone was with her. Seemed to calm her down a bit.
I quickly scarpered when Mum returned.
No car seat either.

Yes, this could have been one link in a chain of negligent behaviour. People should always confront and report when safe and possible.

The amount of high profile child abuse/ murder cases really has brought to light how important it is for the community to watch out for children.

Ah I knew I should have done something. Staying until her mum came back is such a great idea, feeling rubbish it didn't occur to me at the time.

She left her while she went into 'the' shop.

So like a one stop/newsagent type thing? Not Bluewater?

I'd have waited until I saw her coming back, but popping into A shop for an item if 2 doesn't need 'reporting' no.

This is awful who would leave their young child alone in a car?! I still take my three year old with me to the bathroom when I need a wee (our only toilet is upstairs)

Oh this is going to be a fun thread. Half the people claiming leaving your child in the car briefly is child abuse and half saying calm down dear.

As if you take your three year old upstairs while you go for a wee 😂

I wouldn’t have left knowing that she was alone.

No it was a big supermarket carpark.

🤣

Hardly. Was sat in my own car minding my own business when she made it clear she was leaving her small child unattended.

I still take my three year old with me to the bathroom when I need a wee (our only toilet is upstairs

If true, you're odder than the woman leaving her kid in the car

Well after seeing a thread last week where a batshit mother told the OP to mind her own business when the OP warned her against creating a hothouse when she put muslins over the pram, I am not surprised you didnt say anything. A lot of the equally batshit posters told the OP she should have minded her own business 🤔

I would have stayed until the mother got back, just to check in case she was a long time.

I do wonder WHEN we are meant to step in though

Not entirely sure your response will be representative of normal human behaviour tbf.

I would have went into the shop and said that there's a child in the car without any windows open and you don't know how long they've been there. Stupid woman, that is neglect. The child is tiny, it's hot and how sure was she about safety.

I would have gone into the supermarket and asked them to put out a tannoy announcement for the owner of vehicle with that reg, because she'd left her baby locked in a hot car. And yes I would confront someone over this, children have died from this?

Another vote for busybody

She has nothing to do with you, keep your men out!

Do you have an anxiety disorder?

Wtf I would have notified security about a dog left locked in a hot car and yet some people wouldn't about a baby? Do you know what happens to a baby left in a hot car?!

Whilst we don't know if she went in for one item or the weekly shop, personally I think this is pretty poor.
I never left my DD in the car alone while I popped to the shop. Lots of reasons - only one of which would be abduction. Expecting a 2 year old to understand how long you will be gone and to take the required steps to be safe, stay in the car and not get scared is asking far too much.
I was out once and came across 2 young children left in a parked car in a busy car park. I waited for 20 minutes nearby and Mum didn't return. I had to leave. So I called the Police and they said they would send a car immediately. I hope they had stern words.

People saying not to intervene, would you do the same about a dog in a hot car?

Tiny cornershop/ newsagent/ petrol station with line of sight to car I'd have no issue and would have ignored. Big supermarket - I'd absolutely have stayed until the mum came back and also considered calling the police if she was gone any longer than a couple of minutes tbh - even if only popping in for one item that is a long time out of sight, there could be delays with queues etc. Even well-behaved children do random unpredictable stuff at that age - deciding to go and find Mummy, deciding to wrap a seatbelt round their neck etc - and on a hot/ sunny day there is a real danger of them overheating rapidly.

I think I’m somewhere in between. I wouldn’t have thought much if she had left the child in a car outside a small corner shop or similar but a supermarket is different. I think I would have hung around subtly until the mum came back, like others have said. I wouldn’t have said anything probably because I’m not sure what it would achieve.