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?

This is OTT.

A child left in the car on a hot day. After 10 mins I would have called the police.

I think that’s bloody ridiculous.

The fact people are more interested in the person who takes their child to the toilet with them rather than the person who leaves their not even 2 year old in a supermarket carpark by themselves in an unlocked car on a hot day with no windows slightly open is appalling.

I'd rather be overbearing with taking my child everywhere with me than leave my child in potential danger.
A not even 2 year old can barely speak sentences! Let alone fight someone off trying to take them or asking for help because they're too hot in the car.

OP you did what you thought was right at the time so don't feel bad, maybe if you see it again then report the reg to the supermarket x

Not sure why I feel the need to defend myself but here I am

My child only just turned three. I don't think I am overbearing but he still puts things in his mouth and climb's loads, he had a nasty accident when I was there so I worry about how quickly something can happen whilst I go upstairs and leave him on his own.

I couldn't live with myself if he choked or fell and hurt himself. It's just not worth the risk. If I had a downstairs toilet I wouldn't take him but it's upstairs at the back of the house

If you had replaced the word ‘child’ for ‘dog’ everyone would be telling you to smash the windows and call the police.

At least it’s not neglect
dave your scorn For those that are?

She'd probably only nipped in for fags🥴

A friend of mine once had to break into a car because, on a hot day, the small child left alone in it had fallen unconscious and the police hadn't arrived yet. The child needed hospital, but survived. When the fuckwit parent returned they were more concerned about the car than the child.

I can't comprehend leaving a kid that young in a car unsupervised in a normal temperature never mind when they might literally overheat to death in minutes.

OP don't listen to the people telling you not to interfere. There's times when you actually have a public duty to interfere and this is definitely one of them. I guarantee the same muppets telling you this would be first in line to label you a child murderer if you did nothing and the kid came to serious harm

Also can people lay off the person saying they take their 3YO to the toilet with them. However you want to look at it not adequately supervising a child in a hot car is neglectful, taking them upstairs with you isn't. Case closed.

💯 this

I can't get over most people's responses here.

There is no acceptable amount of time to leave a 2 yo, regardless of line of sight or heat.

Because they are mobile.

I'd understand more easily leaving a small baby, especially in line of sight (tho can't imagine going into a shop & leaving a baby, still) - but a small toddler who can move about & possibly leave the car?

That's just completely irresponsible.

Exactly.

I'd have lingered at the car until the mother (or parent) returned and told a white lie... something like you thought you saw someone looking in to their car at the child alone so you hung around until mum came back. That might be enough for her not to get angry or defensive with you but give her enough fear that she doesn't leave the child like that again.

Some people really don't deserve to have children.

Ditto, not me but others I know in similar situations and I don’t think it’s OTT .

I know of a mother who left a child to nip in a shop and the child got to the cigarette lighter built into the car and burned themselves. After treatment at the hospital the incident was referred on to SS by staff and the mother had to explain herself.

I'm surprised you didn't wait for mum to return also I'd have gone into store and requested they cannot parent to return to car.
I'd have certainly said and done something at the time.

Tannoy not cannot.

I thought this was that thread and it had blown up again.

When do people step in these days? There was a case in the news a few months ago where the prospective mother beat her baby to death. The neighbours were on the witness stand saying they could hear the baby being beaten through the walls regularly but didn’t say anything so as not to fall out with the neighbour.

Personally, I think it’s one of the worst things I’ve read in my life and just can’t understand it.

@Flapjack637 what was the response from the police like out of curiosity?

She must've been a clever 2 year old to understand the instructions "Do not open the car or talk to anyone".

I'd have contacted the police, there's no point in deliberating over these sort of issues or overthinking it after the event.

With the recent weather and hot temperatures I wouldn’t have left a dog in the car let alone a 2 year old!!!

Please, please never leave your child on a hot day alone in an unventilated car. Babies and small children cannot regulate their body temperature the way adults can. Babies especially can die in minutes in a hot, unventilated car. In a way, they cook to death.

In Australia, I believe it is illegal to leave your child unattended in a closed car. As parents, we are educated about this, and about our responsibility if we ever see this, which is to call police/firebrigade or to break the window ourselves to get the child out.

You don't need to explain yourself xx