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?

You don’t need to be in Texas or Australia to care about young children’s safety. It’s ok to look after children in the UK too.

It’s weird the way some people treat child neglect like something to be proud of.

It's worrying to know that some people think this is ok to do.

I agree with the poster who said to inform the shop so they could make a tannoy announcement. It might remind any other parents who've left their children in their cars too.

Exactly this. I’ve heard announcements like this for dogs so it’s the very least we should do for children.

Absolutely this!!!!

@Tilltheend99

Years ago I found 2 toddlers alone in a car parked in a municipal car park. I had returned from shopping and waited10 mins for the parent to return before I dialled 999 for assistance. The parent arrived at the same time as the police about 5-10mins later, in passing I spoke to the mum carrying multiple bags from various high street stores, she initially thought I was joking when I said I had called the police, she then got really angry with me! I left with the police giving her a right royal rollicking about the inappropriateness of leaving kids alone in the car. It also turned out the kids were 2 and 7, not both toddlers and so mum had left the 2yr old under the care of the 7yr old. It made no difference to the police officer who advised it was still inappropriate.

I would have said something. Someone could have kidnapped the child.

You make your 3 year old stop playing and come upstairs every time you need a wee? What about when you’re cooking tea, do they have to stay in the kitchen? Are they in the same room as you at all times? This has my mind blown.

How do you confuse a toddler with a seven year old child ?

This blows my mind. I feel sick thinking about those kids left in the cars. Horrible, horrible people. And shame on anyone here thinking this is ok.

Indeed that is bloody awful and how neglectful of that parent. But how did you know the child then went on to be admitted to hospital with dehydration?

I can't quite believe how many people have said this is acceptable or that they've done it themselves! There's no way it's okay, and I really really wish I'd stayed with her until her mum came back.

It was very hot yesterday where I live, I was sat waiting in my own car whilst my husband was in the shop and I had both windows down because of the heat. No way would I have sat in there comfortably with the windows open.

And aside from the heat, it's dangerous and stupid to leave your young child alone in a car where you can't see them. For SO many reasons.

@Skinnermarink

Indeed that is bloody awful and how neglectful of that parent. But how did you know the child then went on to be admitted to hospital with dehydration?

If an ambulance came she might have heard the paramedics saying that's what they were going to do.

Of course you should have.if only to ease your conscience as if you then seen in news that the child had died how can you forgive yourself?

Seriously? A two year old was left alone in a car. I would have definitely stayed and if longer than 15 mins would have called the police. It’s neglect. You wouldn’t just leave your 2 year old sat on a park bench and go off somewhere would you?

Its universally the way on here that child neglect or child abuse gets met with 'none of your business' but safeguarding is everyones business.

The right thing to do is phone Mash unless she was literally in and out in a few minutes. You could have popped into the shop and made it their issue to call the mum back to her car.

I dont think for this I would have done more than go into the shop to inform them. But I normally dont have time to hang about. I did do this for a very elderly lady left alone crying in a car while her carer was shopping. the shop knew about and did nothing. Since that I'm more inclined to do nothing but that involves leaving a distressed person crying alone and scared. Which is shitty. See and turn a blind eye. Someone elses problem if she cooks alive. Doesnt touch you. Not a nice way to go about life thinking like that I dont think. I'm not a busy body but I if you cant leave a dog in a car its not a huge streach to think a child could bake in the car.

The problem on a hot day is supposing the woman gets held up in store, or becomes incapacitated themselves (like faints or something) and know one knows there’s a kid outside in danger. It’s just not worth the risk.
To answer your question, I’m too chicken to say anything OP but I probably would stick around to make sure they are ok till a parent gets back.

Shocked how many people are happy to look the other way when they see child abuse / neglect because dead and harmed kids aren't their business.

Op in future if you can't sit and wait, I'll call the supermarket and report it, give reg no etc. Or police. It isn't being a "busy body" to look out for a two year old who can't do it for themselves

Just over 30 years ago a woman in our local town left her 2 young girls in the car whilst she went in to a shop, something happened the car and it burst into flames!

Passers by tried to pull the girls out of the car but one of the girls was killed and other suffered severe burns to her body.

Probably very unusual but it can and does happen.

What if mum fainted in store and never got back in time?? Scary!

What has happened in a number of these cases is that the child has played with the cigarette lighter in the car.

It is not illegal to leave a child in the car alone unless they are considered to be at risk.

If the car was left unlocked I would say that put them at risk.

If it was a hot day that also puts them at risk so I would have given them a maximum of 5 minutes before I put a window in, wouldn't be the first time although that was for a dog left in a locked car, in the direct sun on a boiling hot day.

I definitely would have said something! It's awful to leave a young child alone in a car and even more so when it's so hot!
That is actually neglect as far as I'm concerned.

If I remember correctly though, the unsolicited advice that the OP was dishing out was actually incorrect? Im not 💯 though, I lost interest in it lol

I would have phoned the police actually.

I used to be a childminder and this was a definite no-no for a cared for child, even a petrol station or corner shop for obvious reasons. Once my eldest turned 7-8 I would leave him in the car with other two for a petrol station trip for example but not once pay at pump came in. Personally I think it makes it worse that it’s such a hot day, it can get to ridiculous temperatures within a car and a child can overheat very quickly. I would have been concerned too.