DH didn't help little girl

[Whatshisface]

My DH was in a shopping center.

He was about to go down an escalator, but in front was a man on his phone and what he assumes was his 3/4 year old daughter.

The man was still talking away on his phone, his daughter was a step or two behind him when the dad got on the escalator.

The daughter hesitated and just stood at the top; DH then is next to the little one, who reaches out her hand to DH --- my DH didn't take it, but instead got on the escalator himself.

The man then shouted up to the girl 'stay there, stay there' as he had to walk to the opposite end of the center to get to the 'up' escalator.

DH said he looked up and a woman had stopped to stay with the little one.

I was really mortified DH hadn't either 1) taken her hand to take her down with him, or 2) stayed with her until her dad came back.

But DH said, as a male, and it being a little girl, he 100% didn't feel comfortable with either scenario.

Did he do the right thing?

I'd have instinctively taken the little one's hand and been reassuring and kind to her, taking her to her dad at the bottom. and would have resisted telling the dad what an idiot he his

DH was right not to touch the kid. Can’t be too careful these days. He could have stayed with her though.

Why have you crossed through most of your text? Irritating.

I think your DH did the right thing.
That child's father was responsible for her, not your DH.
It was an on the spot decision.
The child was fine.

I think he did the right thing. Her dad could see her. I would have stayed with her but holding a stranger's child's hand could have been miscontrued.

It is a really sad state of affairs that DH use right, and so attuned to it though. He did the right thing keeping an eye

Your DH’s instincts were right unfortunately- him touching the child could easily have been misconstrued against him sadly.

Sad indictment of the absurd paedomania whipped up by the ignorant.

Your husband could have found himself thanked by the child's dad for helping her, or smacked in the face for daring to touch her. (As we see on the endless "the man who lives down the road said hello to my daughter is this a safeguarding issue" threads on here)

Tricky decision in such a short space of time so I wouldn't get mad at him. I think he did the right thing not helping her down, you don't want to encourage kids to go off with strangers. He could have stayed with her though and just said I'll wait with you until your dad gets back.

It's only the last line?

He should have stayed with her. At the very least he would have been there to stop her having an accident by trying to get on the escalator by herself. I can’t get my head around an adult leaving a small child in danger.

It's a Mumsnet stylistic device. Are you new?

He said he didn't want to be seen 'hanging around a little girl' however innocent he is, he said he'd rather just stay totally clear, which I partly understood but then also I think her safety trumps his worries, if that makes sense?

Do you think it would it have been okay if a female had taken her hand or is it best to never intervene in that way?

He should have stayed with her and shouted the dad but he did the right thing to not hold her hand and take her down with him.

It's very different a man holding a child's hand to a woman holding it.

I think he did the right thing not holding her had, but am surprised he got on the escalator and left her. What if the woman hadn’t come along? The kid would have been by herself and terrified. He could have stayed until the dad came back without any contact?

dh had a similar situation once where he found a kid crying by herself, a toddler. He came running to get me to come and get the kid. He also didn’t want to pick her up.

He didn't do the right thing. He left a very young child at the top of an escalator and by herself, two dangerous things, because he was more worried about himself and how it would look.

The dad was within calling distance why not just ask 'shall I bring her down?' Or 'I'll wait here with her.'

I think no one should be teaching a child to go off with a stranger. If there's a way to watch over her until dad comes back to make sure no one else snatches her then do this.

It shouldn't be! Only the very last line is formatted to be crossed through. Is anyone else seeing it all crossed?

You are over thinking/invested OP.
Why is it bothering you so much?
The child was fine.
Were you there or did your DH tell you this story when he came home?

Yes, I can see at least half of it is crossed out.

About half of it is crossed for me. Still readable and an obvious error so ignore the arses.

No it’s only the last line. PP is just being argumentative

I’m only seeing the last line crossed out.

Unfortunately that's the world we live in. In all likelihood, it would have been fine for you to be seen taking her hand, but there could have been consequences for your husband. Specifically answering your last question, it would have been ok for a woman to intervene, but men have to be very careful.

I can see most of it crossed out. It might be a glitch on the app.

Wow, I wouldn't think twice about helping but I'm a woman. I'll ask DH when gets up but I think it would be good instinct too (we e both trained in safeguarding). I'm not sure in this very public situation that anything could be 'misconstrued'. I obviously wouldn't help a small child I didn't know in the toilet or shop changing rooms.