Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

8/9 year old looking after baby

28 replies

lucie333 · 25/05/2023 20:56

I was doing lunch time drop off today with my youngest when I saw a 7/8 yo definitely wasn't any older as he could barely push his baby sisters pram, he left the baby in the car park next to the fence and took his brother 3/4 years old into nursery, his mum wasn't with him as I saw him walk on his own for some distance up the road, would you let the nursery know? I'd do what would you say? I'm not sure if perhaps this is normal nowadays?

What age would you allow this ?

OP posts:
Original poster
lucie333 · 25/05/2023 20:57

If so*

OP posts:
Quinoawoman · 25/05/2023 20:57

Yes, definitley tell the nursery as this is a safeguarding issue.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 25/05/2023 20:57

Why wouldn't you tell the nursery? Safeguarding children is everyone's business and this child clearly needs a check in.

ComeTheFuckOnBridgett · 25/05/2023 20:58

The baby was left in the carpark? And a 8 year old was having to look after two under 5's? Yes, tell the nursery.

FatherJoseFernandez · 25/05/2023 20:59

Yes absolutely. Surely the nursery would know he dropped off his 3/4 year old brother as he would have had to hand him over to someone?

ComeTheFuckOnBridgett · 25/05/2023 20:59

Surely he should have been at school too? Something doesn't sound right with it all.

DiscoBeat · 25/05/2023 21:00

Of course tell the nursery!!! It may be that the mother was in a car very close by and watching like a hawk but it doesn't matter. Better safe than sorry!

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 25/05/2023 21:00

Bonkers that you didn’t report it immediately if it even happened

llamallama6384 · 25/05/2023 21:00

Well obviously you need to tell the nursery. Surely that's basic common sense.

Struggling to see how a 7 year old can't push a pram though. My daughter is just coming up to 7 and pushes her brothers pram with ease, at every opportunity.

Also why was the kid not at school?

You're story isn't adding up at all for me.

Original poster
lucie333 · 25/05/2023 21:00

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 25/05/2023 20:57

Why wouldn't you tell the nursery? Safeguarding children is everyone's business and this child clearly needs a check in.

I definitely agree, I just wanted some advice on it. I've had a few issues with the nursery that I've voiced over the past few days, so didn't want to come across like a pain if it wasn't needed, but I'll definitely have s word with them in morning

OP posts:
Heckythump1 · 25/05/2023 21:01

I sure he wasn't just a very short man? 😛

Sugarfree23 · 25/05/2023 21:01

The nursery must know.
But something just isn't right if the boy is looking after two under 5s.

Original poster
lucie333 · 25/05/2023 21:02

FatherJoseFernandez · 25/05/2023 20:59

Yes absolutely. Surely the nursery would know he dropped off his 3/4 year old brother as he would have had to hand him over to someone?

My partner said sometimes when his mums in the car she will get him to go to the door to collect his brother, im guessing the nursery possibly thought this was the case, and could explain why he left his sister in car park so they didn't see

OP posts:
MuffinToSeeHere · 25/05/2023 21:03

I'm sorry there is absolutely no way this was a 7 year old looking after 2 children under 5 independently taking one into nursery alone and leaving the other alone in a carpark.

If that genuinely happened you would have gone over to intervene.

Sugarfree23 · 25/05/2023 21:03

Heckythump1 · 25/05/2023 21:01

I sure he wasn't just a very short man? 😛

More likely a very short mum. Although a mum wouldn't leave the baby in the park.

Original poster
lucie333 · 25/05/2023 21:04

@llamallama6384 are you implying I'm lying ? I don't know why he's not at school? I'm not his mother

OP posts:
Original poster
lucie333 · 25/05/2023 21:09

MuffinToSeeHere · 25/05/2023 21:03

I'm sorry there is absolutely no way this was a 7 year old looking after 2 children under 5 independently taking one into nursery alone and leaving the other alone in a carpark.

If that genuinely happened you would have gone over to intervene.

Im sorry but where you there? He definitely was not older than 8! I thought the nursery would have said something at the time, I then thought maybe his mum was at the shop and got him to walk down with them while she was there! Not something I'd do but I didn't want to jump to conclusions but it's not been sitting right with me so I'll let nursery know.

OP posts:
MuffinToSeeHere · 25/05/2023 21:13

Im sorry but where you there? He definitely was not older than 8! I thought the nursery would have said something at the time, I then thought maybe his mum was at the shop and got him to walk down with them while she was there! Not something I'd do but I didn't want to jump to conclusions but it's not been sitting right with me so I'll let nursery know.

Of course I wasn't there but to be fair anyone who did witness what appeared to be a young child in charge of 2 under 5s wouldn't give the benefit of the doubt they would intervene.

You've come up with lots of reasons why you didn't get involved but I cannot fathom anyone, especially someone who also had a young child not stepping in.

Rumplestrumpet · 25/05/2023 21:15

Our nursery had a policy that only an adult could hand over or collect a child. So once when I stood at the door and waited outside to let my 8 yr old walk in with the toddler they were sent back to tell me only I could hand the toddler over. I guess to avoid anything like this.

Definitely tell the nursery

llamallama6384 · 25/05/2023 21:16

lucie333 · 25/05/2023 21:04

@llamallama6384 are you implying I'm lying ? I don't know why he's not at school? I'm not his mother

Yes. I am saying you are lying.

If your story was true, no one would have said absolutely nothing and posted it in MNs without either reporting it to the nursery immediately or speaking to the child directly. Or reporting an abandoned baby in a pram to the police as soon as you saw it.

Original poster
lucie333 · 25/05/2023 21:18

@MuffinToSeeHere I understand what your saying & it's definitely an error of misjudgment on my behalf

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 25/05/2023 21:21

llamallama6384 · 25/05/2023 21:16

Yes. I am saying you are lying.

If your story was true, no one would have said absolutely nothing and posted it in MNs without either reporting it to the nursery immediately or speaking to the child directly. Or reporting an abandoned baby in a pram to the police as soon as you saw it.

Show quote history

Then just report the post. Stop troll hunting.

Original poster
lucie333 · 25/05/2023 21:22

Yes. I am saying you are lying.

If your story was true, no one would have said absolutely nothing and posted it in MNs without either reporting it to the nursery immediately or speaking to the child directly. Or reporting an abandoned baby in a pram to the police as soon as you saw it.

I did speak to the child directly but I don't think he could speak much English as he just smiled. The baby wasn't abandoned thats a little dramatic

OP posts:
MolkosTeenageAngst · 25/05/2023 21:29

Maybe he looks very young for his age, he might have been a very short 11, 12 or even 13 year old. I’m a teacher and some of our secondary school aged boys could easily be mistaken for being 8 or 9 year olds.

Original poster
lucie333 · 25/05/2023 21:32

MolkosTeenageAngst · 25/05/2023 21:29

Maybe he looks very young for his age, he might have been a very short 11, 12 or even 13 year old. I’m a teacher and some of our secondary school aged boys could easily be mistaken for being 8 or 9 year olds.

This could also be a possibility! I'll still mention it to whoever is on the nursery door tomorrow just to be on the safe side.

OP posts: