Should I report to 101, stranger and my baby

[Bramblecrumble22]

I feel a bit shaken after an interaction. After the school run, I was putting my baby in the car seat and someone tapped my shoulder. I turned with baby in my arms and she said 'baby' and touched him, and but her hand near his armipit. She was stood very close and it felt like when you pass a baby over. I said 'what are you doing.' quite aggressively and she said 'no, no, I like babies' and squeezed his cheek then walked off quickly. I mean she could be lonely and love babies and want to innocently interact with them. She didn't speak much English either. But I just felt really uncomfortable. She wasn't as old as the ladies that often coo over him in the shops, so maybe that why i felt threatened. So aibu she just wanted to see and smile at a baby, very innocent and a cultural misunderstanding, or ainbu report to police in case it builds up a bigger picture and she will go on to kidnap.

Sounds like a normal day in South London for me. Obviously it’s not nice that a randomer tried to hold your baby but I don’t understand what you’d even say to the police to report her? And report her for what? Being fucking weird?

Sorry edited to add this bit.

or ainbu report to police in case it builds up a bigger picture and she will go on to kidnap.

This is just extreme. Build up a bigger picture? Come on pls

Geez. She thought your baby was cute and was a bit inappropriate in hopes of a baby cuddle.

No, you don't need to report her to the police.

I dont think there is anything to report

No wonder the police don't have time to deal with actual crimes if people are wasting their time with stuff like this!

For what exactly?
I know on mumsnet ,posters seem to think the police have all the time in the world to follow up vague non incidents, just in case
But irl they dont have the resources

Quite normal behaviour when I had a baby. Also in South London as it happens @FuckTheClubUp . It was in the early 80s and they often put a 10p or 50p in the pram too.

Did she put a coin under his armpit? I had this once, meant to bring them good luck or something. I guess only you know how it felt but I would guess it's a cultural thing.

Obviously a cultural difference, other countries are more relaxed and sociable with babies/family. I think its an extreme jump to go to police and kidnapping.

In case she goes on to kidnap - wow you really jumped the shark there OP! May I suggest you never ever go abroad with your baby....

Invading people's personal space? Acting inappropriately? Stop undermining OPs feelings.

Follow your gut OP. That would majorly freak me out too. The police can always discard it but it could also be part of a bigger picture. Always better to be safe than sorry with these types of things.

She put her hand under his armpit as if to take him? Not normal at all - follow your instincts and report OP. It may be nothing - but on the other hand a picture may build. Have confidence in your own experience and feelings, and ignore those who weren't there.

I've been abroad with my children/babies many times. Have never had someone interfere like this. OP was putting her baby in her car, it wasn't in a stroller in a cafe.

But this was a stranger, with whom OP had no interaction prior.

There are a lot of people in the world, this can't be the first time you've seen someone behave slightly differently to how you would?

I understand you felt vulnerable, if you did report to the police you should make it clear it's a 'just for info' report rather than a crime report.

Was literally gonna ask OP are you in South London?

You are being massively unreasonable.
You are fine. Your baby is fine. No, you don’t report it to the police. No crime took place.

I’m not undermining the OP’s feelings at all. Did you miss the part where I said the exchange wasn’t nice?

Do you think the police have the resources to follow up on a report that’s been made for ‘invading people’s personal space?’ What other information does the OP have in order for the police to find out who this random stranger is? Again, do you really think they have the resources to do that?

Gotta love South London right?😁 you leave your house never knowing what sort of bizzare exchange you’ll encounter that day!

When my son was a baby it was safe and normal to leave babies in prams/ buggies outside shops - in fact most shops didn't allow prams/ buggies inside.
My son was really smiley and good natured and often I came out the shop to find people had left money and sweeties on the buggy.

ainbu report to police in case it builds up a bigger picture and she will go on to kidnap

Well that's a hell of a leap.

If you hear of a child locally to you being kidnapped call the police. But your report isn't going to build a picture. You don't know who she is & the police aren't going to be trying to identify her.

Basically all she's done is invade your space & admired your baby. Let it go

So dramatic. Yabu

You say that but sometimes ppl do small things and it builds up to something serious . It's unlikely and probably nothing however bad things do also happen and then ppl come out saying yes they did this to us too or we saw them acting strange. Granted its more then likely innocent but op isn't silly to over think , we over think things because so much bad stuff we read online that happens and many times ppl say they wish they'd spoken up.

Op just report it to 101, that's what they are there for. Let the police decide if its significant, maybe this person has been going around being inappropriate to others. It's not OK to tap someone on the shoulder to touch their baby when you wasn't in their path especially, if they've had to come over to you when you're putting baby in the car seat .

Thanks all, going to let it go. Didn't think it was reportable really, think what made this interaction more uncomfortable than others cooing over baby was that I was trapped by the car door so couldn't give myself more space to make the interaction more comfortable. She might not have been trying to lift him out of my arms, she may have been turning him but it felt like that and she didn't speak much English to explain.

People need to realize that stranger kidnapping is exceptionally rare. Statistically a tiny percentage compared to kidnappings that are either the other parent or family member. It's also mostly family members who sex traffic children. Be cautious, but also use common sense.