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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Baby in the car

16 replies

ByNavyShark · 13/12/2025 13:56

This morning I was on my way back from a run, and I walked past my local row of shops which is very busy at the weekend. A car was parked on the opposite side of the road to the shops and as I walked past I noticed there were 2 babies (twins I presume) not even a year old left inside the car with no adult present. I carried on walking but had a thought that if something happened to those children I would feel awful. So I walked back and waited near the car (not too close to the babies) so I could check they were ok and to see if an adult would appear. After about 5 minutes a woman arrived and she had multiple bags of shopping so had clearly not just popped in but had been to all of the shops on the street. As she was approaching the car I told her it was dangerous to leave babies in the car, she erupted on me, screaming and shouting ‘who are you to tell me what to do?’ I told her I was worried about her kids but she just continued to shout so I walked off. Now I am someone who really can’t bite their tongue and will say something very easily wHen I don’t think something is right. Was I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
jimmyeatworld · 13/12/2025 14:00

No you wasn’t but she won’t see it that way. My fear would be someone stealing the car !

Solentsolo · 13/12/2025 14:04

What exactly was the danger you were envisioning OP?

FestiveBauble · 13/12/2025 14:12

Solentsolo · 13/12/2025 14:04

What exactly was the danger you were envisioning OP?

Literally anything? Baby being sick, other one panicking and hurting baby, babies crying and getting upset, car crashing into parked car, someone deciding to take the children out, car alarm going off etc etc

You don’t leave babies in a car for 5+ minutes alone! That’s common sense 🤷🏻‍♀️

Gentlydoesit2 · 13/12/2025 14:18

It beggars belief that some people even have children!! Why on earth would you leave them in a car?

Someone could have smashed windows and taken them, car could have been stolen, another vehicle could have crashed in to the car, obvs not warm at this time of year but imagine if the woman had done it in the summer months!!
You were right OP but I would have taken it further and called the cops.

Solentsolo · 13/12/2025 14:20

mits not something I’d do but all of the point above seem a bit paranoid to me. No wonder young people can’t be arsed to have babies these days. Can you imagine being the mother of twins and being unable to get a pint of milk without carrying 2 babies with you everywhere?

2031MummyTBC · 13/12/2025 14:36

Solentsolo · 13/12/2025 14:20

mits not something I’d do but all of the point above seem a bit paranoid to me. No wonder young people can’t be arsed to have babies these days. Can you imagine being the mother of twins and being unable to get a pint of milk without carrying 2 babies with you everywhere?

This is my reaction too. I ideally wouldn’t leave babies in the car but I can’t imagine actually confronting a mother of twins who’s just trying to go shopping with two babies (asleep?) in a car, it’s probably fine.

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/12/2025 14:36

Gentlydoesit2 · 13/12/2025 14:18

It beggars belief that some people even have children!! Why on earth would you leave them in a car?

Someone could have smashed windows and taken them, car could have been stolen, another vehicle could have crashed in to the car, obvs not warm at this time of year but imagine if the woman had done it in the summer months!!
You were right OP but I would have taken it further and called the cops.

OK none of that is going to happen. And it’s not the summer. The worst would be if they weren’t fully upright and one was sick.

And yes, I would have taken them into the shop myself. But I know some mums of twins and their lives are really very hard and I wouldn’t judge.

The hyperbole on here sometimes…

bizkittt · 13/12/2025 14:47

You should have minded your own business.

Solentsolo · 13/12/2025 14:47

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/12/2025 14:36

OK none of that is going to happen. And it’s not the summer. The worst would be if they weren’t fully upright and one was sick.

And yes, I would have taken them into the shop myself. But I know some mums of twins and their lives are really very hard and I wouldn’t judge.

The hyperbole on here sometimes…

Show quote history

And you’d have to wake both of them up to take them in the shop too. As if like with twin babies isn’t hard enough.

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/12/2025 14:50

Solentsolo · 13/12/2025 14:47

And you’d have to wake both of them up to take them in the shop too. As if like with twin babies isn’t hard enough.

Show quote history

That too. Urg.

InSpainTheRain · 13/12/2025 15:25

I think YABU. She has the car keys an unlikely that someone will steal it seeing 2 kids in there when parked for a short space of time. If something hit the car she'd hear it - plus there could be an accident on the way so I don't see that makes a difference (unless she wasn't parked safely). Babies are left at night when everyone is asleep so of course, they are checked on, but not every 5 mins. I see no harm in being in a shop for 5-10 mins (and I'd be swift as I'd be mindful of the kids in the car). I had twins and honestly it's a pain getting the twin buggy out, both in the buggy, trying to get it through the too small shop door and narrow aisles, then back out to the car - all for 7 mins of shopping.

jimmyeatworld · 13/12/2025 16:36

Nope I would never leave my babies alone in the car whilst I was in the shop, yeah two are hard, I’ve got two myself with a really small gap, they go with me everywhere

Solentsolo · 13/12/2025 16:39

Not even when you go to pay at a petrol station? I mean a nuclear bomb could hit your car while you were browsing the crisps by the till, or an alien could abduct them, or a Jehovah witness could shove a leaflet on your windscreen or any other ludicrously unlikely thing could happen.

Whoevenarethey · 13/12/2025 17:08

I wouldn't have gone into a shop but I used to leave my kids (baby and toddler) in the car alone at the petrol station and go in to pay.

Bearbookagainandagain · 13/12/2025 17:44

I wouldn't do this if I was planning to go to multiple shops, but if I had ever been in the situation to leave a sleeping baby 5 min in the car to pop into the shop, I probably would have.

The only risk really is the heat, which obviously isn't one in December...

Layow · 13/12/2025 17:49

It's not something I would ever do but I also wouldn't have said anything. I don't feel the need to and there is nothing to gain from it.

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