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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to call 999 after seeing a baby alone in a car?

169 replies

VividMentor · 23/04/2026 19:29

I saw a baby left alone in a car in a car park of a Sainsbury's, no one around, I was leaving the trolley to put my son in my car, and I noticed a baby in the car seat, alone in the car. I went inside the store a told security, then came out and felt very uncomfortable leaving like that, so I called 999. By the time I finished the call, I went back inside the shop to check if security tracked the parents, they didn't. Went back to the car, got a call from 999 asking me to call them if the parents came back, which a did a while later when the mother approached the car. Then she called the father and he arrived a minute later very angry at me for calling. I explained that I waited, no one showed up and I called, what if no one came back? What if, considering the windows were open, someone took the baby? Also, if they were 2 people, why didn't the mother stay in the car since the only needed bread apparently? Police arrived and I left after talking to them, but this father looked very angry. Did I do the wrong thing here? That baby was alone in the car for a good 30 minutes.

OP posts:
Auroraloves · 23/04/2026 19:30

You did absolutely the right thing

Rosieposy89 · 23/04/2026 19:30

No. You did absolutely the right thing. The parents are just angry they got caught neglecting their child.

GrealishGoddess · 23/04/2026 19:30

You were right

blythet · 23/04/2026 19:32

30 mins?! That’s crazy!

blythet · 23/04/2026 19:32

And like you say, no need if there’s 2 of them

MyLimeGuide · 23/04/2026 19:34

Poor baby 😟

stichguru · 23/04/2026 19:36

Nope that's inexcusable. 1 minute would be 1 minute too long.

Strawberry53 · 23/04/2026 19:37

You did the right thing, well done

LoudSnoringDog · 23/04/2026 19:38

You did the right thing. Pair of fucking idiots

Ohcrap082024 · 23/04/2026 19:39

You did absolutely the right thing.

First rule of Safeguarding Training: you pass on the information to the relevant authorities and let them deal with it.

The fact that the police sent officers so quickly tells you that you did the right thing.

Clefable · 23/04/2026 19:39

That’s awful, 30 minutes?! Why the hell did both of them go into the shop? Incredibly stupid. Well done.

Ilovecheeseyah · 23/04/2026 19:41

Well done. You were this baby’s guardian angel - let’s hope it has triggered a wider process to safeguard this little baba.

TomatoSandwiches · 23/04/2026 19:41

You did the right thing op.

Safxxx · 23/04/2026 19:42

Totally justified...pair of plonkers leaving their baby all alone for that long....No excuses 🙄

Mumdiva99 · 23/04/2026 19:42

Of course you did the right thing. I was expecting this to be 'i waited 2 minutes and no one came so I called police. Then mum said she was just putting trolley back' - but 30 mins in a public place is not on. What if child had woken and cried? What if child was scared.

Rizzz · 23/04/2026 19:42

Did the police say you were unreasonable?

Did the police say you did the wrong thing?

If the answer is no, then I'm surprised you're asking Mumsnet?

MamaorBruh · 23/04/2026 19:42

You absolutely did the right thing.

GranolaBaker · 23/04/2026 19:42

30 minutes?! You absolutely did the right thing.

A family friend left their baby in the car by accident in a hot country and the baby died (terrible terrible tale and the most horrific mistake that will quite obviously haunt them forever). It doesn’t have to be a hot day for a young child to get heat stroke and die, quite apart from the abduction fears (and just general competence of the parents - what other safety things are they this causal with? )

SarahAndQuack · 23/04/2026 19:43

Mumdiva99 · 23/04/2026 19:42

Of course you did the right thing. I was expecting this to be 'i waited 2 minutes and no one came so I called police. Then mum said she was just putting trolley back' - but 30 mins in a public place is not on. What if child had woken and cried? What if child was scared.

Exactly this.

pushontheswings · 23/04/2026 19:43

I could be wrong but I read it as the mother going in and then ringing the father,

Would have been better for Sainsbury’s to have called over the tannoy, surely.

blubberball · 23/04/2026 19:44

You did the right thing.

I had to do a double take weeks ago, when I drove past a parked car and thought I saw a baby alone in the car. I turned around to go back and check, and then a woman was in the car with the baby. I don't know if my brain just missed her the first time around, but I was all ready to call someone to get help for the child

1983Louise · 23/04/2026 19:44

Definitely the right thing, well done you, we need more people like you 😊

RhannionKPSS · 23/04/2026 19:44

You did the right thing without a doubt

MyWildOliveGoose · 23/04/2026 19:45

You absolutely did the right thing. I always say, it’s everyone’s duty to safeguard children and you did that today.

The police will have picked up on the same things you did, two of them leaving the baby unattended in the car in this heat, regardless of the windows being open - so leaving opportunity for kidnap, for bread?! Nope.

Just think, if it hadn’t been you, the type of person who did the right thing, it could have been a very dangerous person who wouldn’t do the right thing.

Well done, give yourself some grace x

Dalmationday · 23/04/2026 19:46

I think if it’s 2 mins outside a Tesco express it’s a bit different. 30 mins alone is mad????

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