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

[VividMentor]

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.

Definitely the right thing. Someone mentioned it already on the thread but I immediately thought of those tragic stories of babies dying in cars - granted most of the time in the UK the weather isn’t hot enough, but babies are so vulnerable. Anytime you see one alone you can’t just ignore it.

You did the right thing. It was warm today, but even despite that, it was neglectful and dangerous. I reported a dog left in a car to a Tesco security guard a couple of years ago during a heatwave. By the time I returned to the car park, the guard, another member of the public and a local Police officer were in the process of breaking the car window to get the suffering dog out.

People underestimate the length of time it takes for something to go seriously wrong. It can literally happen in seconds. And that was a dog. I'd have no hesitation in doing it again, most especially for a baby.

Sleep sound, @VividMentor - you did absolutely the right thing.

If it was actually 30 minutes that's neglect.
Hopefully social services can step in now you've alerted authorities, because I'd be very suspicious there's more going on in this baby's home.
No responsible parents would do this.
Well done you.

Thanks everyone, I just needed to be sure. And yes, by the time I called I got to my car, put the shopping away, took the trolley back, went inside, told them, waited, went outside again and then called. I was sure I saw that car there when I arrived, so that'd be even worse. Anyway, I had enough time to give all details, then they called me back, I kept waiting and then the mother showed up and called her husband. For a moment, considering how angry he was, I thought I did something unreasonable, but honestly the more I think about it, the more I know it was th right thing. Even just because they were 2, and she could've stayed in the car if it was just bread. People are mental.

Leaving a baby in a car with open windows for 30 minutes is absolutely neglect, and you did the right thing OP. They were lucky that their child was still there when they got back.

Are you seriously expecting anyone to tell you you did the wrong thing?

I had this happen before and I called 999. Except this was a baby left unattended wearing a huge coat in the height of summer.
You did the right thing.

You don't know anyone with severe anxiety probably, the dispatcher and the officer that arrived both told me I did the right thing and thanked me, but that's not enough unfortunately for someone with severe anxiety.

Honestly, yes, I thought I fucked up.

You did the right thing,

I would have called the police as well - and the bolllocked the pair of idiots and probably got myself into trouble.

So it still won't be enough when every person on this thread tells you the same 🤷‍♂️

You definitely did the right thing.

The car may have been stolen and dumped and the baby could have been there for hours or taken by someone.

The fact that there was 2 of them is absolutely disgusting.

It would have been bad enough if they were on their own and left it but the fact that there was 2 is shocking.

I bet one of them went in whilst the other stayed in the car and then the other thought they’d go and catch the other one out or something stupid.

of course you did the right thing

Just joining the chorus to reassure you that you did the right thing. You could not have left that baby alone because what if the worst had happened. The parents will likely get a referral to social services as a result of this and quite rightly so because they endangered the safety of their child.

There was a tragic case a number of years ago in Ireland where a father left the baby in the car and went off to work all day. No of course you did the right thing op.

You absolutely did the right thing op. Leaving a baby in the car like that is dangerous, let alone for 30 minutes. Hopefully the police will
have a stern word.

Sometimes we second-guess ourselves after the event. The guilt of possibly having done the wrong thing can be all-consuming for some people. Even if we know it was right. It's not always easy to do the right thing. There's nothing wrong with seeking reassurance and validation, and sometimes it's easier to ask for this from strangers than friends.

You did absolutely the right thing OP. Even if there is no action taken this time, there will be a record of a call out if there are any future incidents. It's totally unacceptable behaviour by the parents.

Oh, and recently there was a carjacking where the thief drove off with a baby in the back of the car and he then abandoned the car when he realised there was a baby in it!!

You Definitely did the right thing! Thought you were going to say she nipped in to pay for petrol

Adrenaline takes over in these moments OP.. then after the fact, we go over it in our head worrying if we missed any finer details… even if you had, you did the right thing today. Please be kind to yourself. 🫶🏼

The OP doesn't need reassurance or validation, she even said in her second post she knows she did the right thing.

Might've just been better to start a thread in Chat if she wants to discuss it, but the 'AIBU' question is just a bit daft.

In my local area.. a man stole a car outside B&Q.. got 10 miles down the road and realised there were two sleeping children in the back, so ditched the car. Awful.

Of course you did the right thing.

it’s been over 20° here today where I live and babies dehydrate quickly.

regardless of the whole fact they left a baby sometimes dithering over what to do can be the difference between life and death.

Hopefully that family will get the support they need now and that baby doesn’t become some horrid statistic in years to come.

Ofc you did the right thing. 1 min whilst you pay for petrol or grab a meal deal at Tesco express is very different to 30 fucking minutes.