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.

You absolutely did the right thing. I accidentally locked my baby in the car with the keys once and had to wait 20 mins for my dad to go and get my spare key. She was absolutely beside herself and that was with me talking to her through the window the whole time and it wasn't warm weather. I feel for that poor baby if they'd have woken up and realised no one was there.

Nope. These fucking idiots need a telling off by the police and reporting to social services to the police very much did need to be involved

Would it be bad to ask for a description of the parents?

I hope the police contacted social services. There were 2 of them so it was hardly an emergency, one could have stayed with the baby whilst the other ran in for bread. I used to feel anxious enough leaving mine in the car whilst getting fuel (running into pay, before the days of ‘pay at the pump’).

It really is irrelevant

That is awful, I hope they get a social services referral or something. Completely irresponsible

They were a man and a woman, both idiots. Hope that helps?

Went back to the car, got a call from 999 asking me to call them if the parents came back,

Sorry it's not clear to me if the couple were still there when the police arrived? I hope they got a good bollocking.

You did the right thing. You would be surprised by how many would have walked away.

Only if you think idiocy is controlled by what colour you are. Hint: it isn't.

This makes me feel sick, that poor baby. 😥

Oh no i meant. Did they look like trailer trash

Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility, and you stepped up today. You absolutely did the right thing. I hope the parents are also contacted by social services regarding concerns about the care of their vulnerable baby.

You did a fantastic job! Well done

Good grief. This was the right thing to do. Fancy leaving a baby in a car for 30 minutes. How else are these parents neglecting that poor child?

Even if there was only one of them, it's why God invented trollies you can put a baby into, surely? But in this case, either one stays in the car OR they carry the baby with them. What is WRONG with people? If my partner and I pop to Tesco after taking the dog somewhere in the car, one stays in the car with the dog!

You was 100% right

You done the right thing.

It's beside the point, but he could equally have stayed in the car.

You did the right thing x

In the 80s no one would've given a shit. Glad safeguarding is an actual thing now.

I worry so much about people who parent like that. You absolutely did the right thing OP, thank you!

Newsflash: non-poor people can be shit parents too, do you never look at the news?

No you did not- you were absolutely right to act.That is an incredibly neglectful thing to do, especially for a baby! And I say that as someone who has left my young children in the car on multiple occasions but literally only for afew minutes when i'm popping somewhere where the car is right outside.And would never do it in warmer weather.

You did the right thing. You had no idea how much longer before you arrived the baby had been there or the circumstances, or how much lomger the return could be

Most right thinking parents would never do that. They might be neglectful or they might need more support if they cant cope/substance abuse/coercive control. Theyve been drawn to the authorties now so either they get act together or they will have more attention on them.

They certainly should! 30 mins leaving a baby is horrendous, poor little thing could easily have got upset and been crying for most of that time and awful if nobody came for so long 😥

Of course you did the right thing. Imagine if poor baby had a medical incident whilst being trapped in the car. Wasp could have flown in through the window, stung baby who could have had anaphylactic shock. Anything could have happened, lots of different scenarios that don’t bear thinking about. Father can look angry all he wants. Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and you absolutely did the right thing. 💐