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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?

168 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:
iPreferBooks · 23/04/2026 20:52

I think you did the right thing - it was really hot today

Shufflebumnessie · 23/04/2026 20:52

Rosieposy89 · 23/04/2026 19:30

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

Exactly this!

Siarli · 23/04/2026 20:53

You did absolutely the right thing. A similar thing happened to me years ago. I was working in a garden centre when a couple approached me to report a baby left in a car. We put out a message over the tannoy with thecregistration number of the vehicle. I went out to the car park with the reporting couple. They didnt want.to move their SUV as it was sheltering the vehicle from the sun . The woman did not respond but we eventually found her nonchalantly browsing. I warned her we were on the verge of calling the police and to go to her car immediately. She was very rude to me. Told me.she'd been less than 5 minutes which I said was an absolute lie as we'd been calling her, it was about 45 minutes. I told her children and dogs have died in hot cars, she was very defensive and I was appalled at the behaviour. I didnt get much back up from my employer, Id list them a customer!

Aberdeenusername · 23/04/2026 20:55

You absolutely did the right thing here. I phoned 999 during the first Covid lockdown for the same thing actually a baby left in the car for over 20 mins in Tesco car park and i got dogs abuse from the family but the police turned up before they did at the car so they knew they were buggered! Shitty parenting at its finest!

Goditsmemargaret · 23/04/2026 20:58

You one hundred percent did the right thing. Hopefully they never ever do it again.

Daisymail · 23/04/2026 20:58

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.

This.

Lifeomars · 23/04/2026 21:01

Well done, that was the right thing to do, it makes me wonder what they are like with the baby at home if they think leaving it alone in a car in a public place is reasonable behaviour.

Imdunfer · 23/04/2026 21:01

VividMentor · 23/04/2026 19:56

Honestly, yes, I thought I fucked up.

You 100% did not.

ERthree · 23/04/2026 21:04

The Father was angry because he knows he was in the wrong.

TheDehumidifierNeedsEmptying · 23/04/2026 21:05

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????

You’d leave a baby alone in a vehicle outside a Tesco express for 2 minutes? You’re no better than the parents of the baby OP encountered.

Dishwashersforever · 23/04/2026 21:07

You absolutely did the right thing. The police should have arrived faster actually you should n’t have had to be alone with the parents. Who the heck leaves a baby alone???

Dishwashersforever · 23/04/2026 21:12

VividMentor · 23/04/2026 19:55

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.

I get it op, I hear you. You were right to do it.

DollydaydreamTheThird · 23/04/2026 21:14

100% no brainer all day every day police. You did the right thing OP.

MrsKurz · 23/04/2026 21:18

ABSOLUTELY not being unreasonable, you absolutely did the right thing, well done.

Imdunfer · 23/04/2026 21:18

TheDehumidifierNeedsEmptying · 23/04/2026 21:05

You’d leave a baby alone in a vehicle outside a Tesco express for 2 minutes? You’re no better than the parents of the baby OP encountered.

Oh puhleeeze.

If the baby is asleep it's no different than a mother at home making a cup of tea or going for a pee while the baby naps in a cot.

As long as it is genuinely two minutes and the weather is benign.

AffableApple · 23/04/2026 21:22

Notarealblonde · 23/04/2026 20:27

Oh no i meant. Did they look like trailer trash

That's not an improvement.

Newsenmum · 23/04/2026 21:23

Well done op

Lavender14 · 23/04/2026 21:25

Did the right thing. My immediate thought was that it was warm today and the father who went to work and forgot the baby was sleeping in the back seat and needed to go to nursery and the child died from over heating. For all you knew the mother or father could have been so sleep deprived they were working on auto pilot. You had no way to know how long they were there. Very irresponsible especially somewhat like sainsburys. I've once run in to pay for petrol with ds in the car but he was parked immediately outside and could see the car from the pay point and could see there was no queue. Even then I felt guilty and would probably never do it again 30 mins is worrying.

tooloololoo · 23/04/2026 21:25

What the fuck
That’s neglect

you did the right thing

EdinaMonsoonsWardrobe · 23/04/2026 21:27

I saw a baby in a car alone a couple of years ago now and was pondering the same as you. I phoned my Mum and spoke to her for around one minute then the father came back to the car. I think I would have probably given it another two minutes before calling the police. Thirty minutes is completely insane.

SassyCow · 23/04/2026 21:27

You absolutely did the right thing. I get you when you was unsure due to your anxiety, I'd feel the same way as a long term high anxiety sufferer.

MyTrivia · 23/04/2026 21:27

You were 100% right!

Sonato · 23/04/2026 21:34

Jesus chrust. My heart is in my mouth leaving my dog in my car fir 2 minutes whilst i nip into a shop!

PeachySmile2 · 23/04/2026 21:36

Its neglect. You did the right thing. I went into BP today for three to five minutes maybe? Baby came in with me, car seat and all, as any normal parent would do

SpringAndSunshineIsHere · 23/04/2026 21:39

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????

Seriously never leave your baby in a car on its own! Ffs.

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