To feel so sad for this mum and baby but still think she could have been more careful?

[Vivia]

Was in Costa just now. I was in the queue getting a takeaway while two mums were sitting with their newborns on the comfy sofa nearby. Very gorgeous scrunchy babies. I noticed that one mum had the baby lying vertically on her lap, so baby's feet at mother's chest and baby's head near the table. I thought it looked precarious.

And it was. As I walked out, I glanced back I noticed the mum reach over her baby's head and pick up the piping hot mug of coffee. She dropped the large mug of black coffee on the child's face and body. In that split second, I almost didn't register what happened. I ran back in. The security guard from nearby was jumped over chairs and tables to get to the baby, the mother was screaming 'help me!' The security had whipped the newborn to a sink of water and staff were calling the ambulance. The baby screamed at first then went horribly silent. Poor child had been hit in the face by a large, falling china mug and thoroughly scalded by coffee.

I feel so sad but wish the mum had realized that reaching over a newborn to pick up coffee is a terrible idea? I don't mean to judge her but

What an absolutely shocking thing to happen - poor baby and mum.

I agree it is a terrible idea to reach over a baby to get a hot drink - the mere thought of it is terrifying enough.

It is a steep learning curve when you have your first child. Threads like this illustrate what can happen when there is a lapse of common sense. Sometimes one is unlucky and the consequences are serious. I'm sure that other people have had hot drinks near babies without ill effect. They can be considered lucky more than their judgement sound.

My little one is a toddler now. I still don't allow any hot drinks near him and have never done so.

I do think there is a strong possibility that the mother involved will find her way to this thread and I do wonder whether for that reason it would be an idea to delete it.

Not for trolling reasons, but if she sees this disaster beigng discussed by a bunch of strangers on the internet - well that would be an awful thing to happen.

Probably isn't any trolling, just a lack of thought about how bloody devastating this thread could be for this mother if she read it.

What an awful story. Find myself agreeing with rollbauble- does seem to be a strong suggestion of 'I told you so' in the original post.

Vivia - few threads have ever made me gash in horror. I feel so sick. When are you going back there so you can find out what happened?

gasp even

Don't lets start with the Troll-hunting. If you think it, unless it directly affects you, keep it to yourself or report it to MNHQ.

Guys I'm so sorry I started such a sad thread. That you all for your perspectives and for showing support - I've been avoiding thoughts of it this afternoon but this thread helps when my heart sinks. The security guard seemed to really know what to do and raced in there so quickly the coffee had barely landed. Hopefully the little one is doing well. I guess we must remember how remarkably strong little ones can be.

You guys are all so lovely - thank you.

I dont find it distressing and I have been through it!, I would love for more threads to be out their like this, as drinking tea/hot water is second nature to most people, and take it for granted that it will be safe!

Their is ALOT of people who drink hot drinks around/over children, and not even "think" about it due to it being second nature!

Sadly this woman wont be the 1st today to scald her baby, their is on average 5 major scald concerning children, admitted to hospital in the UK everyday.

My niece was one of 9 in Yorkhill Hospital that day, 2 didn't survive!

taking the OP's most recent post into consideration I am now absolutely SURE it is a wind up. An uber tasteless one.

Well I think the thread serves a purpose - lots of pregnant women/new mums will read it and it may register possibly preventing other accidents.

We met a couple whose 8 month old had broken her leg rolling off a changing mat. They were still obviously traumatised by it months later, she had to go into traction, social services involved etc etc. Since meeting them am extra bloody careful when changing wriggly babies.

Donnie- Vivia isn't a troll. I don't understand why people are thinking this is a troll post?

A bit at the idea that every mother in the country (including the one in Costa) is obviously a MNer and obviously going to read this thread though.

I'm surprised at how many RL people aren't on MN......

Oh, poor baby!

My son is 16 months old and the other day I had small IKEA bowls of food cooling on a worktop, for him and his sisters.

He ran into the kitchen and grabbed one and it was all over his hand in an instant!

Luckily it was already fairly cool.

all I have to say is security guards in costa coffee? not even in brixton!

This thread has made me soooo sad and made me realise how lucky I am to not have had any major accidents with my dc's so far. I'm so glad that most replies haven't judged the poor mother and vivia I do feel sorry for you to have witnessed it.

On a side note I always thought it was running cool water without a doubt. I'm sure the 999 operator would have put them right.

I also suspect that the mum in the OP has much better things to be doing than reading MN at the moment, so can't really see the danger of her reading this and feeling judged.

If you did happen to stumble across it later I would think there would be stacks of comfort to be taken in the fact that pretty much everyone on the thread had admitted to fuck ups with their babies/toddlers.

yes I wondered about that pastapesto. Maybe the OP lives in downtown Johannesburg or midtown Baghdad.

Deffo a wind up.

Um, my local Costa is in a large Tesco, so has a security guard by the door. Maybe OP's is similar?

She saw something distressing and wanted to tell someone about it. It hasn't been judgmental. Fed up with all this troll hunting

Thanks whoever posted the NHS burns advice

Good God. Poor, poor woman and baby.

Our Local Costa is in Tesco at the front where the security guard is too.

It seems at the moment no-one can post anything without it being picked apart by troll hunters!

I don't believe it's trolling either, and I have learned something valuable about treating burns in small children. I hope I never have to use that knowledge but you just never know.

I'm fed up with all the troll-hunting too.
Give over people. You are not doing any good, all you're doing is potentially discouraging people from posting.

donnie - you are so obviously a troll,
and you pastapestofor6, it's clear to anyone that you can't feed 6 on pesto pasta.

Puuurleeese!

Is it compulsory for any thread longer than 3 pages to have a smattering of troll accusations? It's really getting quite boring.