Worried about strangers baby

[Dolliedaydream]

I can't get this experience today out of my head and not sure what if anything I can do about it.

In tescos this afternoon I heard very loud continuous crying, definitely a baby but really distressed. The mum slowly passed by with a newborn and a girl of about three in a double trolley, baby in the blue reclining section, not a car seat, she didnt seem to be paying attention to the baby at all and was looking at the products. The crying continued and was really distressing, an employee on the shop floor said she heard the mum say to the baby 'well pull yourself up then'.

I went up to her, the baby was all crumpled up and clearly uncomfortable he had no blanket or warm clothing, I asked how old he was and she said a week, I said he sounds unhappy maybe he's hungry, she said he had been fed before he came out. I asked if she wanted to pick him up and I would push her trolley or the other way round, she said no it's fine. Then her mum appeared and said I can carry him if you want. She lifted him up and kind of slung him on her shoulder. It didn't look ideal but it was better and he was quiet.

I know we all have times when our baby is crying but this crying was like nothing I have heard before especially for a newborn and I couldn't ignore it like these two could.

Would it be a waste of time reporting this?, I don't know who she is, where she lives and she hasn't done anything exceptionally wrong but it is really bugging me, I keep thinking that child welfare is everyone's concern. So many people were looking and some of us talking, none of us doing.

But most babies will stop when picked up. You can't pick a crying baby up at every given opportunity. My dd screamed from birth to round 1 year old to be in my arms all the time. It was impossible, no harm came to her if I was not able to at very opportunity pick her up. I would pick her up she would I would ly her down gain she would start again. I didn't think about every possible remedy to the problem by 1 week old, it took me at least a few weeks to invest in a sling.

I think the pull your self up comment is a probably nothing. My dsis and I had babies together and we would have a joke to make us feel less tresses at times that they are too needy, or would say silly things to the babies that where similar to the pull your self.

I'm completely with you Goldenbear. What's with all the mocking regarding a childs' welfare anyway? I think some good points have been highlighted on here and I am truly amazed at how many people would rather leave something go amiss in fear they may offend a mother, or risk over reacting!

I don't think anyone would suggest that you should go calling on SS for every baby that's crying in a supermarket - that is rather ridiculous. But as the op pointed out, there were other things. And if something seems suspicious, it's so worth checking. We shouldn't assume it's nothing or feel fretful about interfering.

I've only ever had to make a phone call once when I witnessed a mother hitting her teenage daughter in broad daylight in the street. She was calling her the most vile names. I had my young children with me - I couldn't intervene. But a bunch of workmen on the building site watched on, laughing as if it was 'entertainment'. I called the police.

I know that's entirely different to suspecting something, and having factual evidence of wrong doing. But, it highlighted to me that there are too many people out there that turn a blind eye, or don't want to do anything in case it interferes with there life.

I'm no busy body. But I'm all for helping the vulnerable. Breaks my heart when you read the newspapers and realise just how many childrens lives could have been saved if people opened their eyes,

*their life

FWIW I have reported 2 people to SS, one of which I had been keeping a diary of 'small' incidents over a course of a few months, both sets of children have much better living conditions now so I don't turn a blind eye at all.

I am not mocking golden either but I don't understand how someone can be so upset about a crying baby being ignored for a few minutes and then do nothing about a child being threatened with a slap, it seems very inconsistant to me. Either your view is to get involved or not, to me the incident that golden described with the little boy is more worrying than the incident in the OP.

I think at 1 WEEK you can and should pretty much should pick up a baby when it is crying. I also think it is far too young to place them in one of those seats. I just don't understand how a Mother can amble around a shop when their 1 WEEk old baby is crying in distress at being in one of those uncomfortable seats. How can you just stare at your 1 WEEK old knowing you just need to comfort them - it is not natural! And yes it does make me sad- what is wrong with that?

I was suggesting up thread that if the OP was thst concerned there is a practical solution for tracking the parent.

Unfortunately it is not illegal to smack your child on the hand so I know the police wouldn't do anything. I have intervened in the past as in both cases the parent was assaulting the child- which is illegal.

Yes I do find it sad that so many parents see their child as a problem, an irritation. It begs the question, why did you even have them when you're so intent in offering them this shit existence.

I think smacking is a whole different debate though isn't it? I don't smack my children. I don't agree with it, I think it sets a bad example, and overall I don't think it works. But smacking is still widely used as a form of discipline. And you and I know, that there are a lot of children who's parents smack them, that worship the ground their children walk on.

Smacking isn't illegal - but child abuse is. The op felt something wasn't right (as in the child was being neglected/abused).

For the record, my post wasn't aimed at directly at you missymoo. I'm generalising on the whole thread.