Child left alone in a car for almost an hour!!!

[MumOf4Monsters]

I went to my local shopping centre today to do some shopping.
I parked in the underground carpark and as i was walking in i noticed a child (between 2-3 years old) asleep with her head slumped over in a booster seat in the car infront of mine. The windows were up and the doors were locked.

Dh and i were'nt sure what to do about it so we went in to do our shopping. This was at 4:10pm. So we finish our shopping and go down to the car and notice that the child is still strapped in the car. It's now 5:00!!!!

I was shocked and said to Dh that we should call the cops. Then the mum casually walks up to the car......I was so furious when i saw her, she did'nt seem worried....she went and talked to the girl...obviously to make sure she was ok. She then loaded her shopping into the car, unlocked her steering wheel lock and drove off.

I so badly wanted to say something to her but i just could'nt! I did'nt know what to say and i did'nt want any trouble as i had my 4 kids with me.

I'm still mad at myself for not calling the cops or saying something to her!!!!

I'd like to know what other people in my situation would have done. Is it ok to call the cops? What if the mum's only gone for a couple of minutes (yes i know its wrong to leave a child in the car alone) but what else could i have done?

[Mum2Bug]

Personally had it it been me, i wouldve sent someone to get security and to call the police while i waited at the persons car.

[~Mands~]

:eek::eek::eek:

I dont know what I would do! I would definately do something! I am still in shock from reading about it!

I NEVER leave my DS in the car by himself.. gosh.. 2-3 years, thats horrible, that poor bub :(.

[toni796]

I would have called the cops right away when it was noticed. What would happen to the child if something happened to the parent and they did not come back or in the meantime something happened to the kid. I would never forgive myself for not doing anything.

[*Cj*]

If it was me I would have waited a few min. Maybe 3. If no one was back by then I would be calling the cops. Next time don't even think about it. Just ring them

[LilShenanigans]

Dont think I could just wander off to do shopping, Id have to stick around. Probably call the cops straight away considering I wouldn't have knowledge of how long they had been in there prior.

[V8]

Ring the cops after about 5-10 mins, i would have also gotten her licence plate at the very least after she left and then reported it to police.

[Chunkydunks]

We pulled up at the pub near where we used to live one day and there were these 2 kids sitting in the car outside. The boy would have been 5 or 6 and the girl would have been 2 or 3. The boy was beating up on the girl (not that it was the reason why we did what we did). DH went in and told the receptionist at the pub what was happening so she called the police. We stayed there long enough to watch the police go in and drag their dad out (very drunk) and load the 3 of them in the police car. We're so glad we did cos who knows how long those kids had been there and how their father planned to get them home.

I'd do the same again if i saw another kids locked in a car.

[MumOf4Monsters]

Yes i do regret not calling the cops in the first place, especially as she was in the car for 50 minutes that i know of!

Thats why i'm so mad at myself. I just assumed that the mother would be not far away.

The thing is, i see kids left in cars alone all the time, weather it be at the shops, out the front of the school or other random places. I'd be calling the police all the time if i called everytime i saw a child in a car alone.

Why can't people just do the right thing when it comes to the safety of there kids????

[bubbyboy]

I would have waited 10mins then called the cops. Who knows what could have happened! Not just from heat either - there's some nasty people out there just looking for an opportunity!!!:no:

[jayisa02]

I would have called the cops right away when it was noticed. What would happen to the child if something happened to the parent and they did not come back or in the meantime something happened to the kid. I would never forgive myself for not doing anything.

:iagree:

[angel68]

this is bad to leave a child in the car by her self at a shopping center i would of wanted to call the police :no:

[Fuchsia!]

Don't be so hard on yourself, you were in a tricky situation and sisn't think clearly. Next time you will know what to do.

I can't believe how stupid some people are. Utter stupidiness! DO people not think of the conscequences?

The car could have caught alight, someone could have stolen the car, someone could have stolen the kid! Most of of the baby could have died in the car!

Unbelievable.

Im don't like confronting people but i would have rang the police after 10mins.

Im godsmacked at the stupid woman.

[headoverfeet]

Dont mean to make you feel worse but...

Sorry I think you should of at least contacted the shopping centres security when you first noticed the child and no one was around (its not like it was outside a small deli and the parent might of just ducked in). If it had of been me I would of waited for 5 min then sent DF to get security- then called the police. To me it is like standing and watching child abuse and not doing anything about it. People who ignore situations like this are just as bad as the perpetrators.

Sorry that's just how I feel about situations like that. Maybe next time you will feel more confident in getting someone to help.

[Fuchsia!]

I would have called the police

My sister was telling me the other day, when she went to the CHN with her first child, she met a woman in the waiting room, who proceeded to give her 'advice' on how to ensure bub sleeps through from an early age:
She would put the baby down for the night in the carseat, in the car...and then put herself to bed in her warm comfy bed in the house.
She couldn't hear the baby crying in the middle of the night, so apparently it quickly learnt not to bother waking through the night. WHAT THE HELL?!!

Needless to say, that's one piece of advice my sister declined to follow.
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

[headoverfeet]

I would have called the police :yes:

My sister was telling me the other day, when she went to the CHN with her first child, she met a woman in the waiting room, who proceeded to give her 'advice' on how to ensure bub sleeps through from an early age:
She would put the baby down for the night in the carseat, in the car...and then put herself to bed in her warm comfy bed in the house.
She couldn't hear the baby crying in the middle of the night, so apparently it quickly learnt not to bother waking through the night. WHAT THE HELL?!! :confused:

Needless to say, that's one piece of advice my sister declined to follow.
OMFG! That makes me sick.

[Nex]

HMMM....yes...I was given advice (by an elderly friend) to put the nursery as far away from my bedroom as possible so I wouldn't be disturbed by my baby crying....

WTF! As her mother it's my JOB to ensure her safety and wellbeing...not to ignore her until she learns not to bother! (yes even when she wakes up every 2 hours at night...yawn...)

Not being critical of the actions of the OP, it's not always easy to decide what to do in the moment...but I agree with the previous posters. Give the parent 10 mins then call security.

[MumOf4Monsters]

Dont mean to make you feel worse but...

Sorry I think you should of at least contacted the shopping centres security when you first noticed the child and no one was around (its not like it was outside a small deli and the parent might of just ducked in). If it had of been me I would of waited for 5 min then sent DF to get security- then called the police. To me it is like standing and watching child abuse and not doing anything about it. People who ignore situations like this are just as bad as the perpetrators.

Sorry that's just how I feel about situations like that. Maybe next time you will feel more confident in getting someone to help.

Well thanks very much! Personally I don't think that i am just as bad as that mother! I take care of my kids and while i do feel bad about the poor little girl sitting in the car alone, i did not leave her there.

Yes, I have learnt a lesson from this....If i do see a child alone in a car again i will wait for a few minutes and then get someone to help.

I just assumed that the mum was'nt far away.....In my head i could'nt imagine leaving my kids like that, so i thought that she would only be gone for a minute.

[Oblena]

I would have called the police :yes:

My sister was telling me the other day, when she went to the CHN with her first child, she met a woman in the waiting room, who proceeded to give her 'advice' on how to ensure bub sleeps through from an early age:
She would put the baby down for the night in the carseat, in the car...and then put herself to bed in her warm comfy bed in the house.
She couldn't hear the baby crying in the middle of the night, so apparently it quickly learnt not to bother waking through the night. WHAT THE HELL?!! :confused:

Needless to say, that's one piece of advice my sister declined to follow.


OMFG!!!!!

That story grew arms and a mouth, ripped my heart out, chewed it up into granules and spat it out for the world to step on.

That is beyond disgraceful. There is a first time for everything so here I go (first time ever saying this) - That woman should not have had a child!!!!!

[cinnamonbear]

i would have called the police the first moment i saw the child

and taken down the number palte and started documentign waht was going on.. time i noticed child.. state of the car (locked windows and doors)... number plate.. state of the child.

Cars heat up extremly fast.. it is nevr sfae to leave your child in there

if i arrive somewhere and dd is still asleep i sit in car with her with the a/c running.. or i do a pointless drive.. so she can ahve the extra shuteye.. once she is awake i then go about what i was planing to do.

BambinaCattiva
I would have called the police :yes:

My sister was telling me the other day, when she went to the CHN with her first child, she met a woman in the waiting room, who proceeded to give her 'advice' on how to ensure bub sleeps through from an early age:
She would put the baby down for the night in the carseat, in the car...and then put herself to bed in her warm comfy bed in the house.
She couldn't hear the baby crying in the middle of the night, so apparently it quickly learnt not to bother waking through the night. WHAT THE HELL?!! :confused:

Needless to say, that's one piece of advice my sister declined to follow.

WTF is all i will say in response to this!

[RedRose]

Dont mean to make you feel worse but...

Sorry I think you should of at least contacted the shopping centres security when you first noticed the child and no one was around (its not like it was outside a small deli and the parent might of just ducked in). If it had of been me I would of waited for 5 min then sent DF to get security- then called the police. To me it is like standing and watching child abuse and not doing anything about it. People who ignore situations like this are just as bad as the perpetrators.

Sorry that's just how I feel about situations like that. Maybe next time you will feel more confident in getting someone to help.

That's harsh. Its perfectly understandable that the OP didn't know what to do. Its a big decision to call the police on someone and it can have big repercussions ie DOCs being called. I agree that in this case she should have called security at least, but I also understand why she didn't. I know I don't always make the right decision when put on the spot. Sometimes it can be really hard to know when to intervene and when you're over reacting. It may seem obvious now that she should have called the police, but hindsight's a wonderful thing isn't it.

[shelle65]

That's harsh. Its perfectly understandable that the OP didn't know what to do. Its a big decision to call the police on someone and it can have big repercussions ie DOCs being called. I agree that in this case she should have called security at least, but I also understand why she didn't. I know I don't always make the right decision when put on the spot. Sometimes it can be really hard to know when to intervene and when you're over reacting. It may seem obvious now that she should have called the police, but hindsight's a wonderful thing isn't it.

:iagree:

[FishFace]

Yep call the police.

I got berated at the servo this morning, for taking DD out and walking in.
Sworn at and abused..

sometimes people are dumb.

I would not leave my kids in the car for anything. I cant even leave my dog in the car. Its so hard to fathom how someone could.

[cocobambino]

I would have called the police :yes:

My sister was telling me the other day, when she went to the CHN with her first child, she met a woman in the waiting room, who proceeded to give her 'advice' on how to ensure bub sleeps through from an early age:
She would put the baby down for the night in the carseat, in the car...and then put herself to bed in her warm comfy bed in the house.
She couldn't hear the baby crying in the middle of the night, so apparently it quickly learnt not to bother waking through the night. WHAT THE HELL?!! :confused:

Needless to say, that's one piece of advice my sister declined to follow.

:eek:OMFG..

I was in this same situation on saturday I parked next to a brand new car inside was a little girl asleap it was SO HOT windows hardly down she was sweating like a pig and he car wasnt in the shade I waited for 10 min I went to call the cops and the dad came up and got her out but god knows hoe long she had been in there for

[Ffrenchknickers]

I agree....I have seen it too, it so lazy :(

FF why did they abuse you for getting DD out?? Coz you were taking too long or something? That's ridiculous.:no:

[FishFace]

I agree....I have seen it too, it so lazy :(

FF why did they abuse you for getting DD out?? Coz you were taking too long or something? That's ridiculous.:no:

Yes!!!
The lines were pretty long as the price dropped.
I could not move the car as there was no where to park while I paid.
This man behind started bepping and I thought he was trying to tell me I left the lights on or something..so I walked back and he starts swearing at me..
cant you leave her in...?? A woman across started to agree with him and shake her head..

hMMMM...yes seems she would be sooo safe with you behind her huh?

This servo is on a main road and the pumps are a good 40 paces from the cashier. i would not have been able to see her from inside and the line was so long!!!!

Mean people.

[Ffrenchknickers]

Goodness me, some people are so self absorbed, I am sure it would have taken your hooouuuuurrs to get one child out the car:rolleyes: AT alot of servos you aren't even supposed to move the car until you have paid now....so what are you supposed to do, risk your child by leaving them??

[Jakois]

I would have called the police :yes:

My sister was telling me the other day, when she went to the CHN with her first child, she met a woman in the waiting room, who proceeded to give her 'advice' on how to ensure bub sleeps through from an early age:
She would put the baby down for the night in the carseat, in the car...and then put herself to bed in her warm comfy bed in the house.
She couldn't hear the baby crying in the middle of the night, so apparently it quickly learnt not to bother waking through the night. WHAT THE HELL?!! :confused:

Needless to say, that's one piece of advice my sister declined to follow.
:eek::eek:Surely she must have been joking:no:.

[Ffrenchknickers]

Bambina, I actually know of someone who did the same thing!:NO:

[RedRose]

Yes!!!
The lines were pretty long as the price dropped.
I could not move the car as there was no where to park while I paid.
This man behind started bepping and I thought he was trying to tell me I left the lights on or something..so I walked back and he starts swearing at me..
cant you leave her in...?? A woman across started to agree with him and shake her head..

hMMMM...yes seems she would be sooo safe with you behind her huh?

This servo is on a main road and the pumps are a good 40 paces from the cashier. i would not have been able to see her from inside and the line was so long!!!!

Mean people.

That is downright infuriating! People can be so impatient sometimes. I got abused by someone at a servo too recently because I was 'taking too long' to strap my DD back in. Unbelievable.

[headoverfeet]

That's harsh. Its perfectly understandable that the OP didn't know what to do. Its a big decision to call the police on someone and it can have big repercussions ie DOCs being called. I agree that in this case she should have called security at least, but I also understand why she didn't. I know I don't always make the right decision when put on the spot. Sometimes it can be really hard to know when to intervene and when you're over reacting. It may seem obvious now that she should have called the police, but hindsight's a wonderful thing isn't it.

:yes: hindsight is a wonderful thing, how wonderful hindsight would of been if the child had of died from asphyxiation or something along those lines, maybe then nobody would feel bad about trying to seeking help in a situation like this.

The point I am trying to make is that no-one should feel like it is not there place to interfer in any situation like this, if it were me and someone called the cops and docs got involved I would not blame them at all, look at that thread that is floating around about the neighbour who did nothing when she heard the 3 year old across the road screaming.

[RedRose]

:yes: hindsight is a wonderful thing, how wonderful hindsight would of been if the child had of died from asphyxiation or something along those lines, maybe then nobody would feel bad about trying to seeking help in a situation like this.

The point I am trying to make is that no-one should feel like it is not there place to interfer in any situation like this, if it were me and someone called the cops and docs got involved I would not blame them at all, look at that thread that is floating around about the neighbour who did nothing when she heard the 3 year old across the road screaming.

I do agree that the police/security should have been called, but I still feel that to say she was just as bad as the perpetrator is neither helpful nor accurate.

[headoverfeet]

RR- sorry that was a statement aimed at child abuse in gerneral and people who ignore it, or suspect it and do nothing.

[RedRose]

Oh, okay. Yeah, I do agree with you there.