I feel guilty about something I saw....WWYD?

June4bride2be

Last night we were going into the post office. The car next to us had a man in the front seat holding a baby and a couple kids in the back. The car was an older 4 door. I watched for a minute as I thought it was odd that the man was holding the baby, a trip inside isn't that long so wouldn't you leave a fussing baby in their seat?

The mother got in before I got R out of his seat, the man handed the woman the baby and she laid the baby on her lap (front seat)......and they drove away =(

I didn't have my cell phone, or else I would without a doubt called 911 with a plate #. It was dark so I couldn't see the plate clear, I wonder if I should have tried harder and called when I got home. IDK what police would have done after the fact. I was not going to approach and say anything as it was dark, and I was alone with R. Also not the safest area unless your minding your own business.

What would you have done?

dle927

I would have called (if I had my cell phone) but I'm a bit of a tattle. 

 Truth is, the police probably wouldn't have tried to track the car if it was 20 minutes later and you didn't have a direction, etc. that the car was headed.  Don't feel guilty.  When Evan and I were released from the hospital, the nurse came out with us, in part to check out the car seat situation, and a CARLOAD of kids showed up in the valet area - none of the kids in carseats.  We saw it as we pulled away.  I'm not sure if anyone from the hospital said anything to them but I still think about it. 

Ashnmike528

That's insane! I don't know if the police could have done anything without having seen it for themselves, I'm sure someone could answer that better than I could. I would have been afraid to confront them as well, people tend to get very touchy when their parenting is called into question, especially if it's in a not so great area.

I feel bad for that baby, and the older children.

jnk062602

You didn't have your phone on you, so you were right not to stop and say anything.  If you could have seen the plate, then you could have called when you got home.  But yes, if I had my phone on me I would have called for sure.  The police can run the plate and stop by their house later.  Obviously, if the couple can not show they have a car seat, then there is no contest.  If they have one and just didn't use it, maybe it is a wake up call.  There are free car seat programs that they could have set them up with if needed.

I have called the police on 2 things I have seen in the car.  Both I asked DH about and he said I was right in calling.  Both involved kids - 1 was at the Palmers Meat store and 2 guys were sitting in the front seat drinking beer and there was a maybe 10 yr old boy in the back seat.  The other some old guy was following a 13-ish yr old girl as she walked on wegman rd crying.  He was yelling at her and she was crying and walking away kinda bent over and holding her stomach.  This continued for a few minutes, all the way over the bridge.  Then he stopped, got out, they yelled and argued more, and he grabbed her really hard and shoved her in the car and drove away.

Two*True

Like PPs I would have called if I had my cell phone and could get the license #, make, and/or model of the car.  20 minutes after the fact, with no info to go on, the police likely can't do anything.  Don't feel bad.  Feel good in knowing that if you had your phone you would have done the right thing. :-)

Telyco

Ditto to everyone else. I've called a couple of times- both for drunk drivers. You couldn't really have done more. But I woulda felt sucky too.

wendyj

Like everyone else said, I would have called if I had my cell phone. Definitely would not have confronted them alone. At least you know what your decision would have been had you had your cell phone.

sunnygirl05

You couldn't do anything without your cell so you did the right thing.  The police wouldn't have been able to do anything if you called when you got home.  Sucks though!!  What the heck is wrong with people?  I feel like I'm saying that a lot lately (

NikCole

ugh, that makes me sick. It amazes me the number of little kids/babies I see not in a carseat.

a few weeks ago we were out to breakfast and Evan made friends with the little boy in the booth behind us, (who was running around the restaurant like a maniac while the mother chatted on her cell the whole time) anyway- I was waiting for the bill and DH took E outside to run around. The woman and boy came out and he didn't want to get in the car (he wanted to sit on the bench w/ Evan) DH said the mom just walked across the parking lot and got in the car, screaming at her kid that she was gonna leave him there if he didn't follow her. Then the 2 year old ran across (a busy) parking lot by himself as the mom was literally pulling out of her spot.... she reached across and opened the passenger door and he climbed in. DH said the door was barely shut while she was zipping out of the lot onto a busy street. The boy was in the front seat, obviously not in a carseat... not even buckled in!