Leaving baby unattended in front of stores/ houses

SpruceGrouse · July 2013

It seems to be common in this town and the surrounding towns to leave your baby sitting in their pram or stroller alone outside of shops when you go in. I see this a lot, yesterday I watched a mother put the brakes on her pram outside the shop and go inside for about 10 minutes while she bought a magazine and drink.

I am not really judging too much but it just seems like something I could never do, I still am nervous leaving my dog tied up to go in shops. I just really don't think I could leave my baby like that, it seems too dangerous to me no matter how safe this town is.

I also see babies left outside of the front of homes/cottages which are right by tiny lanes/roads. It seriously looks like a scene from Call the Midwife where all the babies are sitting in their prams outside the front door.

What do you think? Could you ever do this? Even if it is the tradition?

My answer is no.

twoitalians · July 2013

Um, no. I'm trying to think if the places I go shopping even seem to have space outside their stores to park a stroller that aren't in the way of walkers, bikers, etc. Maybe at the mall, but there are too many creepos there that I would not let my LO more than 2 feet away from me. I think even if I was in a safe town, what if DS needed something from me in the few minutes I was inside? He also flips out if the stroller stops moving for more than 5 seconds. So no, definitely no, I would not leave him outside in the stroller.

SpruceGrouse · July 2013

Yes, the what if they need something came to my mind also, after kidnapping, rolling away, unknown bad things. It seems to be the traditional thing to do in this town, I don't think I want to take part in that tradition.

rp-chicago-mom · July 2013

My next door neighbors are always sitting on their porch and I used to ask them to watch the stroller a minute while I peed, grabbed a snack or put cold things away. This was when he still frequently napped there. I would never do this if someone wasn't there. Maybe it's flameful that I do it al all.

PaisleyRuth · July 2013

Do you live in the 1940s? Wow! I've heard that this was standard practice back then, but I have never seen such a thing around here. I'm in/on the outskirts of a large-ish city though.

lady_tytah · July 2013

I know in Europe particularly in England it's common place. I couldn't imagine doing it here in the US either.

Cheerilee · July 2013

H to the ell to the no would I leave DD outside of a store/house while I went inside. What's the purpose? The picture posted above makes it look like babies are equal to dogs - not allowed in the store so chain them up outside (which I also wouldn't do with a dog).

SJandVA · July 2013

No way! I could never do that either. Are the shops too small for strollers? That's what carriers are for, Id be using my ergo before leaving baby outside.

JessiP613 · July 2013

I remember the article Ambsies is referencing! I think that's common practice in the Netherlands. I could never do it, though.

bigbootyjudi · July 2013

Absolutely not.

I'm too paranoid about baby snatchers. Seriously. People are crazy.

Whittyone12 · July 2013

I judge when I see moms leave their babies unattended at the end of an aisle while shopping. There are far too many psychos around.

Tula214 · July 2013

Scout2005:
Honestly, I do kind of judge that. I won't even walk away from my shopping cart to get something down the aisle.

This. Never ever ever.

rainedrops117 · July 2013

I am guilty of judging those who even allow their children to stray away from their eye view. This is crazy. I had no idea it was common practice in other countries. I can't even imagine why....

rp-chicago-mom · July 2013

While I agree it is not a good idea to leave your baby unattended, how many baby snatchers are there really? The most dangerous people to a baby are those somehow related or associated with him or her.

Mrs. Rohde · July 2013

That's nuts! It'd be too easy to steal a baby. No way.

rp-chicago-mom · July 2013

Scout2005:
Baker_Bride:
While I agree it is not a good idea to leave your baby unattended, how many baby snatchers are there really? The most dangerous people to a baby are those somehow related or associated with him or her.
Did you hear about that two year old who was snatched from the cart seat at Wal Mart and held hostage at knife point? This was a couple weeks ago. The cops had to shoot the guy at point blank range while he was holding her.
It takes an instant for the unthinkable to happen; you can't live in a bubble, but there are nutso people out there and there's no reason to take unnecessary chances either.

I'm not saying that doesn't happen. It's more that that stuff gets sensationalized whereas children kidnapped by their own parents/families happens much more often but you don't hear about it.

mollyxcate · July 2013

I couldn't do it but I actually saw it happen once, in BOSTON! I was probably only 13 or 14 so this was like 10 years ago and I can't get out of my mind. I was with my mother and we just stood there until the mother came out because we were so afraid for that child.

I'm afraid to walk through the airport when we get to England with Chloe in a stroller, I can't imagine leaving her outside a shop.

piphigirl · July 2013

Leaving baby in the pram outside of a store, cafe, or someone's home is an extremely common practice in Europe. I would do it if I lived in an area where it was a custom. I love the outdoor naps in Scandanavian countries, too.

I know I am in the minority here, but I think this is fine. In America, we live in a culture in which the 24 hour news cycle has us assuming that everyone around us is a potential criminal. People let fear stymie their lives, but when someone calls them on it, they act like they are just being the better parent. People ate made to believe they MUST take every precaution possible OR ELSE. This whole idea that a child can never be out of our sight is ridiculous. Example: the last school at which I worked did not allow children to walk or bike to school. It was considered too dangerous in our gated subdivision. This is insane.

/rant

fastcarsandfreedom3319 · July 2013

Never. For safety reasons of course, but also, there will come a day all-too-soon when he will want to leave me on his own, so I want to keep him close for as long as I can.

smile50208 · July 2013

I could NEVER do this. I won't even leave my dog. I can't imagine.

MoFree · July 2013

Baker_Bride:
Scout2005:
Baker_Bride:
While I agree it is not a good idea to leave your baby unattended, how many baby snatchers are there really? The most dangerous people to a baby are those somehow related or associated with him or her.
Did you hear about that two year old who was snatched from the cart seat at Wal Mart and held hostage at knife point? This was a couple weeks ago. The cops had to shoot the guy at point blank range while he was holding her.
It takes an instant for the unthinkable to happen; you can't live in a bubble, but there are nutso people out there and there's no reason to take unnecessary chances either.
I'm not saying that doesn't happen. It's more that that stuff gets sensationalized whereas children kidnapped by their own parents/families happens much more often but you don't hear about it.

. ITA Baker Bride. I would not leave my child unattended but child snatching is not high on my list of worries.

CLeigh03 · July 2013

No. Period. I'm sorry isn't this what women did in the 1950's?

99frontier · July 2013

Never NEVER in my life. Period.

sdlaura · July 2013

MoFree:
Baker_Bride:
Scout2005:
Baker_Bride:
While I agree it is not a good idea to leave your baby unattended, how many baby snatchers are there really? The most dangerous people to a baby are those somehow related or associated with him or her.
Did you hear about that two year old who was snatched from the cart seat at Wal Mart and held hostage at knife point? This was a couple weeks ago. The cops had to shoot the guy at point blank range while he was holding her.
It takes an instant for the unthinkable to happen; you can't live in a bubble, but there are nutso people out there and there's no reason to take unnecessary chances either.
I'm not saying that doesn't happen. It's more that that stuff gets sensationalized whereas children kidnapped by their own parents/families happens much more often but you don't hear about it.
. ITA Baker Bride. I would not leave my child unattended but child snatching is not high on my list of worries.