A Question... Am I over-reacting here?

[Catzeyes]

Please call now!

 

[Jenvenza]

I am shocked and horrified after reading OP's first post. I really hope you go through with it and make that phone call. It may be too late soon if you don't.
You NEVER leave a baby home alone even they are sleeping. This happened in my town around Christmas time, when this lady left her twin 18 month old babies home alone to go buy them "chips" and when she returned, the house was on fire on both babies died. She is being charged for this. You never know what can happen.

They do not seem fit to be parents and you, even though you dont have kids, know this isnt right.

PLEASE do the right thing for this innocent baby. You could be his only hope.

 

[ChrizJen]

OP, I can understand your hesitation. He is your brother after all. It's very difficult to see faults in our loved ones, and sometimes even harder to call them out on it. But your brother is a grown man who needs to be held accountable for his actions. Your nephew is an innocent, helpless baby who needs protection. You're absolutely right in making the call to report this neglect and abuse. Your brother and his wife are not fit parents, and the sooner you get that poor baby out of this dangerous situation, the better.

If you and your DH (or anyone else in the family) are willing and able to step up, you can at least keep the baby in the family. The courts will grant placement to a family member before they will place him in a foster home.
Your brother and his wife need serious help. At the very least, they need some counseling and parenting classes.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

PLEASE make this phone call....you can be this child's voice.....how unfair for this little boy....there are so many people that would love the opportunity to "parent"....and these folks receive the gift of parenting......and are abusing it and their child.

I wish you strength to do the right thing and help this child

 

[snapppyd]

I think the next time you know he is alone you should call a child protection agency. This is criminal, what if there was a fire?

 

[DWGal210]

I got on the web and got the info for Protective services in their state. I will be making a call. I suppose i needed a day or two for everything to sink into my mind and come to terms with doing it. A call will be made, because i do love nephew. Thanks everyone for the replies.

I know I perhaps seemed to be protecting Bro, but this is kinda of A LOT to take in and deal with. I just needed to absorb it all, but will be making the call to have them checked on.

OP, I applaud you for making this tough decision. I know you love your brother but as the posters have said, the main concern now is this helpless little baby. to you from your friends at the Dis - I will be praying for you!

 

[Wishing on a star]

OP,

I am sending a big and support....

My best wishes go out to you, and to all involved.

 

[kelleigh1]

O-M-G!

For those who can't be parents, something like this is heartbreaking. They are neglecting this child. They do not deserve to be parents.

 

[ksjayhawks]

We were just amazed by it all. At home they have a regular sitter care for nephew during the week, so he is not alone. At home they hoem make all organic baby food, cloth diaper him, very natural with him. Yet, the lack of supervision as to his crawling and location was more than bothersome. My bro just checked out and SIL has severe vision issue and can't see him more than 5 feet away.

When we have seen them at home they seemed better, but on vacation to see us they just ditched the little guy! Then again, he wasn't crawling or mobile last time we saw him. They were still wearing him everywhere. Now, they let him crawl anywhere and everywhere and we were just astounded because while G's house may be baby proof, everywhere else is NOT.

We tried being direct and saying "Here, your son is fussy and wants you." or "Here, G is crawling in the bushes, you should get him". But would basically just get told that WE are family and could help the little guy.

This is where you say loudly, in a clear voice. "No, he is your child and he wants you. Take him." (Then hand him to them and leave.) Or "No, he is your child and he will get hurt unless you go and get him away from/out of/etc." (Stand there, repeating the same phrase until they act.)

If someone else tries to give you the baby or mentions that he is in danger--say loudly "You need to find his parents." or "His father/mother is over there."

As long as you and the grandparents run to the rescue, why should they take care of him? Yes, they are on vacation, but they can't take a vacation from their responsibilities to their son.

 

[clgwli]

My heart goes out to you right now. I can only imagine how hard this is for you

 

[laurie31]

I read this last night and found it so upsetting I coudln't even post anything.

I'm so glad you've decided to do right by your nephew, even though it must be so hard to feel like you're somehow being disloyal to your brother. But remember - HE is doing something that could KILL a child.

You wouldn't feel better attending your nephew's funeral, or seeing your brother and SIL charged with murder if he should die while they were out due to neglect (fire, choking, a fall, anything could happen!) I can't FATHOM any reasonable adult treating a baby this way! Even a teen babysitter should know better!

Like some other posters, we have had instances where a mother left a baby home alone and the baby died. One was a 4 month old who rolled over onto something and suffocated, two other children died in fires. In one instance, the mom had gone out to a bar and left the oven on for heat, as their power had been turned off. So...of course the house caught fire, and she was all defensive, saying she couldn't afford a sitter, and she deserved to go out. Um...excuse me? You couldn't pay your POWER BILL and you think you deserve a night at the bar? While your baby burns alive at home? All the parents involved in these cases were charged with murder.

I couldn't find a link to any of the stories I mentioned (they were in the news - I did not know them personally or professionally ) but I found this one, equally chilling. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1181588/Home-baby-critically-ill-blaze-rips-house.html Apparently the baby died of her injuries.
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/Home-alone-baby-rescued-from.5276319.jp


Please know you did the right thing. I hope that poor baby can be put someplace safe very soon!

 

[koima]

Like some other posters, we have had instances where a mother left a baby home alone and the baby died. One was a 4 month old who rolled over onto something and suffocated, two other children died in fires. In one instance, the mom had gone out to a bar and left the oven on for heat, as their power had been turned off. So...of course the house caught fire, and she was all defensive, saying she couldn't afford a sitter, and she deserved to go out. Um...excuse me? You couldn't pay your POWER BILL and you think you deserve a night at the bar? While your baby burns alive at home? All the parents involved in these cases were charged with murder.

I remember a story like that with an 18 month old, too. So, so sad. It really struck me as my son was about the same age and imagining that the baby was calling for his mama when she was the one who left him there in such an unsafe position, just heartbreaking.

 

[MusiqChic99]

I'm happy to hear that you are taking actions to call.

I can't imagine someone leaving a child alone in a house while they were napping. That's child neglect. If something had happened they would be facing a lot of charges...including child neglect.

Prayers for you and your family.

 

[Missy1961]

Dear Lord, so unbelievable, I can't get passed #1 !!!!!!

Me too, that was enough for me to say, no you are not over reacting.

 

[Missy1961]

OP, I know it's hard but you have to make that call NOW. Not in a day or even an hour, but right NOW. Please.

 

[N&B'smom]

Please tell me you've made the call already, OP. PLEASE!!!!!

 

[KiKi Mouse]

Where I live it is illegal to leave a child under the age of 12 home alone. What if a fire started in the house while the baby was napping or somebody broke in?
I hate to say this since it is your family but if you were to find out that they did that again I would call the police so that the issue was documented. The police will call Child Protection and they will investigate.
As for letting the child crawl around a parking lot or a pool...that is not only stupid but it is endangering the baby. What if the baby put something dangerous in it's mouth and choked? What if that child drowned?
Since these are life and death issues I would make the calls regardless of my relationship with the parents. The child's safety takes precedence over somebody's feelings.
By knowing this is going on and ignoring it you are part of the problem.

 

[hmdavid]

OMG! I am horrified. What happens to this child when there is not family around to take care of it? Leaving a baby alone in a house?!! This is a case of neglect and as hard as it is to report a family member, it is necessary to prevent harm to this child. Please, please,please report this to authorities.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

This actually happened in our city, a mom put her 3 kids to bed and left the house, a fire started and two of the kids died, one shortly after the fire and the other child died a few months later. I believe the 3rd child is STILL in the hospital almost a year later. The kids were 3 yrs old, 20 months and and 2 months old. The mother first told police she was just outside on the porch but neighbors later came forward that she was not near the house at all and only returned home when she heard sirens. Ridiculous. If common sense doesn't already tell you not to leave your small kids (babies even!) home alone...stories like this should.

http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S698253.shtml?cat=0

 

[happygirl]

OP, Please don't wait a couple of days, You need to call right this second.