Would you drop this? Baby wandering in the street? UPDATE post 45

[floridafam]

I was taking my kids to school this morning and I saw a baby wandering in the street. He looked to be about 14 months old.

I saw no adults anywhere so I stopped the car to make sure he was safe.

I then honked my horn several times. I didn't have my car with OnStar or I would have called the police right there.

Finally, a Mother came out of the house and said "he must have got out after I answered the phone."

Should I drop it. Is there anything else I can do? I know this kind of stuff happens but he could have been run over by a car or kidnapped.

 

[CathrynRose]

I dont know - how concerned was she?? Like freaking out, or "Ehhh, he must've gotten out" *shrug* ?

I worked with a girl whom came in and told everyone how a neighbor had to bring her 16 month old back home (after knocking around the neighborhood doors to figure out whose kid this was) cuz she fell asleep on the couch. If *I* had been that neighbor, I would have called the cops.

 

[Charade]

What would you do? Call CPS?

 

[floridafam]

She was not concerned. She stated that he must have opened the door when she went to answer the phone.

 

[floridafam]

I know that it was probably a freak thing.

It just bothers me a little because I have a child about the same age.

 

[merrily]

I'd report it to the local child protection department if you know the address for where the child came from. Then they can sort it out to see if it is something that is a freak occurance or a situation where additional help may be needed. I would rather err on the side of caution when it comes to the safety of a child. It would help me sleep better tonight knowing I did what I could do to ensure the safety of the little guy.

I'm glad you stopped to help!

 

[minkydog]

I'd probably give her the benefit of the doubt. Nobody in their right mind would willingly let a baby go wandering in the street. She probably didn't know he got out. I've had the same thing happen and let me tell you, it's a terrible feeling realizing that your child could have been run over. I'm glad my neighbor understood and didn't feel the need to call CPS.

Now, if I saw other signs of neglect, that would be different

 

[mickeyboat]

I may get flamed for this, but I would not report it. You could cause a lot of grief for that family for a freak thing. I would hate for CPS to have been called for every parenting mistake I have made.

If you really can't sleep over it, go over and talk to the mother. Maybe suggest some sort of chain for the door so the little guy can't get out.

Now if you see the kid in the street again tomorrow, that's another story.

Denae

 

[sajetto]

I may get flamed for this, but I would not report it. You could cause a lot of grief for that family for a freak thing. I would hate for CPS to have been called for every parenting mistake I have made.

If you really can't sleep over it, go over and talk to the mother. Maybe suggest some sort of chain for the door so the little guy can't get out.

Now if you see the kid in the street again tomorrow, that's another story.

Denae

I completely agree. A lot of people jump the gun to report nearly anything these days. Some don't realize that a simple call can ruin an innocent family's life. A child running out is not laughing matter, but I would be sure that this is a repeated incident before I brought in CPS

 

[inaminute]

I'd drop it.

The same thing happened to me when my oldest was a toddler. We weren't even aware that he was able to open the door! I answered the phone and he opened the door and out he went. Not only did he open our apartment door which led to a hallway, but was able to open the outside door as well!

I was in a panic and didn't even think he'd be outside. It was finally the last place to look, and there he was. In the backyard toddling around in his jammies. Thankfully, my son went to the back and not out in the street.

The point is, these things happen--even to the most diligent parent. I'm sure his mother was thrilled to have her baby safe and sound. Now, if you see the little one out there again, then I'd consider following up with a phone call to an agency.

 

[floridafam]

Thanks everyone.

I hate to admit this but I feel bad because the house looks like crap and the Mother looked like she was strung out on something. There, I said it. I almost felt as if the boy was "going to get a woopin" for doing something wrong.

What a crappy day!

 

[sakura-panda]

This happened to us once, sort of. I was leaving to go pick up the pizza, and I decided to leave the garage door open because it was a short trip. I was backed all the way out of the driveway, and had just shifted into drive, when I looked up and saw my 18 month old running down the driveway.

I pulled back into the driveway -- not all the way I think, but to get most of my truck out of the road -- and took him back inside. As I opened the door back up, I could hear dh calling for him.

The little stinker -- this was our first indication that he could open the door himself. It hasn't happened again -- we now know to keep a closer eye on him whenever one of us leaves.

I just wanted to throw that in as an example of a one time thing. At that age we were always being amazed by the things he could suddenly do, that he couldn't do the day before, you know? It is also amazing how fast those little legs can carry them along. It doesn't sound like it was negligence, at least not in this one case.

You didn't say if it was a subdivision or a main road? My inlaws found a child -- about 4 years old -- playing in the ditch along side a busy 4 lane highway, about a half mile away from her home. I find that to be more disturbing than a toddler who wandered out onto a quiet cul-de-sac. (Not acceptable either, just not as disturbing.)

--Katie

 

[Hannathy]

I wouldn't call unless the child seemed really in fear of Mom or had bruises all over.
Calling CPS can really cause some grief for the family and they may have to jump thru hoops for a long time for a mistake we can all make.
Good friends of ours had a he** of a time with CPS thanks to a call made by of all things their teen Daughter's friends. She snuck out at night and was caught by her parents and grounded. Her friends called and told CPS that she was being kept captive at home. The police and a social worker came to check it out very accusingly and they had to have follow up visits even after explaining.
The other thing is not all parents are as concientous as many of us are and unfortunately this child probably won't be watched as close as we like to watch ours but is that truly neglect in the major scheme of things considering the true abuse and neglect they should be investigating.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Call to report it. The police can check on the situation and if it merits a call to DCF, then they will call.

What is disturbing is her lack of remorse and being upset over it.

That tells me that baby is a repeat offender..or mom really doesn't care. It is still a baby and a baby escaping the home is not something to shrug off as kids will be kids.

The key for those saying to drop it and that it happened to them---well....you did panic. I'm guessing by the OP's post--mom did no such thing.

A baby escaping the home for many many minutes despite repeated horn honking---umm....my first thought as mom would be to run like the wind out of my home to make sure my baby wasn't in the street.

Sometimes it is bad to report and sometimes it is not. It is a risk--however, call me chicken little--but if I think a child is in danger. I would call the police--non-emegency line if the imminent danger has passed.

This is why my home is fort knox---my first instincts with a mobile baby was that I don't want my child to escape. Forget DCF and the fear of unnecessary investigations for a simple oopsy. I don't want to get a knock on the door that someone found my dead child in the street.

We had a 4-year old in our neighborhood wander away (prone to doing this). He ended up at the realtor office on the corner and they called the police. The matter was dropped b/c mom was wondering where he was and even called 911--between both parties calling authorities--it was deemed that it was a case of a child prone to wandering off and not neglect and 2 and 2 were put together and the boy was walked safely home.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I'd mind my own business, and let others mind theirs.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

If I saw it again I would report it, but I wouldn't the first time. My last child was an escape artist and I'm glad that I didn't get a call. He didn't escape out our door, but probably because we have beepers on our door that alert me when a door is opened so I know and can pay attention to who is coming and going.

When we were outside he would try to run off, though, and there were a couple times that I literally turned my back to answer a question of my older child and he was gone. One time he was on the porch of our next door neighbor, but another time he took off running in back of our house (the back yards are open between the houses) and was a couple of houses away. Of course I didn't know which direction he ran. After that I never took my eyes off of him.

If you do plan to report it, at the very least first go talk to the neighbors and find out if this is an ongoing problem with her. Might give you some insight.

 

[ZachnElli]

I wouldn't report it. My DD got out at 18 months old. I was having a miscarriage and was waiting all day for the doctor to call. I finally got the call and my DD learned how to open the front door at the same time!! I looked all over the house (4600 sq ft!!) first before I noticed the front door wasn't closed all the way. She was halfway down the street when a neighbor found her and picked her up. I was freaked out!! It would have been made a million times worse had someone called DCFS on me! Front door was fixed that night and she never got out again. Don't call.

 

[RadioNate]

I found two toddlers walking around our neighborhood last year. I did call the police because I couldn't find who they belonged too. Together we found their house. They were playing in the yard with older siblings and had filpped a wagon, climbed up and unlocked the gate to escape. The older kids and mom were completely unaware. I had them with me for more than a half hour and they were a few blocks from home.

The mother was hysterical when she found out and the older kids got in BIG trouble. I don't think the police did any other investigating other than talking to the mother and giving the older kids a pretty big lecture.

I don't think I'd call CPS just yet. Maybe the mother was sick or something and this was the first time she realized that the child could open the door.

But I would keep a watch out for the child and if it happens again call the police before returning the child to the mother.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I hate to admit this but I feel bad because the house looks like crap and the Mother looked like she was strung out on something. There, I said it. I almost felt as if the boy was "going to get a woopin" for doing something wrong.

Given this comment, I would definitley consider calling CPS.


A little toddler's welfare is more important than the mother's 'feelings' or 'inconvenience'.

 

[jodifla]

When I lived an apartment, I found the little boy next door outside crying. He was about 2, and had managed to open the front door while his parents were asleep. They both worked multiple jobs, and were exhausted and didn't hear him. I just got him back inside and got the parents up. I think they put a chain lock up the next day to prevent that

I would have never called the authorities over something like that. What kind of neighbor is that? Try to help out and figure out if there's a real issue before you put the family "in the system" and potentially ruin lives.