This Makes Me SO Mad!!

[Meeko]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24556631&nid=1009&title=mom-leaves-infant-alone-in-car-with-note-to-passers-by&fm=home_page&s_cid=featured-5

What on earth are these mother's thinking??!! This isn't the first time I have seen this!!!

[NeedaVaca]

That's pretty bad, what I was also shocked by was the police officer's comment at the bottom. Like he is saying eh, it was only 5 minutes...not a big deal...

[AmyKidsCo]

OMG that's crazy!

[Lyss]

"Authorities in New Zealand said they likely won't investigate the case any further since no one has come forward to file an official complaint. Investigators said they have no way of tracking down the mom since they have no real information at this point"

WHAT?!? So people took pictures but no one called the police?!

[Play Care]

Perhaps not in New Zealand, but in European countries it is very common to see babies left outside stores and resturants in their prams while mom is inside shopping or eating. I know someone who was in Germany for a while when her husband was in the service and it's common there to leave babies in cars while mom goes into shop.

Perhaps it was a tired mom, or perhaps she's not from there and doing what she is used to?

[just_peachy]

That baby is so TINY!!!

Man, just take the carseat, stick it in a cart, (or there I think they call them buggies?) and do your damn shopping! Really, wtf.

I remember the first time I left the kids in the car alone. We were going to the zoo and I stopped at 7-11 for a Rockstar. I lectured them on not letting anyone in, locked the car, and watched them from through the glass in the store the entire time. And even then, I was so consumed with guilt... They were 2, 4, and 6.

[rmc20021]

3 little kids here in Michigan just died in a house fire because the mom left them home alone. It's so sad these parents don't think of the possibilities of all the tragic things that can happen in just a few moments.

What if someone had kidnapped that infant??? Sounds as though the car windows were open, anybody could have taken that baby in just a few seconds.

[NeedaVaca]

That baby is so TINY!!!

Man, just take the carseat, stick it in a cart, (or there I think they call them buggies?) and do your damn shopping! Really, wtf.

I remember the first time I left the kids in the car alone. We were going to the zoo and I stopped at 7-11 for a Rockstar. I lectured them on not letting anyone in, locked the car, and watched them from through the glass in the store the entire time. And even then, I was so consumed with guilt... They were 2, 4, and 6.

In my state if someone did this they would go to jail, even if they could see them the whole time!

[Blackcat31]

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=24556631&nid...cid=featured-5

What on earth are these mother's thinking??!! This isn't the first time I have seen this!!!

Ok, going to play devil's advocate here and say that this happened in Australia where leaving your child unattended in "certain" manners is 100% completely socially acceptable....hence the by standers feeling badly for the mother and calling her rather than the police.

This is a similar (in a way) to the Madelaine McCann story where the child was left sleeping in the parents motel room while the parents were dining out. That was astounding to most of us here in the U.S/Canada as we wouldn't dream of doing something like that but it is common practice in other countries and cultures.

(I have a close friend from college who lives near where this news story happened and I was floored too by this mothers actions but my friend clued me in as to the differences in parenting styles and practices in other countries/cultures.)

[Heidi]

Perhaps not in New Zeland, but in European countries it is very common to see babies left outside stores and resturants in their prams while mom is inside shopping or eating. I know someone who was in Germany for a while when her husband was in the service and it's common there to leave babies in cars while mom goes into shop.

Perhaps it was a tired mom, or perhaps she's not from there and doing what she is used to?

I was going to say the same thing. My mom did this (in Germany) when I was a baby. Often she would come out of the bakery to find me eating a treat some nice old lady had given me.

Funny thing is, many years later, she did the same with her Shih-Tzu, Jana.

::::::::::

I almost got into a major fight with her when my son was 2 1/2 (now 23). She suggested that I leave him alone at home for a few minutes here and there (while running to get milk, for example), because he "needed the practice"


uh...no...

It's very common for german mothers to send their 3 or 4 yo to the corner market with a note and some money for milk or bread.

I'm not advocating it...sounds kind of kookoo to me..

[just_peachy]

Ok, going to play devil's advocate here and say that this happened in Australia where leaving your child unattended in "certain" manners is 100% completely socially acceptable....hence the by standers feeling badly for the mother and calling her rather than the police.

This is a similar (in a way) to the Madelaine McCann story where the child was left sleeping in the parents motel room while the parents were dining out. That was astounding to most of us here in the U.S/Canada as we wouldn't dream of doing something like that but it is common practice in other countries and cultures.

(I have a close friend from college who lives near where this news story happened and I was floored too by this mothers actions but my friend clued me in as to the differences in parenting styles and practices in other countries/cultures.)

Getting a bit off topic, but has anyone watched that documentary, "Babies?" It made me realize what a shame it is, that we're a bunch of suspicious, mistrusting, controlled, "independent," paranoid Americans.

[Willow]

Definitely a cultural thing.

I took quite a few college courses that delved into cultural dynamics and sociology. As BC and Heidi mentioned in many other countries children aren't brought into shops and restaurants. At times it's considered rude if they do. They'll leave babies outside literally lined up, it was pretty common practice for sometime and in many places still is.

I was astonished to read about newborns in countries in Eastern Europe being left outside of homes in sub zero temps because it's seen as immune building as breastfeeding is. Blanketed up well of course but many believe breathing that frigid air is quite necessary for an infant to grow healthy lungs.

[Unregistered]

LOL at the outdoor thing in cold weather. My grandma from northern canada swore that afternoon naps for babies were always taken outside all year round. She could not comprehend why I was not willing to stick my infant outside to sleep in the dead of winter

[Blackcat31]

Definitely a cultural thing.

I was astonished to read about newborns in countries in Eastern Europe being left outside of homes in sub zero temps because it's seen as immune building as breastfeeding is. Blanketed up well of course but many believe breathing that frigid air is quite necessary for an infant to grow healthy lungs.

Yep. Had a family from Czech Republic and DCM would take baby bundled up EVERYDAY, rain or shine, sub-zero or blistering hot outside to nap.

She FIRMLY believed that it was vital to healthy growth and development, especially for building that immune system.

She also gave her a hot citrus tea drink every morning with breakfast and insisted she finish every drop.

Off topic a bit~ but I also noticed in photos and things she shared with me that ALL kids (both boys and girls) in her country wore tights or leggings ONLY for bottoms while under age 5.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Very interesting to read how things are done in other countries.

And to think ... I'm always shocked when one of my clients leaves their baby in the car to come in and grab their child.