[Amy Jade]

Went to Morrisons and there was a baby in a pram outside the card shop next door screaming and a child (no more than 4) holding the pram. I never got involved but two women were asking where his mum was and he must have said in the shop and one woman went inside and the other stayed with the kids.

I never saw what happened but they were fuming and I kind of understood but I also felt bad for the mum

Do you think the older women were interfering or right to approach the children?

[glibberglobber]

right cause they could have been kidnapped

[Matthew.]

i think that the women were in the right to go and find out why they had been left outside. 4 years old and being left outside the shop with a younger sibling, that’s proper not on though

[Alf]

Most women used to leave their babies in the pram outside the shop. Unthinkable now isn't it.

[Matthew.]

Originally Posted by Alf

Most women used to leave their babies in the pram outside the shop. Unthinkable now isn't it.

because we’re more aware of the dangers nowadays

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Matthew.

because we’re more aware of the dangers nowadays

I'm sure their could be a few reasons. I'd say the break up of communities is one reason.

[Matthew.]

i mean the mum could have had a justified reason to leave her kids outside in the shop, but I would say as a general rule, when they are 4 and younger, it’s not on

[Eddie.]

Yeah the two women did the right thing, imagine all the possible scenarios if they hadn’t, especially in the society we live in now...

Maybe if it was an older child attending to the pram and the baby (12 y/o) I think it would be acceptable...

[Matthew.]

Originally Posted by Alf

I'm sure their could be a few reasons. I'd say the break up of communities is one reason.

this also, but i would say that because Amy said it was a Morrisons’s, that it’s probably in a busy town/city? although I could be wrong, because i live in a small town and we have a co op, but most supermarkets are in larger towns

[Cherie]

Playing devils advocate, the card shop might not have the space for a pram, but maybe she had eyes on them all the time, our local bakery is like that, no room for prams so they are left outside but parents can see them through the glass, if the card shop could accommodate the pram then thats a different issue

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Alf

I'm sure their could be a few reasons. I'd say the break up of communities is one reason.

Vioence and predators aren't a new phenomenon, it's just that people pay more attention to it then they used to.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Vioence and predators aren't a new phenomenon, it's just that people pay more attention to it then they used to.

And drugs also cause paranoia.

Like I said, there are many reasons how we got to the point we have.

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Alf

Most women used to leave their babies in the pram outside the shop. Unthinkable now isn't it.

Well back then people didn't think twice or worry as much as times were different , same goes for leaving kids on their own, leaving them in cars and letting them answer the door to strangers .

It's irresponsible to leave such young children outside a shop especially now when we hear such horror stories . and it only takes a second for something bad to happen .

[user104658]

Originally Posted by GoldHeart

Well back then people didn't think twice or worry as much as times were different , same goes for leaving kids on their own, leaving them in cars and letting them answer the door to strangers .

It's irresponsible to leave such young children outside a shop especially now when we hear such horror stories . and it only takes a second for something bad to happen .

Statistically though kids really weren't much safer "back then" that they are now... It's just that the horror stories from all over the world get around fast, making something that IS still very, very rare (child abduction) seem more common than it is.

I mean, I do "get it" to be fair. My daughter (8) plays out with her friends a lot, and I don't give it a second thought now, but it took me a while to get used to it and accept that her playing outside with her friends is statistically much, much safer than a whole host of things. E.g. A child is actually at much more risk every single time you take them on a car journey than they are playing outdoors, or even waiting outside a shop.

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Statistically though kids really weren't much safer "back then" that they are now... It's just that the horror stories from all over the world get around fast, making something that IS still very, very rare (child abduction) seem more common than it is.

I mean, I do "get it" to be fair. My daughter (8) plays out with her friends a lot, and I don't give it a second thought now, but it took me a while to get used to it and accept that her playing outside with her friends is statistically much, much safer than a whole host of things. E.g. A child is actually at much more risk every single time you take them on a car journey than they are playing outdoors, or even waiting outside a shop.

I never said they were safer back then but people didn't see it as much of a problem , I assume we're talking pre 1980's ? Kids played out more ,I suppose it was seen as a good thing as they were exercising and getting fresh air ,things have changed today where they're mostly cooped inside playing video games .

Or when they do go out they have to be careful and more aware of their surroundings.

But there's definitely more dangerous risks today or so it seems.

[Barry.]

I agree. Why leave a four year old with a baby? Something could of happened.

[Amy Jade]

It was on a retail park sort of thing. It had a pretty big Morrisons, a card shop, chippy, Home Bargains etc

[user104658]

Outside a local shop in a village or whatever I'd say no younger than 7. Outside a supermarket / in a busy town / retail park etc. I'd say definitely no younger than 10 or 11... and even then only if they're sensible for their age.

[Daniel-X]

Undeniably wrong. Idk how people still do this after what happened to James Bulger. It wasn’t his mum’s fault at all, because it was common back then. But the whole horrific situation wouldn’t have occurred was he not left outside. Surely everyone knows of the case? Idk how people think it’s acceptable after the JB case.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Daniel-X

Undeniably wrong. Idk how people still do this after what happened to James Bulger. It wasn’t his mum’s fault at all, because it was common back then. But the whole horrific situation wouldn’t have occurred was he not left outside. Surely everyone knows of the case? Idk how people think it’s acceptable after the JB case.

AFAIK this is not what happened, she did not leave him alone, she just took her eyes off him for a few seconds. She did not purposely leave him anywhere

As for the OP, clearly wrong. Especially with a 4 year old. Like, we have left James outside when he was maybe 1 and in a buggy..with his 13 year old brother on occasion, but not with a 4 year old.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

AFAIK this is not what happened, she did not leave him alone, she just took her eyes off him for a few seconds. She did not purposely leave him anywhere

As for the OP, clearly wrong. Especially with a 4 year old. Like, we have left James outside when he was maybe 1 and in a buggy..with his 13 year old brother on occasion, but not with a 4 year old.

This is true Vicky,she let go of his hand while she paid for meat.

[reece(:]

Children certainly NOT

Animals tied to a lead I don't like either

There was a dog tied to a loose shopping trolley the other day ...

[Alf]

Originally Posted by reece(:

Children certainly NOT

Animals tied to a lead I don't like either

There was a dog tied to a loose shopping trolley the other day ...

You should have untied it and took the trolly back to get the pound.

[rusticgal]

No excuse...retail park or not it was irresponsible. If the card shop was on a retail park then the premises would almost certainly be big enough to allow prams/pushchairs in.

[Ross.]

Originally Posted by reece(:

Animals tied to a lead I don't like either

There was a dog tied to a loose shopping trolley the other day ...

I HATE this

I know it’s unavoidable for some people but still