Leaving a baby home alone...

[kerrie24]

Sorry I dunno if this is the right section,Im just looking for some opinions.

A friend of mine whos daughter goes to the same school (and class) as mine just texted me saying

"kerrie I dunno what to do,after school I went to ****** house and Im sure the baby was home alone,she didnt have him with her and when we walked up to the house the baby was in there and the dad pulled up in his taxi later"

She is worried that she will get the woman into trouble but unless someone was in the bedroom,with the door shut,there was nobody in that house with the baby!
The woman isnt a friend of ours,and speaks little english,my friend only went there to pick up something her daughter had left there.

As the woman lives just up the hill from school,I think sadly that she finds it acceptable to do this while she nips down to school.

What should she do?Report it,who to?Social services/police/health visitor?
The baby is around 7/8 months old.

 

[aliss]

SS if she believes the child is being left alone.

 

[cherryglitter]

i agree, social services.

 

[Lauki]

I would contact SS if I thought a baby was left alone in a house! That's just appaling.

Personally I find it hard to leave Soph in the living room while I pop to the kitchen!

 

[aliss]

The police will attend if it's actually occurring but once it's over with, it's an SS report. You can advise an HV as well but again, she must report it to SS so you would go straight to SS anyways. Hope that clarifies.

 

[kerrie24]

Ok thanks thats what I thought.
And if it was a mistake,nothing lost yeah?I wish I had been there,I would have asked her if she had done that.Im puzzled as to how anyone could think it was ok.

 

[aliss]

Ok thanks thats what I thought.
And if it was a mistake,nothing lost yeah?I wish I had been there,I would have asked her if she had done that.Im puzzled as to how anyone could think it was ok.

It's not too uncommon actually, I worked as a police dispatcher and had many calls like that over the years, often about women who are forced to work nights and have no family/childcare.

 

[bellablue]

omg she is not scared at all something will happen?

REPORT her if she is certain

 

[snowflakes]

I have to agree with everyone else you most report it. I would feel horrible if something would happen to LO in the future while left home alone and i had not reported it. Do your friend actually go inside or just knock on door before the father came home? Maybe you or your friend could speak to her about it? Wow, so scary!

 

[Maya23]

Ok thanks thats what I thought.
And if it was a mistake,nothing lost yeah?I wish I had been there,I would have asked her if she had done that.Im puzzled as to how anyone could think it was ok.

nothing lost? how would you feel if someone called ss on you for no reason?
I think your friend should be 100% and then contact someone.

 

[aliss]

Also is your friend sure that the baby was alone? Especially if the woman didn't speak English, it's quite common in many cultures to have extended family in the home 24/7.

 

[snowflakes]

Also is your friend sure that the baby was alone? Especially if the woman didn't speak English, it's quite common in many cultures to have extended family in the home 24/7.

That is so true... She could have her Mother or MIL living there and your friend just did not see her. I would investigate a little further b4 jumping the gun, but if you do find out for sure than i would call for sure. Like i said if something should ever happen to that baby (if it is indeed being left home alone), I know i would feel horrible, if i had not called. But, do some investigating first.

 

[kerrie24]

Ok thanks thats what I thought.
And if it was a mistake,nothing lost yeah?I wish I had been there,I would have asked her if she had done that.Im puzzled as to how anyone could think it was ok.

nothing lost? how would you feel if someone called ss on you for no reason?
I think your friend should be 100% and then contact someone.

Yes I appreciate that but how more certain can you get,like I say,she went inside the baby was in the front room,the mother had been to school and the father returned home from work later.Unless somebody was in the closed bedroom and remained there untill she left(about 45 minutes) then the baby was alone.

My friend is worried about reporting it incase she is wrong but as I said the woman cant really understand what you are saying and even if she could she wouldnt admit to doing it would she?

 

[kerrie24]

Also is your friend sure that the baby was alone? Especially if the woman didn't speak English, it's quite common in many cultures to have extended family in the home 24/7.

As she told me,the bedroom door was closed so possibly somebody could have been there,but its only a flat and there was nobody in the other rooms.They dont have any family here we know,because they returned to school late saying they had been in london at the grandparents,plus the flat only has 2 bedrooms,the parents and the childs.

 

[GeorgeyGal]

Maybe someone could go round and knock on the door at around the time the mum would have gone to the school and see if anyone answers...if they do, great create an excuse, if not then it may be a regular thing and needs reporting (even if its not regular). ???

 

[Mooshie]

How did your friend get in the house? Did she just walk in? And then check every room bar the bedroom?

 

[kerrie24]

How did your friend get in the house? Did she just walk in? And then check every room bar the bedroom?

She was invited in! The woman walks up with her most days as it is on her way home and the 2 girls are friends.My friends daughter had been before and left a toy so the woman invited her in to collect it.
I know it sounds weird saying as they can hardly communicate,but the womans daughter (5) can speak english,from school so they are able to talk through her.
Anyways,the type of flat they live in has a long passage,one bedroom she passed was closed,the other one open(and empty),then baby in lounge.You have to go through the kitchen to the loo,and my friends daughter needed to use it before they left so yes apart from the closed bedroom door,the flat was empty.

 

[Mooshie]

Ah right, so she invited her in on the way back from school? Someone could have been in the closed room, you can't just assume the baby was alone. You should really be sure before contacting SS.

 

[kerrie24]

Maybe someone could go round and knock on the door at around the time the mum would have gone to the school and see if anyone answers...if they do, great create an excuse, if not then it may be a regular thing and needs reporting (even if its not regular). ???

That could be a good idea,thanks for the suggestion.

 

[kerrie24]

Ah right, so she invited her in on the way back from school? Someone could have been in the closed room, you can't just assume the baby was alone. You should really be sure before contacting SS.

We know,it just seems weird that if someone was there,they had shut the door and the baby was in the other room alone,thats what made her think there wasnt anyone there.
She wants to be sure obviously and not report the poor woman for no reason but how to find out?
Its just that shes worried about the baby in the meantime,its not just idle gossip.