My heart broke a little today :(

[DanielleM]

this is actually very common in foreign countries when we visited Copenhagen it seemed to be very common practice either that or the same woman went everywhere we did with various different pushchairs

Stealing babies is extremely rare, its probably safer to leave your baby outside the shop in the pram than to cross the road with your baby in the pram!

The woman could of been Polish (we do have a big community in the UK) or some other country this is practised in, in which case to her it would be extremely the norm as Natsku and Chezziepie have demonstrated here. Although I would never do it myself the poster that said she would of rang the police and shouted at the mum I think is a bit extreme

 

[eliana]

Stealing babies is extremely rare, its probably safer to leave your baby outside the shop in the pram than to cross the road with your baby in the pram!

I agree with with you that the risk is minimal but why anyone want to expose their child to such a risk is beyond me, especially when it's something that is entirely in our control.

 

[2ndtimeluckyX]

God I feel sick when I have to let go of the pram to squeeze down between the rails in small clothes shops never mind leaving her outside! I couldn't do it!!

 

[hellywelly]

It all depends on where you live and how comfortable you feel - my mum left us all outside the shops when we were young - but then that was the day that you could leave your front door and back door open and every adult was like a secondary parent. Nowadays it just doesn't happen where I live (Essex) - it just isn't the done thing. I do feel for the baby though xxx

 

[Natsku]

Stealing babies is extremely rare, its probably safer to leave your baby outside the shop in the pram than to cross the road with your baby in the pram!

I agree with with you that the risk is minimal but why anyone want to expose their child to such a risk is beyond me, especially when it's something that is entirely in our control.

Why do people wean early? Why do people let their babies sleep on their tummy? Why do people put their babies forward facing at 9 months?
I took the risk because I didn't want to disturb her sleeping by having to take her out of the pram and carry her in the shop as there wasn't room to get the pram in. Wasn't a risk in my eyes.

 

[Honeymooner]

I'm glad it's illegal in Canada,

But honestly for all the times that I would be in a place too small for a stroller....I'd either skip it or pick her up.... we do a lot of things to prevent tragedies, so why risk one?!?!

 

[goddess25]

Poor poppet.

I agree though that its all a matter of where you live, I would love to stay somewhere that would feel happy and trusting that nothing would happen to my baby.

I think the OP should have went into the shop and said there was a baby crying outside.

I would not take the risk if it were me but I live in the city.

 

[austinsmom]

Getting into a building with a stroller is no issue here in the US (as I'm assuming that's why people leave their children outside a shop?). I can see both sides though. I personally would NEVER leave my LO (or even my 6 year old) unattended in the US... we've got some creepy people here But, if you grew up in an area where it's normal... those people don't see the big deal, and I get that, it's apart of the culture. But please... if you ever come to the US... don't do it here... I would love to be able to trust my community enough to let my child sleep in her stroller outside of Walmart... but have you seen Walmart people? https://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

 

[Divinebeauty]

I think this sounds neat. If you were in the right country that is of course.

Here in Canada it is extremely illegal, you can't even leave your baby out side your house to have a nap un-supervised. I am from Italy and babies always nap outside... here it is so different.

Nat - has proved some very good points! I would do it if I were in a place it was practiced. Would I do it in Canada? Hells no..

Why is it Canada and US.. don't practice this? but other countries are? Does it have to do with how big the country is? Just curious

 

[Neko]

Stealing babies is extremely rare, its probably safer to leave your baby outside the shop in the pram than to cross the road with your baby in the pram!

I tell people this all the time. When a kid is out alone, everyone keeps going on and on about predators. My thought is... I worry about the traffic. I always tell them, "Have you seen how people drive around here?"

 

[MizzDeeDee]

I think this sounds neat. If you were in the right country that is of course.

Here in Canada it is extremely illegal, you can't even leave your baby out side your house to have a nap un-supervised. I am from Italy and babies always nap outside... here it is so different.

Nat - has proved some very good points! I would do it if I were in a place it was practiced. Would I do it in Canada? Hells no..

Why is it Canada and US.. don't practice this? but other countries are? Does it have to do with how big the country is? Just curious

Because we're Freeky deeky here.

For God sakes, one time I went into the sex offenders list here in Virginia.. and I kid you not someone I went to School with was on there for forceable sodomy.... how nice was that?????

 

[Divinebeauty]

^^^^^ omg, yeah these countries freak me out. Imagine if it was so relaxed you could put your baby outside to sleep... get some serious cleaning done, or go into a shop without baby.. like seriously.It so high strung here, you get SS called on your for anything out of the ordinary!!!

That is scary MD... stay away,.. far far away.

 

[minties]

My grandma used to leave my mum and then my uncle in their prams outside of shops, in the 1960's. It was very normal.

For myself, I am a bit of a paranoid mum so I wouldn't do it. I have left Thomas in a locked car while I go pay for petrol, and that was stressful.

I don't have any problems with other people doing it though, if they are in a town where it's normal. And there ARE lots of places in Europe where it is the done thing. I don't think it's abuse or neglect.

Here if I saw a baby left alone outside I would be calling the police, because it's just not something I have ever seen, and I would think something had happened to the parents.

 

[alette]

I won't even leave my DOGS outside of a store alone. Not even locked in the car for five minutes. I left Zoey in the car for less than 2 minutes once while I went in to pick up our pizza. The car was parked RIGHT next to the door and I could see her the whole time, but I was still a freak about it.. and people can do this with their tiny kids?!

 

[Divinebeauty]

I won't even leave my DOGS outside of a store alone. Not even locked in the car for five minutes. I left Zoey in the car for less than 2 minutes once while I went in to pick up our pizza. The car was parked RIGHT next to the door and I could see her the whole time, but I was still a freak about it.. and people can do this with their tiny kids?!

Where do you put your dog when you go in stores? Do they go in with you?

 

[MizzDeeDee]

I won't even leave my DOGS outside of a store alone. Not even locked in the car for five minutes. I left Zoey in the car for less than 2 minutes once while I went in to pick up our pizza. The car was parked RIGHT next to the door and I could see her the whole time, but I was still a freak about it.. and people can do this with their tiny kids?!

Where do you put your dog when you go in stores? Do they go in with you?

^^This, and I fail to see how you think leaving your kid in a car is so much better then leaving them on a sidewalk. Just because you can see them doesn't mean something wouldn't happen if you're going with that train of thought.

I personally fail to see the distinction.

Edit: Wait..... Is Zoey your child or your dog?

 

[Natsku]

I think this sounds neat. If you were in the right country that is of course.

Here in Canada it is extremely illegal, you can't even leave your baby out side your house to have a nap un-supervised. I am from Italy and babies always nap outside... here it is so different.

Nat - has proved some very good points! I would do it if I were in a place it was practiced. Would I do it in Canada? Hells no..

Why is it Canada and US.. don't practice this? but other countries are? Does it have to do with how big the country is? Just curious

Crazy that you can't leave your baby to nap outside! I'd never get any cleaning done if Maria didn't nap outside cos she wakes up so easy at noises.

I think its not considered right to do in Canada and the US because they are less homogenous societies and people are less trusting of each other and the crimes rates are higher and the media goes crazy with reporting stuff there that it also adds paranoia.

I also wonder where people leave their dogs if they won't leave them outside the shop. Surely you're not allowed to take dogs in?

 

[cat lover]

I sure wouldn't do it in London, but there are definitely other safer places in the world. Natsku, if its safe there then there's no problem doing it

 

[Ozzieshunni]

Nats, it's totally nuts, but my mom and I were walking around an outdoor mall and in one of the high fashion shops (Bloomingdale's), this lady had her yappie little dog in there! What if they peed on the clothes!?

 

[Natsku]

wow they wouldn't allow that here!