Posted on 12/19/2006 6:02:19 AM PST by WestTexasWend
MIDLAND, TX (AP) - A 3-month-old baby was left unattended in a shopping cart for about an hour Sunday when her parents accidentally left her behind, police said.
Shoppers noticed the abandoned baby at a Toys "R" Us store, Midland police Sgt. Alfredo Grimaldo said.
"It was a misunderstanding among family members," Grimaldo said in Monday editions of the Midland Reporter-Telegram. "One man took the kids home and left the ladies to shop. But when he took the kids, he didn't take the baby from the cart."
The family members, who were traveling in different cars, didn't realize what happened until they all got home and nobody had the baby, he said.
"We don't think it was really a child abandonment issue. It was just a misunderstanding," Grimaldo said.
Police spokeswoman Tina Jauz said Child Protective Services is looking into the case.
ping
True, but they were walking! And it still took 3 days to find him!.........
Peekaboo. There's the Baby!!
LOL
It happens to people who are good parents, usually a lack of communication or an assumption. One parent assumes that the other parent has the child, and doesn't.
It happened to my wife and I with our youngest. We were at a church carnival. I took our daughter on a ride and my wife took our older son on a ride. Each of us thought the other had our youngest son... we didn't. We left him in his stroller and somebody found him by himself and reported it to the people running the carnival. They announced over the PA about a little boy left alone in a stroller, and it hit me like a ton of bricks! I knew it was my youngest! I ran to the area where he was at (carrying my older boy) and my wife was doing the same thing. Our youngest was upset but happy to see us. We were thankful to the lady who noticed him. There was a couple women there who accused us of being bad parents and were yelling at us... we left. It was a pretty awful experience all the way around. This was an honest mistake. I thought my wife had our youngest and she thought I had him. I bet the same thing happened to the family who left the baby in the shopping cart. They didn't sound like bad people.
When people "forget" children in cars or elsewhere, and those children die, the so-called parents should be sterilized.
Man, I need to read the local paper more. First I've heard of this.
I known that ToysRUs very well. It's on the North Midland Loop, over behind Bed Bath & Beyond, Pier One, Michaels, etc.
It's pretty chaotic and a badly designed parking lot (lots of stupid dividers that you can't see if you're close).
Lots of parents use the store as a free playground.
I could see how cars had to be parked out-of-line-of-sight and this happening.
LOL!
That's right! The Son of God no less. You'd think they'd be more careful.
MY GOD! HOW THE HECK DO YOU FORGET YOUR OWN CHILD???
It's understandable considering the season. I hope the family learned a lesson and next time will leave the baby in the trunk of the car. /sarc off
When I was in Manhattan a few months back, struggling with a stroller down 5th Ave (yikes!) I really wished they made one for toddlers. It would have been heck on the back, but worth it.
Thankfully the baby was okay.
I can see how this could happen. The only reason it hasn't happened to me with our 5 kids is that I am extremely conscientious to the point of being obsessive. Most of the kids are grown now but in the past I have done a head count a thousand times to make sure we had them all. And, I used brightly colored clothes on the kids when we were out at a public place or event.
But, one time when my 4th was a month old baby, some friends from out of state were visiting and we all decided to go to town for ice cream or something and I happily headed out the door towards the car and the other mom exclaimed, "Isn't someone going to get the baby!!??" For a few minutes I actually forgot I had a baby. We all laugh now about that but it freaked me out for awhile!
Weird things happen.
I know people who wear their toddlers in slings and other carriers. If you get a good one with 2 shoulders, or a wrap, it's great. But the snugli and bjorn are definitely not made for bigger babies. Our bjorn has been in the closet since the baby was about 15lbs.
We had a great experience in the mall this past weekend. My daugther was up on my back, having a great time looking around or sleeping, and we used the stroller to carry our bags. There were definitely several jealous fathers loaded down with bags while their wives pushed the strollers.
..there is another Baby that the world seems to be forgetting about this time of year...
I can hardly fathom keeping up with five children. I only have two and we broke a record last year - I quit holding their hands walking across parking lots from vehicle to establishment. They were certainly happy campers considering they were 18 and 19 at time. I honestly believe they complied for so long just to humor me. ;-)
Not at our house; I don't know about yours.
What about when a parent forgets their child is in the backseat on a hot day and the child dies. Is that neglect or an oversight?
Tragic oversight.
Accidents happen. To punish a parent who just lost thier child due to their own fault is cruel. there doesnt seem to be any room for human error anymore.
On another note. Tax dollars are being spent on checking up on this family who accidently left the kid in the store. Waste of time and money. I am sure there are no other children in that city suffering from neglect.
When people "forget" children in cars or elsewhere, and those children die, the so-called parents should be sterilized.
Sure. And when adults drive in cars that have accidents that kill their children they should be sterilized.
Accidents happen.
Life is not a social-workers wet dream.
..there's no problem here...
When I was a baby my parents left me at church one Sunday and didn't realize it until they had gotten home. They swear it wasn't on purpose.
LOL! This made my day Quilla! Thanks!
Personally, I really loved keeping my baby that close, as opposed to a stroller (which were awkward to maneuver). I've had idiots run into the thing on several occasions (and not simple accidents, either. One frat boy at a theme park INTENTIONALLY vaulted over her like a track runner, I nearly broke his skull, too.) When she was little, it was great for face-time and interaction, especially taking her through the city (Boston).
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