I can understand how this could happen, with both parents thinking the other had the baby. This happened one time to my 8-year-old niece at church, when her parents (who had driven separately to church because of separate responsibilities) each thought she was going home with the other. When they got home they immediately realized their mistake because she wasn't with either of them!
Meanwhile, my niece was safe with friends at church and was soon home again with her family. I'm glad this story turned out the same way, with the baby reunited with its family.
There are many sad cases of parental neglect. I don't think this is one of them.
I thought this was bogus until I read that they were traveling in separate cars. Yes, I see how it could happen.
> both parents thinking the other had the baby.
I agree. My wife and I managed to lose one of the boys in a sporting goods store when we thought the other was watching him. They did the Code Adam lock-down thing, and we found him playing with putters on the little green they have set up to let you try them out. We try to implement 'positive exchage of control', just like you do when flying an airplane: 'You have the child', 'I have the child' and then 'You have the child', but it's hard to pull off! :)