Last weekend I was in the ladies room in Macys washing my hands, a young women came in with an infant that was maybe 6 months old in a stroller. The baby was crying, I cooed over the baby smiled at her and waved a little. The baby stopped crying and just looked at me (babies generally respond well to me). I remarked to the woman on how adorable the baby is. The woman said - thank you would you mind watching her- and ducked into a stall. I stood there looking at the baby shocked. I had never seen this woman before in my life. That baby could have been gone in a second. She did her thing came out and strolled away. I didnt know what to say to her or do. I have been bothered by this since it happened. And there is nothing I can do about it now.
ChristineC68
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Re: What would you do?
I guess she thought you looked trustworthy and since her baby was responding well to you she figured it would be ok. I think that's a little weird that she would leave her baby with someone she didnt know. But then again you hear about people leaving their babies outside in running cars all the time when they get stolen!!
Also, I would have been mad that she assumed I could stand there and watch her child.
anna
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That is strange, but it really depends on the circumstances, was it really crowded ? did the stroller fit in the stall ?
I was in a bookstore once and the stroller didnt fit into the stall and I really had to go. There was another mom there with her child. It was like 2 in the afternoon, very quiet, so she said to me 'go ahead, i'll stay here' and of course, I was maybe 10 inches away even in the stall and I could hear the 2 babies, and it was just the 4 of us in the bathroom. She seemed like a genuinely nice person, a stay at home mom just like me. Of course I hesitated at first, and I would have waited to get to another bathroom where the stroller did fit, since 99% of places are now very accomodating to moms with strollers, but that split second, it seemed fine to me. Of course if it was crowded or if I had to be more than 12 inches away from the stroller, theres no way I would have done that. The stroller was literally on the other side of the stall....
ok, let me get shot down for this one
jennbaby
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Re: What would you do?
I am not sure. I don't think I would have asked a stranger to watch her though. All bathrooms should have handicapped stalls for the handicapped, also then all women can bring their babies in while using the toilet.
Teri
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Re: What would you do?
Wow - she's wayyyyy too trustworthy. On one hand, it would be nice if you didn't have to always think about the worst in people, but unfortunately, the world isn't perfect. You hear about all these kidnappings and awful stories, and you have to wonder how easily some of it could be avoided
kptoys
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OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That woman should have CPS chasing after her!! I would NEVER leave my daughter with a stranger no matter how friendly they seem toward her!!!!
(No offense to you of course. If I knew you I would think differently)
michele31
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I just don't know. Women who steal babies are far and few between BUT they are generally the type of women who one would trust. I have never been in this situation so I cannot judge but it does seem odd to me to have a complete stranger ask someone to watch their child just because you smiled at the baby.
anna
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Its such a shame that we have to live in fear and those 'Sweet and nice' looking ones can be the very ones that we should be running from... Gosh now I feel bad about what I did even though I was really not far, and it was a tiny bathroom and I could kick the stroller wheel from where I was in the stall. and I HAD to GO !!! My next option was to leave the stall door open
Its really a scary world.
LisaT
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I'm with Anna. I think its sad to think that we can't trust anyone. I think seeing someone who does trust others is refreshing.
Diane
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It is pretty scary. My friend who just had a baby, the hospital recommends NOT renting those storks that you put on your lawn/or announcing the birth of your baby in the paper because people will say ohhh she had a boy, and that is what I want, and will try to kidnapp the baby.
But how far do we have to go. I agree with you Anna.
Fran M
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Thinking back I wasn't initially shocked when she ducked into the stall. I was still interacting with the baby and getting a smile out of her. It didnt hit me until after. I started thinking the women looked very young and maybe she is a caregiver and not the Mom or what if it were not me but someone who was over the edge with the desire for a baby etc.
Never having been in the situation I cant really say what I would have done if it were me with the child. Thanks for giving me a little different perspective.
NIHA
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That is a really good questions and I have no idea what I would do, except maybe go with my gut instinct and intuition at the time that I was in the situation.
Claud2001
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This is a very hard question. I can understand Fran's concern and Anna's rationale too. When you gotta go, you gotta go! I am just shocked that there wasn't any handicapped accessible stalls that would fit the stroller! I depend on those whenever I am out by myself w/Paul!
phyl
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this KINDA happened to me in Target by Green Acres mall. No handicapped stalls. I left the door open with the carriage in front of me. It was the last stall in the row so there were 3 others to choose from...I figured no one had to walk that far down to see it was obviously in use...plus there wasnt a sink a that end so no one would peek in at me.
Sorry- I'm not a flasher but I wasnt going to trust J out there w/out my hand on that stroller. Maybe 'I'M' nuts..
anna
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Re: What would you do?
Phyl, that was my second option. Claud, I beleive, looking back, there was a handicap stall but it was out of order. Thats why she and I kinda looked at eachother like 'you got my back and I got yours?' LOL. She had a toddler and an infant. Thats even worse, what about when the toddlers go creeping from their moms stall under and through all the stalls. Ive had many a toddler come into my stall and stand there like 'huh who are you ???' thats hilarious and also scary !
Its a tough situation. I wouldnt call that mom crazy or call CPS on her, I just think she needs a red flag (and so do I ) to just be careful and never do that again. Some of us are more trusting than we should be...
Speaking of what would you do, once when we were house hunting, we rang the bell at this house, and a 7-8yr old answered the door ! She was like 'oh hi, i'll show you the house!!' she was alone with like 3 toddlers !!!! she showed us and the realtor around. we walked out in utter shock and disbelief ! The house was in horrid conditions, week old dishes on the table, beds and couches in filth, the basement higher than me in piles of junk....'dirty' kids sitting and watching tv, looked like they hadnt been bathed in weeks... we really should have called....
