Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I think we all agree that what that mom did by leaving her child alone in line at the supermarket for that long was not too safe.

But, how do you all feel about this:

You are standing in line behind a mom with an infant in an infant carrier attached to her shopping cart full of items.

She turns to you asks if you mind watching her baby for a moment while she runs back to grab something. You don't know this woman at all, and she doesn't know you - and you don't have your child with you so she doesn't even know if you are a mom or not.

Is this just as bad as what the mom in Shelly's post did? Irresponsible, unsafe? Would it have been better if the mom in Shelly's post would have just asked someone on line (still a stranger, mind you) to keep on eye on her child? Would you have said yes or no to the mom?

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I'll preface this by saying I'm a complete paranoid freak when it comes to my kids. Added to that, after being hurt too many times in the past, I don't trust people very easily, so that probably colors my opinion.

IMO, it's still wrong. She has no way of knowing my mental state. While it's extreme, there are some women who want babies so badly that they will just take someone else's, why make it easy on someone.

I can't tell you how many times I've gotten off line with the basket to get what I forgot and then get back on.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would not do either. I am paranoid about someone snatching Miranda. It only takes a second. DH thinks I am super paranoid but you can never be too careful with your baby IMO. There are crazy people everywhere and you just never know.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

Would never do it. NEVER. I could think of a million horrible things that could happen to my baby in that split second. It only takes one tiny little moment for something to happen that you will regret for the rest of your life. I don't take any chances when it comes to my child.

Then again, I am a paranoid freak, and Alex is my first, so I may be revealing just how overly anxious I am about her

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

So all of you who said that you yourselves wouldn't do this - what would you say to the Mom that asked YOU to watch her child for a moment?

I had this happen to me in Target once. The woman turned to me and asked me to watch her infant. I smiled and said of course... I could completely empathize with her and I didn't think anything of it at the actual moment that she asked.

But once she walked away, I thought to myself...wow, she doesn't know me from a hole in the wall...I could be some psycho. She doesn't even know that I'm a mom. Jake wasn't with me and I had no baby items in my cart. She was back in less than 2 minutes but still...

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would watch the baby, but I think that she should leave her cart and take baby with her.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would not leave my kids. If I needed to get something and it was incredibly important then my kids would come with me.
If someone asked if I could watch their kid, I probably would but I might say something to the mom.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would NOT do this. Like others have said, it only takes a split second for something to happen.

If someone asked me to do that, I would tell her, "I'm sorry I can't watch the baby for you, but I don't mind holding your spot in line."

GOD FORBID something happened, what would I do? Or, what if I turn my head for a second and something happens. I don't want that responsibility.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

HELL NO!!!

Even child molesters need groceries!!

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

No! I would never! never! never! do this. No matter what I am doing, I am always scared that someone will take off with her. Even when I reach for groceries, I have one hand on the stroller at all times.

But if I absolutely had to and I was so desperate that (1) it couldnt' wait or (2) I for some reason could not get off line with my child, I would look for another mom to watch her. For some reason I hope that another mom would safer.

In my situation, I think the woman did ask the guy who works at Trader Joes in the back of the line to watch her kid, but then the line moved (across the ENTIRE store) before she came back. Then when she left again she asked the woman behind her to watch the kid.

ETA: What I have done in the past is take my child and ask the person behind me to SAVE MY PLACE- not watch my child

Message edited 3/12/2007 1:44:36 PM.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would NEVER do this. EVER.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I am so paranoid, that I would NEVER EVER do this! People are crazy!

IF someone ever asked me to watch their child for a moment, I would (of course while wondering what the heck is wrong with the person)...

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would never do it. As many have said before me, there are just too many crazies in the world. If someone asked me to watch their child, I probably would say yes, but I woudn't feel comfortable doing it. I'm a wimp and wouldn't know how to say no.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I can't believe people. Some are, I guess, to trusting. But I don't get it you hear stories about kidnapping all of the time. Why would people do that????
I don't even leave my cart without a child in it.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I wouldn't ask anyone in a supermarket to watch my child. I did have a nurse watch Maddie while I took Joseph in & held him for an x-ray but that's it.

If asked, I would say "yes" to watching the baby - mainly because I would worry that she would ask someone else who may walk off with her kid if I said "no."

Since becoming a mom, I'm much more aware of kids without parents & feel a sense of obligation if I see a kid wandering around & no adult.

On numerous occassions, I've seen mothers in stores walk away from their baby's stroller in the city while they were off shopping in another section of the store. It infuriates me. It could be an ethnic thing in this particular store because it's always the same moms walking away from their child - and they all do it. Leave their child by the escalators & walk to infant/toddler section of the store.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would never leave Luka with a stranger. I am also a little to paranoid. I also would not watch someones child. I would offer to watch her merchandise and she can take her child out of the stroller or cart.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

Way too paranoid to ever ask a stranger to watch my child. I would rather lose my spot on line or walk out of the store empty handed than even consider that.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I have been on line and realized I forgot something also. I just said, "F it, I'll run out later or something." I would never EVER ask someone to watch my son. I would however, watch someone else's if they asked. But I would think the same thing you did.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

If someone asked me to watch their kid I would say yes...however I do think it is not safe and would never ever let a stranger watch my girls. My girls safety isn't worth running back to get something I forgot unless they were with me. Irresponsible parents are the reasons for tragedy amongst our children.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

If someone asked me I would watch there kid, but I would think they are nuts.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would keep an eye one someone else's child, but i would never leave my own.
In fact I was shopping the other day with Luca and asked the girl about the return policy since I couldn't try anything on (the baby was sleeping in the Bjorn) and the lady was like, "I can watch him while you try stuff on if you want." Um, no thanks.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I would not watch the child and, I would tell the mother that it was not an appropriate or safe request. Is it really THAT important to go back and get something from the store that you need? If it were me, I'd pay, go put my groceries in the car, and with the baby still attached to the cart, come back in the store and get what I need. Even if I had to stand on a long line. My child's safety is worth a SLIGHT inconvenience of time.

Re: Spinoff of Shelly's post - on line at the market w/child

I wouldnt let someone watch mine nor me watch theres.