When to step in for safety?

So I’m probably overthinking this one, but I’d like your opinions.

The other day SO and I and his family went to the zoo. In the family there is a 3 year old niece. She was a bit crazy and running around, but that’s normal for a 3 year old.

We were watching a few animals at different places and she seemed to climb the walls, but the parents were really quick to stop that and they didn’t want her being held up high to see. I get that.

The walls by all the animals were not the best, I think. A glass wall up to your midsection in some of them. One of them were the bears. One was kind of up close and moving around. Do I think it could have gotten up behind the wall? No. But the niece started trying to climb the wall. Kids are quick and bears can be quick, especially if she got over that wall. She was right in front of me, and SO and I said no, but she wasn’t listening, so I grabbed her off the wall. It wasn’t forceful, but enough to tear her away from this wall.

For some reason I feel bad because it isn’t my kid to grab, but all I could think was that she would have been a news story. SO said fine, but I’m wondering if someone grabbed your child off a wall, would you be mad? I think she was scared of me for a bit.

Re: When to step in for safety?

In that situation I'd be very glad you grabbed my child off the wall.
You did the right thing.

Re: When to step in for safety?

You were with the family? If you were, I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

I would want my sister-in-law's b/f to grab my DD if he thought she was going to end up in the bear enclosure at the zoo!

Re: When to step in for safety?

Re: When to step in for safety?

OK, good to know. I was just worried because I grabbed her, she seemed scared of me afterwards, and I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries. I mean she could have thrown a leg over and fallen in there.

Re: When to step in for safety?

When to step in for safety?

You did the right thing....safety comes first

Re: When to step in for safety?

In that situation, I wouldn't care if a stranger pulled my kid off the wall. Safety first.

Re: When to step in for safety?

Re: When to step in for safety?

When to step in for safety?

I would not mind as the parent in that situation. In fact I recall when my DD was about 3 I had my infant son in the stroller we were walking on Main Street and DD suddenly let go of my hand and ran right into into oncoming traffic. Thank God a stranger grabbed her!! It gets me choked up still to think about and so thankful for that guy. Kids that age are so quick with what they can get into in mere seconds

Re: When to step in for safety?

I am also a non-parent, and I would have done the same.

I was at the zoo years ago with a single mom friend of mine & her 3 kids- the little one was a climber. She was pretty on top of them most of the time, but she turned around to leave the giraffe exhibit & the climber stayed behind & started climbing on the binocular stand, which was really close to the wall. I gently grabbed & said, let's go, and my friend thanked me. I'm sure she would l have turned around in a sec when she realized the little one wasn't following, but it just made me too nervous.

My brother also had to do that with our cousin when he was about 4 or 5 & we went to look at Christmas lights & he wouldn't get out of the middle of street. (his parents weren't there, but I think we told them later.) I think he actually just carried him all the way home. ( a few blocks) In that case- it was family, and I know his parents would have done the same.

Re: When to step in for safety?

I don't see how anyone could be upset by it. Especially since they were doing the same thing and not letting her climb. It sounds like you just got to her first.

And I agree that grabbing her probably just surprised her and 3 year olds cry all the time over stuff like that.

I wouldn't give it a second thought.