Remember When Mothers Could Let Their Babies Sleep in Carriage While Shopping in a Store?

[SeaBreeze]

I don't know if my mother ever did this with us, but many people when I was a young child would leave their sleeping babies outside in the carriage rather than waking them and carrying them into the store with them. I know my neighbors used to do that with their babies and my oldest sister did is a couple of times, I remember her sending me out to check on the baby.

Do you ever remember when people were so trusting, knowing that nobody would steal their baby or do any harm? If anything, someone would comfort the baby if he woke and started crying, or alert the mother in the store.

 

[applecruncher]

Few years ago I read about or saw a report on TV about a country (Denmark - ?) where they leave babies unattended in carriages outside stores/restaurants and it's never been a problem.

The very idea gives me chills.....the world being the way it is now.

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

I don't remember seeing babies left outside of stores but my Mom told me she would put me in the carriage and leave it out on the porch for awhile for some fresh air. My Son was born in 1976. When he was very little I would put him on our front porch in a wind up swing. I shudder when I think of that now. Anyone could have walked up and taken him right out of the swing.

 

[SeaBreeze]

It seemed to be commonplace in the early 60s, but I would never do that now, I wouldn't even leave my dog unattended outside of a store these days. People seemed more caring back then, many probably still are but you don't see it that much or hear about it. I know if I saw a child in distress I would naturally try to help him/her, even an animal for that matter. Now I hear stories of people stealing babies and animals just to sell them for money.

 

[Camper6]

Theft of everything is so common now.

The thieves know nothing is going to be done even if they are caught.

I have had numerous bikes stolen as have my neighbors.
I have yet to read even once where anyone has been arrested and some of these bikes are $700 and more.
This is how they learn that crime pays.

 

[Warrigal]

I don't know if my mother ever did this with us, but many people when I was a young child would leave their sleeping babies outside in the carriage rather than waking them and carrying them into the store with them. I know my neighbors used to do that with their babies and my oldest sister did is a couple of times, I remember her sending me out to check on the baby.

Do you ever remember when people were so trusting, knowing that nobody would steal their baby or do any harm? If anything, someone would comfort the baby if he woke and started crying, or alert the mother in the store.

I remember those times but today if you leave your little dog outside tied to a post someone is likely to run off with him. It happened in Sydney recently but the perp. was captured on CCTV and was later arrested. The little dog was returned to the owner. This, even when dogs and cats are microchipped.

 

[Smiling Jane]

I wonder how long you could leave a child outside before you got reported for child neglect.

My mother lived in St. Louis during WWII. I was a toddler and my older brother had a penchant for darting away from her. When she had to go out and shop, she put me in a stroller and my brother on a harness and leash that were made for small children. She said people glared at her but she figured it was preferable to him running into traffic.

I'm sure the police would show up if she did that now.

 

[chic]

By the time I was born, mothers didn't do this anymore. My mom was always very wary of strangers and taught the kids to be suspicious also which now seems prudent. It's strangely wonderful to envision such a time of trust, but all it would have taken would have been one predator to take advantage and cause a lifetime of pain for the unsuspecting.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I think that today the mother would be arrested for neglect or endangering the welfare of a child.

I'm not sure if the world is more dangerous or if we have become more aware of the dangers now that we are so closely connected to everything that happens in the world.

Some days it seems like the bogeyman is winning.

 

[Pappy]

I remember in the late 40s and 50s, Mother’s use to do this in our town. Never gave it a second thought. Always someone on the street checking on the baby. Today, I wouldn’t leave my shoes outside.

 

[Laurie]

To our eternal shame the second time we took our son out we forgot him him and left him outside a store for more than an hour!

He was still happily asleep when we dashed back!