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A 14-month-old Ohio boy was found wandering in a busy intersection by a woman on her way to work. He was "smack in the middle of the street," his rescuer Rachel Downey told police.
The boy's 9-year-old sister was "babysitting" him downstairs in the house while their mother was upstairs. Instead of putting her brother in his playpen like mom requested, the little girl put him on the couch.
He saw an open door (it was left open by a construction worker) and took off looking for adventure as toddlers so often do.
Rachel Downey returned the boy to his home safe and sound, where his mother was very upset upon learning what had happened. The incident is under investigation and charges could be filed against the family.
At what age to you think it's okay to let another sibling watch a toddler? Do you think the mom is "responsible" for this incident or do you think it's just an accident that could have happened to any of us?
Comments (30)
I think it is the moms fault! I couldn't say whether or not she should be charged with any sort of crime!? I wouldn't let my 14 year old cousin watch my 22 month old son untill just last month and even then I put him to bed before leaving the house! I just feel that children watching children is not a good idea!
Honestly it appears that things seemed to conspired against this family and the mother. If only one thing was changed that child would not have ended up in the street. If the nine year old had listened, if the door had not been left open, if mom had not been pulled away.
There is the ideal world and then there is reality. I think it is ok to ask an older child to watch a younger one for brief period of time, when a parent is home but simply in another room. That was the case here.
Since mom was home, just upstairs, it was an accident. If mom left to go to the store, it may be different.
Ummmm it wasn't like she left the child ALONE with a 9 yr. old. She was 'right upstairs'. I don't think that she should be charged, she wasn't neglecting her child and a 9 yr. old is old enough to have minor responsiblities *like putting baby in his playpen* while mom is home.
I think that this incedent is enought to scare the crap out of the mom that she probably will be paranoid to leave the kid alone for 5 sec. ever again. I know I would!
I think it was an accident. Now the mom will probably never leave her child alone! The children weren't home alone and I'm sure there are other moms out there who have left their child with a sibling while they are busy in another part of the house. Of course after hearing this story I'm sure we will all be more careful!
It sounds like an accident to me, and its wonderful that the child was returned home unharmed. I dont think there is a mom who has gotten her children all through life without something that was a close call, a temporary bad judgement call, or just one of those things. These kind of stories are what we, as parents, should use to remind us that our children are curious and will go looking for adventures. I mean really, things happen, Im sure a small investigation is warranted, if nothing else to ensure that the child isnt left alone with the sister at those ages, but when I was 10, I was babysitting the kids across the road from my parents house, there were 4 children, all under the age of 4. The ages of leaving your children "in charge" are really up to how mature that kid is. (obviously this one wasnt ready yet) But I dont think that makes her a "bad" mom, believe me, that is far from that definition in my book. This could have just as easily happened if mom had sat the child down and was in the bathroom for 5 minutes.
I think it was an unfortunate accident that shouldn't have to go so far as to press charges on the Mother. If she was out at the Grocery Store or going out shopping and left her 9 year old with her Toddler it would have been a completely different story but she was in the same house as the Children she gave the 9 year old instructions to simply put her toddler in the playpen but, on the other side Children are easily distracted and selfish lol so they will easily get distracted or simply just don't want to deal with a toddler. Not knowing how easy Toddlers can slip from your view. I am happy that the little one is safe and I hope that the Mother wont get charged but to be more careful.
The mom should of made sure the baby was placed in the play pen! So it was hr fault! I always make sure all our doors are closed if they can't be then we open up the playpen!
My concern? A construction worker? What were they doing there, and where? If there was construction going on around the kids, and strange people going in and out of the house, it's NOT okay to leave a small child alone.
It's NOT the 9 year old's job to put the child in the playpen - it's the mother's.
I think it was a total accident. I remember my mom asking me to watch my little sister while she was in another part of the house and it was the same age difference. I don't think moms need to labeled for clear accident.