Unattended toddler wanders Wilson streets overnight

A toddler wearing a wet diaper and a T-shirt was found at 24th Street and Freemansburg Avenue before 2 a.m. today after unlocking the front door of her mother's house and wandering away, Wilson police said.

[Dad of 5]

I believe the Wilson Police looked a little closer into this than what's being reported. If Chief Nace felt comfortable with allowing her to have the child back, and, given the liability he could face if he made a poor decision, I would surmise he made the right decision. It can happen to any of us with small children, and that doesn't make us bad parents.

[Over the Mountain]

I think this happens a lot more than what we hear. It's scary to think that you can go to sleep and wake up without a child. I know about a woman that her kids got out 2 times. The first time the babysitter found the child. The second time the child got near a highway, and someone at a local business took her in and called the police. The babysitter was sleeping, and didn't even realize the child was gone. The mother was working. The second time it happened the police were called, and they had C & Y come and take all the children out of the home. They spent 3 weeks in a foster home, then C & Y gave them back to the mother. The sad thing is that even though none of the relatives lived near the mother, they were willing to take the children in. C & Y said because it was a holiday week-end when it happened they had no available staff to do a home check, and a home check would have to be done first. After the holiday the relatives had a hard time getting in contact with the case worker at C & Y. They always said she wasn't in. I'm just glad that this toddler is ok.

[Talia]

Who do you think SHE will sue?

[Krackerman]

the headline should be

UNATTENDED TODDLER LEFT TO BE PRESIDENT FOR 8 YEARS

[thinking and typing]

You have got to be kidding me. Please tell me they did more than just tell her to get another lock for the door.

[JAW]

Dad of 5 wrote:

I believe the Wilson Police looked a little closer into this than what's being reported. If Chief Nace felt comfortable with allowing her to have the child back, and, given the liability he could face if he made a poor decision, I would surmise he made the right decision. It can happen to any of us with small children, and that doesn't make us bad parents.

I could not agree more. These kids move quick. My three year old is always trying to go on the lam. We lock up the house pretty tight at night but this is scarry for any parent.

[No_Sense]

This stuff happens and is not uncommon. I used to worry about it happening to us and I found door alarms at home depot. They're loud but at least you know when the kids open the door.

[Nik]

I understand the knee-jerk reaction is to blame the mother and imply she did something wrong, but anyone who has had a child knows that toddlers are into EVERYTHING. They are so quiet and get into trouble constantly. My daughter walked at 8 months and could climb out of her bed immediately. I had to turn the monitors way up to hear every little movement because I was so afraid of what she'd get into in the middle of the night (I should also say that she NEVER slept!).

Point here is that I really doubt this mother did anything wrong. She needs a high up bolt for her door and some good monitors. And maybe some handcuffs. or a dog cage! kidding.

[Talia]

Nik wrote:

I understand the knee-jerk reaction is to blame the mother and imply she did something wrong, but anyone who has had a child knows that toddlers are into EVERYTHING. They are so quiet and get into trouble constantly. My daughter walked at 8 months and could climb out of her bed immediately. I had to turn the monitors way up to hear every little movement because I was so afraid of what she'd get into in the middle of the night (I should also say that she NEVER slept!).
Point here is that I really doubt this mother did anything wrong. She needs a high up bolt for her door and some good monitors. And maybe some handcuffs. or a dog cage! kidding.

...but not noticing until 9am?

[Howard Stern]

Dad of 5 wrote:

I believe the Wilson Police looked a little closer into this than what's being reported. If Chief Nace felt comfortable with allowing her to have the child back, and, given the liability he could face if he made a poor decision, I would surmise he made the right decision. It can happen to any of us with small children, and that doesn't make us bad parents.

I agree. My 2 year old has just figured out how to unlock and open the sliding door, and now we have to put the piece of wood in every night to prevent him from escaping like this other toddler did at 2am.

This can happen to anyone - the parent does not have to be a crackhead!

[turfrats]

how many times can we write in Nace said in this article?

[Sound Reasoning]

Nik wrote:

I understand the knee-jerk reaction is to blame the mother and imply she did something wrong,...

I remember a similar story a few years ago, and back then, the mother was arrested.

In that story, the mother held down two jobs (and I commend the mother for doing that, instead of sitting home collecting welfare). The mother finished her 2nd job, pick up her kid, went home, and basically passed out from exhaustion on the sofa. While she slept, the toddler managed to get out.

[Nik]

Talia wrote:

<quoted text>
...but not noticing until 9am?

It wasn't noon, what are you getting at? I'm sure she woke up, looked at the clock, realized it was 9am and wondered why she wasn't woken up by a 2 yr old, I know I would have freaked out if I was actually allowed to sleep until 9.

Take this into consideration: This morning my alarm went off at 7am. I roll over to see my 5yr old son laying next to me watching TV. I didn't hear him come in, didn't feel him climb into bed next to me, and didn't hear the TV. Mom's are TIRED. My son was in my room making noise and I didn't wake up, but people are coming down on this woman for something a child did rooms away. I would just never think my kids would leave the house...now I'm worried again!

[CAT]

My friends son was 4 years old and at that time my son was 2. My friends son took a dining room chair over to my apt door and unlocked it,I found both kids gone at 7am when I woke up. My friend had spent the night so I woke her up and we went out to look for them on foot cause I did not have a car at the time. I was so happy to find my son safe and sound.
Just because this happens does not mean we are bad parents. I had to have the landlord change the lock on my door so it would not happen again.

[aunt tessie]

I was just talking to my mother this am about this and then I read this articel. My 4 year old sleep walks. I have caught her doing this a few times and my mother told me I'd better find a way to keep her in the house...she too knows recently how to open doors. When my brother was about her age my mom awoke to find him gone in the morning and here he was found up the street in his pj's playing in a neighbors yard. Kids are stinkers! this could happen to anyone, atleast the mother was home and not out in a bar or passed out intoxicated and this happened. It is tough being a mom today...you are exhausted, many times I fall asleep on the chair before my child. One thing I came up with when my 3 year old nephew lived with me...because we were afraid of something like this happening because my mom experienced it....we put a wooden bi-fold door in our hallway to the bedrooms and we bought a slider-lock at Sears to go across the top middle of the door so when we were all sleeping at night we were all locked in and the child couldn't get out to the kitchen or living room areas without us being woken up. The child was not locked in his room he was just locked in the sleeping quarters of our home..he could access our room at anytime and if he tried to go out we would be awaken of the sound. It is just an idea for any parent who is afraid of this.

[mcm]

My 2 year old is into everything. He can open doors with the best of them, that being said....

I can see how this would happen, however, it should still be investigated just as a precautionary measure. What if something were to happen in the future? If it is simple as a new lock and better monitor, great. If the mother needs assistance, I hope she gets the help they need.

[Matt]

Thankfully nothing happened to the child. A similar story happened in Minnesota (I think) in the middle of winter and the little boy froze to death.

I agree that toddlers get in to everything but some precautions should be taken. My son is two and knows how to open the front door and storm door. But we have put a gate at the top of the stairs that he can't open and wakes us up in the morning at 6am on the dot. We also have an alarm that is set everynight as well.

[koch]

This happens !

[i love joepa]

Cindy Lou wrote:

Hi. My name is Cindy Lou. I'm the little girl that wandered off last night. I left my house last night to replace the whiskey in my mom's liquor cabinet that I drank. I also opened her gun cabinet and noticed she needed some bullets for her gun. I was only trying to help. Don't be mad at Mommy.

Next time you're out, can you buy me a bottle too? Thanks.

[jrk]

When i first got my puppy i bought a crate to put it in at night so it wouldn't wander around. I'm done with it now if this mom wants to borrow it!