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FIRST ON WITN: Two Year Old Wearing Diaper Found Wandering Outside Save Email Print
Posted: 5:00 PM Jul 1, 2008
 Last Updated: 8:58 PM Jul 1, 2008
 Reporter: Bill Wilson
29 comments
A | A | A

Four days after two children in Dare County wandered out of their home and died, a 2-year-old in Craven County was found out wandering on a country road.

Sheriff deputies just happened to spot the toddler, wearing only a diaper, on Kitetown Road near Vanceboro in Craven County this morning.

The sheriff's office says the parents told them they were sleeping at the time. No child endangerment charges have been brought against the parents, but what happened is being reported to the Department of Social Services.
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Posted by: Dirt Poor Location: Eastern NC on Jul 4, 2008 at 09:45 AM
These are the same parents that allow this to happen that get mad later in life when their child starts getting in trouble and running wild in the streets.I mean I heard of how bad children are on school buses and the parents get mad with the drivers. Its not the drivers acting wild its the students and the schools do not care about what the bus drivers go through. They are told to bare with it or things will get better. These people are out here driving our children home and to school and then told this. Is it fair to me that my child behaves and others around them do not and they have to put up with the cussing and bad things that happen. Parents quit blaming everyone else and blame yourself. All this bad behavior and running the streets for whatever when there older starts at home. Discipline is the answer. Spare the rod spoil the child! I am old school and if social service dont like it they can come raise my kids and pay their expensive medical bills and food bill. No help for me!
Posted by: MO3 Location: Pink Hill on Jul 3, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Good one youcrazy, I agree with you.
Posted by: me Location: NC on Jul 3, 2008 at 01:56 PM
not angry, but amazed by how much ignorance can be glaring off of one web page. if this was not a topic that was close to my heart, i never would have said a word, but you were the one that attacked me and my comment to begin with. my intention was to encourage people think before they speak since there are a lot of unanswered questions here. that's all... i'm out...
Posted by: youcrazy Location: nc on Jul 3, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Hey "ME", I just wanted you to know that I'm also sorry that you are not PERFECT like me. It's also amazing to me how my comments have affected you. I can sense the anger in your typing (lol). GET OVER IT!!. Life goes on. Since you are a social worker with a 4-YEAR degree, how about go out and save some poor childs life and stop feuding with me!! HA HA HA HA!!

POST EDITED!
Posted by: me Location: NC on Jul 3, 2008 at 12:11 PM
MO3, I'm glad you are happy with your one-sided view of the situation and I'm glad you are so perfect also. Unfortunately, it can't be that way for everybody.
Posted by: me Location: NC on Jul 3, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Just for the record, youcrazy, it's a four-year degree. And I also have the love and experience to care for my and other's children. I'm sorry everybody is not perfect like you, but it's called being human.
Posted by: Response to Vickie Location: Franklin County July3 @ 9:47am on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Vickie, not sure what perfect parents you are referring too but, I do know that no one is perfect. As a mother I can hear what my children are doing even in my sleep. Maybe its that I am a light sleeper or maybe just that I am that "perfect parent" that you are referring too. I dont know yet what I do know is that after working a double shift you should have had someone watching you child while you slept. Although, I think its funny that you child filled the aquarium with stuffed animals and the baby powder was everywhere. My kids are too now grown and as far as enlightenment, parenting is not taught it is second nature and if you have not got it you will never get it. Sorry to bust bubbles here but either you have it or you dont. No class can teach you how to be a good parent, parenting is not like math, english, or even history. You can not learn how to parent you just know.
Posted by: Vickie Location: Franklin County on Jul 3, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I have worked a double shift (2nd & 3rd),picked up my child,went home and went to sleep only to be awaked by my son filling up our Aquarium with stuff animals and baby powder filling the entire room.So all of you perfect parents please enlighten me as to how you became such!My two are grown now,but I am still curious as to how you became so perfect.
Posted by: MO3 Location: Pink Hill on Jul 3, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Hey you crazy, how did you like the incorrect grammer used in concerned parents last comment. At least you were rational enough to use proper grammer. I agree with you, a good parent would have known where their two year old was. Concerned parent, not even chains can hold some in, my kids used to climb on a chair and unlatch the chain yet, I was awake and aware of their whereabouts. A good mother will not sleep soundly when her children are in the home, therefore she is able to hear their every move or atleast I am that way. When my boys where 2 and 3 I heard everything they did even when I was napping or during the night when I was sleeping. I think the story gives PLENTY of information yet, you being a social worker and all I guess you KNOW better than us normal citizen parents do because you have a degree in social work huh. Well I have a degree in elementary/middle school education and one in early childhood education yet you are right, only a social worker would know best.
Posted by: Concerned Parent Location: Eastern NC on Jul 3, 2008 at 12:14 AM
youcrazy, if there is not a deadbolt lock that unlocks with a key or a chain lock on the door it would be easy for a two year old to unlock the door and anyone with common sense knows that. Even with all the love and experience in the world accidents does happen and that does not mean that the parents are bad parents. I guess you think that the parents of the 12 year old girl from Vermont whose body was found today are bad parents because their child had been missing for a week and now she is dead. You are correct that all situations are different and I do not believe that the short article above gives enough information for any of us to know exactly what the case was. I think that we need more social workers like "me" who doesn't jump to conclusions without all of the facts.
Posted by: youcrazy Location: nc on Jul 2, 2008 at 06:07 PM
its not about lower or UPPER case, it's about the children. I know that the parent is probably sorry that it happened and happy that the child did not get hurt. But once you become a parent, you have a responsibility to keep your children as safe as possible. I can not understand how a 2 year old can open a locked door. Yes, you may be a social worker, but a 2-year degree does not make you an expert on parenting. It's love and experience. I feel that if people like you keep making excuses for these people, they will never get it together. Yes, all situations are not the same, I understand that. Oh and by the way-- I hope this comment is typed to your standards. lol
Posted by: Jessica Location: Robersonville on Jul 2, 2008 at 05:28 PM
I have a son, given that he's only a year old I havent yet gone through the "terrible 2's and 3's" yet. but I can see that it is totally possible for this to happen. We have a routine in our house and its possible they did too and the child got up and left before the normal time to get up. No charges should be brought against the family. I agree some saftey classes are in order though.
Posted by: me Location: NC on Jul 2, 2008 at 04:49 PM
No, I wasn't neglected, and I am a social worker. I'm the one here that's not jumping to conclusions based on limited information, but I'm crazy? That makes sense... At least I'm rational enough to talk in upper and lower case as the "rules" state.
Posted by: Concerned Parent Location: Eastern NC on Jul 2, 2008 at 04:47 PM
I am glad that the child was found and returned home safely. I am sure that the parent feels horrible about this and we should not judge as there is not enough info in this article to even start persuming what happened. There is nothing in the article that says the parent did not lock the doors. I agree that dead bolts that you have to use a key to unlock both inside and outside is a wonderful way to make sure that a toddler does not escape from the home. Just because you are a parent of a toddler and you have not had this happened to you does not mean nothing because it is not too late for it to happened to you. I am sure that the parent has learned a hard lesson from this and will do everything in her power to make sure that it does not happen again, but I do not think that filing charges against her will do anything.
Posted by: YOUCRAZY Location: NC on Jul 2, 2008 at 04:38 PM
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO "ME". -- YOU MUST HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AS A CHILD!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: MO3 Location: pink hill on Jul 2, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Well, I have taken a nap when my kids were younger but, I heard every move they made. That is a mothers intuition to hear in their sleep. Still today I hear my kids if they get up before I do on the weekend.
Posted by: me Location: NC on Jul 2, 2008 at 02:57 PM
There is really not enough information in this story for you all to be condemning these parents. The report says that it happened in the morning, but not exactly what time it was. The parents were probably not taking a nap, but just had not awoken from the night's sleep, and the child slipped out without them knowing. You can't assume that they were negligent and didn't have the doors locked if it's not directly stated in the report. I agree that supervision of young children is most important, but accidents do happen that are not necessarily the parent's fault. Just because it didn't happen to you with your children doesn't mean that it can't to someone else. No parent is perfect, and all children are different. Cut them some slack until there is more information published. I'm so thankful the child is alright.
Posted by: Janelle Location: Washington on Jul 2, 2008 at 02:34 PM
To Ted: Chain locks work great...as long as you don't have a smarty-pants kid that gets a chair or other item to stand on to take the chain lock off. My 5 year-old taught my 3 year-old how to do that. I can completely understand how this could have happened, but it is still inexcusable. I think that filing charges against the mother is a little extreme, but certainly some parenting classes, and a home safety class should be provided to her. I hate to say it, but some people just don't know how to be parents. They're likely products of their environment. You're not going to break the cycle by punishing someone for an accident. Education is the key.
Posted by: wanda Location: beaufort county on Jul 2, 2008 at 10:37 AM
This is insane. I know where my children are and they are 17 and 15. I never took a nap but if I had of I would have locked the doors. My husband and I found a child about 4 years ago in the road in Kinston. The mom claimed that she didn't realize the child could open the door. Get a grip parents. When you have children they become your main concern and you keep up with them all the time. Children are injured or taken everyday because of parents that are focused on other things instead of their child.
Posted by: David Location: Greenville on Jul 2, 2008 at 10:18 AM
If you think that a 2 year old wearing nothing but a diaper is bad, last year I saw a guy in his 60's wearing nothing but a diaper walking on a sidewalk in Greenville.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 2, 2008 at 10:05 AM
My neice and her husband have a 2 and 4 year old, they installed alarms on the doors that say loud and clear, "back door is open, front door is open etc". Plus they never take naps when the children are awake, I don't think they have time to take naps!!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: columbus,ga on Jul 2, 2008 at 12:34 AM
the parents should have been awake instead of asleep because they probaly could have left the door open and the baby could have just went out and went wandering around the road that shows that they were not supervising the baby
Posted by: k Location: g on Jul 1, 2008 at 11:51 PM
nothing wrong with taking naps, just be sure your child is somewhere safe and cant escape. which is tricky with a two yr old. mom of 4 is right, my toddler does something every day that just amazes me and scares me at the same time. i definitely overdo it on the worrying bit, but i think its right for little ones! i dont know about this case but not all of these cases are the parents being drunk neglectful horrible parents that everyone must be assuming. i truly think many people do not know what their kids are capable of. thank goodness this child was safe...scary to think my kid could and would do that same thing if i didnt watch him like a hawk!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 1, 2008 at 09:53 PM
probably belongs to the wonderful mom in Manns Harbor
Posted by: super woman Location: pitt county on Jul 1, 2008 at 08:58 PM
just wanted to give credit where credit is due. . .actually my friend and her aunt found the child wandering in the middle of the road while on their way to the beach. they called 911, and 30 minutes later the sheriff arrived!! they attended to her needs, diaper change & gave her a t-shirt, and even helped to find the child's home. thanks to a group effort (my friends & the sheriff) for saving this childs precious life. and yes. . .let's bring on those child endangerment charges!!
Posted by: Mom of 4, Grandmom of 2 Location: Jacksonville on Jul 1, 2008 at 07:32 PM
What is wrong with these people?!? PARENTS: NEVER underestimate what a toddler/young child can do! If they are mobile (able to move around), they have no fear and will try nearly anything. Please, please watch your children closely. They will go out the door or window, they will get into things under the sink, they will pull on electrical cords, play with electrical outlets, they will play behind or under the family car, they will wrap cords or strings around their necks...you name it, they WILL do it. Please keep your precious babies alive and safe - ALWAYS know where they are and what they are doing. You do not want to be one of these reported parents that are now tragically saddened for the rest of their lives. I would much rather be remembered for over-reacting and being a mother hen and still have my babies and grandbabies alive. God bless the poor babies whose parents have been and continue to be neglectful.
Posted by: makeumpay Location: greenville on Jul 1, 2008 at 07:20 PM
I DON'T GET!! How are these young children getting out of the house? Are the parents locking the doors, or are they just locking their bedroom doors and letting 2 year olds roam around unsupervised? I do however, appreciate the attention these incidents are getting now. This did not just start happening. I know that there are lots of other cases that are not in the news. I think that there should be penalties that parents have to face when they are caught neglecting their children. Not only when the child gets hurt or dies, but also when the children are found unsupervised.
Posted by: Ted Location: Greenville on Jul 1, 2008 at 07:18 PM
For the love of God people! Lock Your Doors! In addition to the door locks and deadbolts I've also installed the small chain type locks. They aren't strong enough to keep someone out, but they work great to keep a toddler in!
Posted by: concerned parent Location: Washington on Jul 1, 2008 at 07:17 PM
Thank God the deputies came just in time to save this two year old.
Posted by: sickened Location: jacksonville on Jul 1, 2008 at 06:11 PM
I agree with you concerned I have a 3 yr old as well. And I have never had a issue with my children getting out of the house when I am sleeping. First the only time I take a nap is when my 3 yr old takes a nap. It sickens me when I hear of parents just casually saying well I was sleeping and they think that it is ok. I see alot of mother's that just have there toddler's watch tv and they will go into there room and take a nap. I wonder if they feel like nothing will ever happen to there children or if they are just lacking in the common sense department. I am so glad that nothing happened to this two year old.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen Location: Greenville on Jul 1, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Charges need to be filed. Why is it that I have a 3 year old and I have never had this issue. My son has slept in a toddler bed for the past 6-8 months and I never had a problem with him leaving the house. If you keep your doors locked (hint hint use the deadbolt) you will not have to worry about your child getting out of the house.
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