Dad Deposits Toddler In Drop Box

Japanese Hospital's Anonymous Drop Box For Unwanted Babies Winds Up With 3-Year-Old Boy

(AP)  A Japanese drop box for unwanted babies triggered a wave of nationwide soul searching Wednesday, a day after it was discovered a preschooler — and not an infant — had been dumped there by his father on its first day of operation.

Nationally circulated newspapers warned that the anonymous drop-off, known as "Stork's Cradle," is open for abuse and could traumatize youngsters. They also condemned the father, saying his action could spur copycats.

The drop-off was opened last Thursday by the Catholic-run Jikei Hospital in the southern city of Kumamoto to discourage abortions and the abandonment of children in unsafe public places. The same day, a boy believed to be 3 was found inside.

The boy, who was in good health, reportedly said he was dropped off by his father, who was seen holding the youngster's hand as they approached the hospital. They apparently rode Japan's bullet train to Kumamoto, but it was unclear where they lived.

"I came with Daddy," the boy was quoted as saying by the Mainichi newspaper.

The find triggered a wave of outrage among political leaders, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying "Anonymously throwing out a child is unacceptable." He urged parents to consult social workers for help if raising children gets too tough.

Local media reported that the boy was able to identify himself by name. But it was unclear whether the father had been identified.

The hospital has refused to comment on the case, citing privacy concerns, but said there were age limits on its drop-off service.

Police have decided no crime was committed in the current case because the child was left in a situation in which it was not exposed to immediate harm, Kyodo News reported Wednesday.

"We must rethink the meaning of the baby drop-off," the conservative Sankei newspaper said in an editorial. "Unlike a baby, a toddler may suffer from trauma."

"This little boy must be experiencing great loneliness. We urge his mother or father to come forward," the newspaper said, calling his abandonment "unforgivable."

The Yomiuri newspaper said it was too early to judge the baby-drop, but said that it must be used for its original purpose of receiving newborns, not young children. Parents should also be encouraged to seek outside help before dumping their offspring.

The Mainichi said the misuse of the box could inspire copycats.

A small hatch on the side of the hospital has been set up to allow people to drop off babies into an incubator 24 hours a day.

The drop box was created after a series of high-profile cases in which newborn babies were left behind in parks and supermarkets, triggering a public outcry and government warnings against abandoning babies.

[advanceus]

Apparently the hospital didn't explain the rules good enough!

[mitywhity]

Disgusting...utterly disgusting.

[kathyinmich]

"Open for abuse"? "Could spur copycats"? I think the newspaper reports are missing an important point.

If the father of that poor little 3-year-old boy felt so overwhelmed, or so selfish, that he was unwilling to care for his child, then let the Catholic hospital step in to facilitate an adoption by a loving family.

The expansion of the "drop-off" program to permit abandonment of toddlers, not just infants, is an unexpected development, but the child now has an opportunity to live in an enriched atmosphere of acceptance and love. There certainly are loving parents waiting to open their arms to an unwanted child, even if he/she is not an infant.

[advanceus]

Must be the hospital didn't explain the rules good enough!!

[kathyinmich]

"Open for abuse"? "Could spur copycats"? I think the newspaper reports are missing an important point.

If the father of that poor little 3-year-old boy felt so overwhelmed, or so selfish, that he was unwilling to care for his child, then let the Catholic hospital step in to facilitate an adoption by a loving family.

The expansion of the "drop-off" program to permit abandonment of toddlers, not just infants, is an unexpected development, but the child now has an opportunity to live in an enriched atmosphere of acceptance and love. There certainly are loving parents waiting to open their arms to an unwanted child, even if he/she is not an infant.

[advanceus]

Must be the hospital didn't explain the rules good enough!!

[seaslew]

At least this father didnt kill his child because he was not able to deal with him or care for him. How many abused children are murdered because the US does not have drop off box. I think the father made the only good choice he had.

[catz25]

an unwanted child, no matter what his age, should also be allowed safe haven! Maybe there will be less children abandoned and abused by parents who are incapable of loving and caring for them if they know there is somewhere they can bring them, safely. A father that would do this to his child doesn't deserve to be a parent. A child's life at 3 years old is no less important than an infants.The trauma this child feels at being abandoned somewhere safe cannot be compared to the trauma he would feel at being abused and abandoned in a park or alley by that same parent. Right?

[catz25]

an unwanted child, no matter what his age, should also be allowed safe haven! Maybe there will be less children abandoned and abused by parents who are incapable of loving and caring for them if they know there is somewhere they can bring them, safely. A father that would do this to his child doesn't deserve to be a parent. A child's life at 3 years old is no less important than an infants.The trauma this child feels at being abandoned somewhere safe cannot be compared to the trauma he would feel at being abused and abandoned in a park or alley by that same parent. Right?

[passerby2]

can you imagine how the three old feels? It must be the most horrible thing you can feel as a child. Going somewhere hand in hand with your father and all of a sudden you're alone in a box. What ultimate betrayal of love and trust. It just makes me sad to think about the world we live in.

[passerby2]

Can you imagine how that boy feels? Going out with your dad hand in hand and all of a sudden you're alone in a box. What ultimate betrayal of love and trust, it's worst than death for that child, for any child. It makes me sad to think about the world we live in.

[passerby2]

can you imagine how that child feels? Going out with your dad hand in hand and all of a sudden you're alone in a box, abandoned. What ultimate betrayal of love and trust. That's worst than death for the child, for any child. It makes me sad to think about the world we live in.

[passerby2]

can you imagine how that child feels? Going out with your dad hand in hand and all of a sudden you're alone in a box, abandoned. What ultimate betrayal of love and trust. That's worst than death for the child, for any child. It makes me sad to think about the world we live in.

[passerby2]

Can you imagine how the child feels? Going out with your dad hand in hand and all of a sudden you are alone in a box, abandoned. That's a feeling worst than death for the child, for any child.

[susanhelit]

I do think it's a good thing - an outlet for people who should not be parents, whether it's a newborn or a toddler. I do think they should find the parents, to be sure that both really want to give their child up, and if it was a temper tantrum, they need to see if the child really should be with those parents - but I think this really is a good thing, even if not what they expected.

[shanev137]

There was a public outcry against people unsafely abandoning babies on street corners, parks, and malls and now there's a public outcry against the safe place they created for the same people who abandon babies.

Sounds like America.

[jb3boyz]

It is very easy to be disgusted with this father's choice, but I am glad to see that this little boy is safe and sound. I am glad that the father didn't resort to abuse or murder as is so prevalent in the United States. Please try not to judge this father as we do not know what circumstances drove him to such drastic measures. There must be many families who would want to adopt this little boy. I feel that there should be drop boxes like this in America and that families who are so longing to adopt should have the opportunity to take in these children. I know many couples who are told they are too old (and they are 36) and have to look outside the US to adopt. It is so hard to watch the news or read in the paper that another girl gave birth to a baby and murdered it when it could go to a drop box and a loving family.

[weareone2]

I agree the child's parents need to be found to make sure this is not a case, eg., of a man getting revenge on a woman. If the parents can't provide the child with food, shelter, and emotional support, it would be better to find someone who can. I wish I had been taken from my parents as a child, to avoid the physical and continual emotional abuse they gave me for years. I would rather not have been born than to have endured it (I tried to commit suicide twice), and I was not nearly as badly abused, especially physically, as some children.

are u kidding me??? no matter how you label it a "baby disposal drop box" is seriously one of the most warped ideas that I have ever heard of!!!!

[incog-nito]

Keep this child away from his father. If the father can do this, then the child is not safe with him. Better to have him dropped off to a safe environment, than to return him to a parent who does not want him. Yes, it is a sad story, but you need to think about the child's welfare first.

[incog-nito]

Keep this child away from his father. If the father can do this, then the child is not safe with him. Better to have him dropped off to a safe environment, than to return him to a parent who does not want him.

Yes, it is a sad story, but you need to think about the child's welfare first. And no, I do not think the drop-off is a bad idea.

[incog-nito]

Keep this child away from his father. If the father can do this, then the child is not safe with him. Better to have him dropped off to a safe environment, than to return him to a parent who does not want him.

Yes, it is a sad story, but you need to think about the child's welfare first. And no, I do not think the drop-off is a bad idea.

[passerby2]

sorry for the repeat posts, thought the button was frozen.

[abigail4476]

I would rather see children dropped off in a safe place, regardless of their age, than to be abused, neglected or killed.

[fizzal-2009]

Maybee they can increase a tax deduction for children and then they won,t want too get rid of them so quick?

[fizzal-2009]

Maybee they can increase a tax deduction for children and then they won,t want too get rid of them so quick?

[susanhelit]

Get real, getreal - which would you rather have - this poor toddler with his uncaring parents, maybe abused or killed to get him out of their way, or with a new family that will love him and raise him right!

A drop box is a great thing, because otherwise these children, which exist no matter what, are abused or killed, or merely (as if it's merely) neglected their whole lives. Birth control is the best option, but if they fail there, the drop box is a good way to get children away from bad parents.

[randalds]

Is the hole big enough to stuff Bush into?

[randalds]

Here in CA any newborn (I believe 3 days or less) can be dropped at any hospital, fire station or police station by the mother, no questions asked. It's much better then years ago when they used to turn up dead in dumpsters. As for older children there are processes in place to surrender parenthood of older children here and I assume in all other states, however you can't just drop them off.

[syzygy8]

What a wonderful option for a mother who cannot care for a child but has great hesitation in having an abortion. Finally the church is doing something worthy of the Saviour, whose message it proclaims.

[bradleydad]

The thought of people who can't or won't keep their children is awful of course. But, here we are in our safe, comfy, world ignoring that most of the worlds children are hungry or enslaved. In Africa, 200,000 children were forced into armies to kill, in the most brutal ways imaginable. I lie awake at night and cry for the children of the world. If children can somehow have another chance at childhood, I'm all for it.

[bradleydad]

The thought of people who can't or won't keep their children is awful of course. But, here we are in our safe, comfy, world ignoring that most of the worlds children are hungry or enslaved. In Africa, 200,000 children were forced into armies to kill, in the most brutal ways imaginable. I lie awake at night and cry for the children of the world. If children can somehow have another chance at childhood, I'm all for it.

[mahdeealoo]

How about voluntary sterilization? Would that ease troubled hearts?

This drop off is something that every city should have, with no age limits. It is better than any child being unwanted and treated as such by parents/guardians. Abuse is rampant in this country. A safe place such as this with loving parents waiting to adopt, heck yeah.

I know a few kids that would be better off there. Glad mine are grown and loved by me, unconditionally.

[lisa_marie_4]

All I can say is this is a heartbreaking story. It is a sad day in this world when we have drop offs for kids. Although this world is full of parents who do not want their kids it seems to me there must be a better solution than this. It almost sems like we are encouraging this sort of behavior but this is a very 2 sided subject and I wonder if any of us have the answer.

[toldyouso21]

People miss a significant point concerning abortions. it isn't just that women do not want to have to take care of a baby or cannot afford to. Many women do not want to carry the baby either. Women who do often cite such ideas as a baby is disiguring to them or will prevent them from doing their jobs (if their jobs are based on certain appearances like modeling or stripping or flight attendant) other women are just grossed out with the idea of something they do not want wriggling around inside of them for at least 6 of the 9 months--and still others have debilitating morning sickness or other health problems that they know is associated with pregnancy.

On the other hand--some women resent the idea of being baby breeders for barren women and feel that the child is theirs to want or not want since it is made out of their seed and has to live in their body. Until science or catholic drop offs can come up with machines that can carry a baby for a woman--the idea of abortion will be here to stay. Legal or not.

[caldwellptr]

I'm a drop box baby, or was that dropped on my head?

[susanhelit]

And you missed mine, getreal. Adoptive parents may be good or bad, but the type of parent who wants to drop their kid off is going to be worse, pretty much no matter what. The drop box is an outlet for an already poor parent, to stop being a parent hopefully before they do any severe damage to the child. Abandonment is bad, abuse and murder is worse.


I'm definitely looking at this through the child's eyes. I think you're missing a lot there - think about what this father would be doing with this toddler if he couldn't drop him off.

[gunnerv1]

After all of the Liberal BS about how "Great" Japan is, it looks as if it's a cess pool like the rest of the world! I didn't like the place when I was there in the 70's.