Delivery driver leaves heavy parcel on top of sleeping baby's pram
Jess Hardiman
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Alamy Stock Photo
Delivery drivers are known to leave parcels in some truly strange ‘safe places’ from time to time, whether it’s right in front of your door for all to see, or lobbed over the back gate to get torn up by your pet dog.
But one recently came under fire after placing a heavy box on top of a customer’s pram – inside which was a sleeping baby.
A photo of the delivery was recently posted by the baby’s mother on Instagram, having ordered 10kg of groceries from Hello Fresh.
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The parcel was delivered to her doorstep in Sweden by Gordon Delivery, with the driver leaving the box on top of a pram that had been placed out front – with parents leaving babies to sleep outside alone a common practice in parts of Scandinavia.
The unnamed mum, wrote: “Congratulations. You crushed a sleeping baby in its pram with a 10kg parcel, and have no shame. Thank God the baby is OK! Never again!”
The image was shared by social media blogger Camilla Gervide (@Bloggbevakning), who also posted updates that said the mother had complained to Gordon Delivery, before being offered 250 Swedish krona (around £20) in compensation.
She later explained that she has since been offered two free deliveries to make up for the error, while the delivery driver has apologised after turning up on her doorstep ‘in tears’.
Mikael Sahlsten, a spokesman for Gordon Delivery, told the Aftonbladet newspaper that the driver was shocked to learn of his mistake.
“When no one opened up, the driver wanted to leave the parcel on the doorstep, but he thought the surface was too damp,” he said.
“So he thought the pram would be more practical. He didn’t see the baby. The mother called us immediately and we made contact with the driver right away.”
Sahlsten added: “He was very sorry about the whole thing. He drove back to the customer and apologised with flowers and chocolates. He also wanted to know how the child was doing.”
Tyla has reached out to Gordon Delivery for further comment.
A few months back, another mum also based in Scandinavia explained how it is common for many people to leave babies sleeping outside in prams or buggies while they run errands in the shop or head inside a café for a latte.
Mum-of-four Annie (@annieineventyrland), an American who lives in Denmark, said: “The Danish practice of having your baby sleep outside in their stroller is not only the cultural norm, but it’s even recommended by midwives and baby nurses.
“Fresh air is said to keep babies healthy and help them sleep better, and napping your baby in their stroller outside is done in all sorts of weather.
“Babies are dressed in light-weight wool and have a down duvet, which regulate the baby’s body temperature [and] keep them warm without overheating.
“It’s common to leave your baby napping outside while you go shopping or sit in a café. Parents always keep a close eye or have a baby monitor in the stroller.”
Annie continued: “Babies here don’t get kidnapped because no one wants the responsibility of someone else’s kid – especially when our healthcare system does everything they can to help everyone who wants a baby to have their own at little to no cost.
“Some people ask why I would have my baby sleep outside in her stroller outside while we’re at home. It’s for her to get the benefits of fresh air.
“It’s her most familiar sleeping surface at this point, and I love that if my family and I ever want to go somewhere while she’s napping, we’re never stuck at home.”