Really weird story. So a British police officer was on holiday in New York with her baby, staying at a hotel, when some social workers come calling in response to complaints that she was leaving the baby by itself in the room, as well as in the lobby. She was later arrested, and the baby is still in care in the US, while she has had to return and start paying for the massive legal bills.

She claims she never left the baby for more than 30 mins, while she was going to a separate kitchen on another floor to prepare it's bottles. Another time she says she left the baby on the floor of the kitchen (in a seat or something? Dunno) while she had a hot drink. All very strange. Add in the fact that she claims she was a "limey bitch" by the police, and that she's now protesting the fact the baby is with a gay rights activist when she's a committed Christian, and it all gets stranger and stranger.

Apologies for the Daily Mail link, but as you'd expect, this is the most comprehensive coverage:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3393113/A-baby-seized-America-negligent-WPC-mother-insists-s-wrong.html

Anyway, parents of DiS, is there an acceptable amount of time you can leave a baby for? Or any other kid for that matter?