As someone who lived in New York City for four years, my hat goes off to anyone raising a child there. The city, while full of fun and interesting things to do, is a chaotic place inhabited by truly unique characters, some of whom are not very safe to be around. I never truly felt unsafe in any of the boroughs most of the time, but the place I felt most uneasy was Times Square. Even passing through gave me anxiety.
Between the dense crowds, the aggressive street performers, and the general hustle and bustle of it all, l I would power walk my way through it every time. I cannot imagine navigating a child through that chaos, let alone leaving one on their own in Times Square.
Sadly, the NYPD says an infant girl was recently abandoned in Times Square.
The New York Post first reported the girl was 6 months old but later ran an update to note she was 1 year old and was allegedly left by her father in the busy tourist area on April 21, 2026. The father, who is suspected to be homeless, reportedly took off with the girl in her stroller after having an argument with her mother.
The New York City Police Department received a call around 11 p.m. reporting potential child abuse, according to People. The infant girl was found near 44th street, toppled over in her stroller.
Luckily, the little girl was found stable and conscious.
She was transferred to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital for evaluation. The NYPD is searching for the father. People reported that officers were spotted sharing a photo of the child with locals in the area and pulled surveillance footage in hopes of retracing his steps.
Several witnesses and passersby in Times Square were appalled at the father’s actions.
“That’s very irresponsible,” Vikas Upendra, a visitor from Atlanta, told the Post. “[The father] obviously needs help. Maybe he’s mentally unstable too. I don’t know how somebody could do that, especially late at night, and yesterday was a cold day.”
“Shocked. I feel sad, sad. It’s a baby,” Nader Riko, a Times Square food vendor, also told the newspaper. “I have [a] baby too, 14 months. I love my baby.”
WABC reported that it is likely the Administration for Children’s Services will get involved and an investigation will happen before the baby girl is returned to her mother.
