A good thing she decided to get involved.

I wonder if she wanted to have the kid in the first place, or if it was forced on her. (No I didn't read the article yet, just reacting.)

If that neighbor hadn't seen the mom leave the woods alone. That baby might have never been found and certainly not been alive for very long.

Thank a deity for that neighbor and their willingness to get involved.

in a new home. The neighbor was definitely a guardian angel.

I am not disagreeing with you, joeybee12. And it's wonderful that the baby is OK.
But until you've walked a mile in someone's shoes....
Being a single-mother without any support, or a reasonable place to live, or job to work at, or a job that helps one pay for child care is more than difficult, it is probably overwhelming, to say the least. Oh and then there's that pesky food, utilities, diapers, cost of transportation, you get my drift.
Then there's the fact that there's virtually no real support to learn how to be a mom, what to do, how to manage and understand an infant/baby. Oh did I forget the post-parfumerie depression thing?
All I know is that without my husband, Mom, sister, friends, education, a roof over my head and money to pay for it all, I might've not been able to 'make it' as a mom.
Joey, I know you mean well. I just felt that today, I don't wanna jump on the hate-that-24-year-old-mother bandwagon. Thanks for letting me put it out there.

and welcome to DU. The points you raise in your post are good ones. I was older when I became a mother and my daughter was already 16 months old (we were very fortunate to have been allowed to adopt her). My mom was dead and my friends and relatives mostly empty nesters or grandparents. My husband had had 2 kids in his first marriage and had specific ideas on how he wanted to raise our child, which I didn't agree with. It was very difficult to be a mother under those circumstances. I can understand how overwhelmed a young woman might be, especially if trying to mother under the circumstances you describe. I'm not saying she should not face consequences for her actions, and in the current climate and economy I'm sure there is no money for parenting classes and job training, but I truly hope she receives some type of help.

I didn't want to put anyone 'down' including the poster. Hope that translated.

although I know not everyone does.

Here in Florida, I think they allow a no-questions asked drop-off at any firehouse or hospital. Makes sense.

Makes it very difficult to track at risk parents, I'm wondering if this young woman has psychiatric issues or perhaps is developmentally disabled. And while I don't doubt she may have had a rough go to want to give up her baby, it seems especially cruel to just leave a defenseless baby all alone in the cold woods. As a Social Worker for many years I know the difficulties alot of parents face, particularly if they are sole caregiver. I can't think of a single client I've ever had that would resort to something so heartless. I'm so glad this baby was found alive and unharmed, but I shudder to think what she must've experienced when she saw her mom walk away. I pray this sweet baby is adopted into a good family and is given a chance at life.

I expect there is much to understand about the young woman's circumstances.