A two-year-old girl was slapped in the face by a stranger who told her mother the toddler should be in a pram, police said.
The attacker, a woman in her 60s, approached the pair in a Waitrose car park last week.
After telling the mother the child should be in a pushchair, the woman picked the girl up and put her in the chair, according to police.
She then slapped the child in the face when she started to cry.
The woman walked off after the incident, which happened in Kingsthorpe, Northampton, at about 10am last Thursday.
Northamptonshire Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack.
The attacker is described as white, about 5ft 4in in height, with a slim build and black, frizzy, long hair.
She was wearing bright-red lipstick, a black coat, black trousers and boots.
Anyone with any information can contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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