Warn the parent who has not seen it
A toddler heading for a road or a pond. The parent is two seconds behind and has not looked up.
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Why it lands
Small children move faster than adults expect and parents cannot maintain continuous attention indefinitely. Most near-misses are resolved by a stranger who noticed. The hesitation — not wanting to seem like you are criticizing someone's parenting — is a completely inadequate reason to stay quiet, and in this specific case the cost of being wrong is nothing at all.
How
Say it loudly and factually, aimed at the parent rather than the child: “He's heading for the road.” Do not grab the child unless there is immediate danger and no other option, and stand back once the parent has them.
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A written list of what else helps in the same situation.
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