Children in Hot Cars.

i'm all for coming up with cool ideas to help remind people not to fark up.
i do not want to live in an america where we criminalize terrible, tragic accidents.
khairete
S.

Please don't call to legislate another law. Child care workers and teachers should not have to do this. Parents are adults. I don't blame the daddy, he is distraught enough but please don't add advocate another duty to educators.

Bug, several years ago we had a baby die in the parking garage in Children's hospital complex. Mom and dad are doctors there, mom was called in overnight so dad drove the baby in to the on site daycare.

Do you really think those parents put electronic objects before their child. If anything they put someone's life before their child.

It is one thing if it is neglect, that a parent knows the child is in the car but is running a few errands. It is quite another when it is a horrible accident.

I am sorry but when we start saying people should be charged with crimes for accidents we have a serious problem.

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Leslie, how can you take that attitude. Just because you haven't? That is crazy! So does this mean if something tragic happens to one of your kids I can sit here all smug and say well I wouldn't do that, what a neglectful mom. That isn't fair to you and your attitude isn't fair to any parent who has had a tragedy happen.

You know, sometimes I scare myself at how absent minded I can be, and how it can dangerous. I've caused damage to our property because my mind is in 30 places at once and I've got so much on my plate. Sadly, that is a side effect of this fast-paced, technologically advanced, world of ours.

I do think that a text message service would be good, but so could a special indicator sound be added to cars, similar to the seatbelt indicator or the key in the ignition indicator. Maybe it could be a baby crying, or something like that.

I could never judge another parent for such a tragic mistake. I can only mourn for them and hope that they can forgive themselves and see their babies in heaven.

Wow. Apparently it is much easier to judge another parent for a mistake that had tragic consequences than it is to recognize that we are all human, fallible and prone to error. I think sometimes, in the face of tragedy, some people try to convince themselves that it could never happen to them by loudly and vehemently denouncing whoever was involved. Too bad it isn't that simple.
As another poster said, there but for the grace of God go I.

I am terribly saddened any time I hear a story about something like this, but what good would come from trying to criminalize absentmindedness, or inattention?

I am in favor of any safety nets people can come up with.

How awful! I am so scatterbrained sometimes that I KNOW that if it weren't for the fact that I ALWAYS have the kids with me (and therefore always assume there is a child in the car) I could easily forget that there is a sleeping baby in the backseat.

I think fairly soon, someone will come out with a device that doesn't allow you to lock the car doors -- or maybe the windows will automatically roll down -- if anything weighing more than five pounds is left in the car seat. Back-up cameras are now required on all new vehicles. Maybe they should mandate come kind of safety device on new cars and/or car seats. This kind of tragedy never happened before the invention of airbags, when moms could safely put their babies in the front passenger seat.

I am so sad for these parents. I tend to be a fairly judgmental person, but I just can't pass judgment on these folks. It truly was a horrible accident. Think it couldn't happen to you? Think it couldn't happen to your husband? I'm sure that's what these poor parents thought at some point before this tragedy.

It's the parent's responsibility, and no one else's. It is not the daycare's job to remind distracted parents to do what they should be doing in the first place.

Until people start focusing on the moment they're actually IN and the people within that moment with them, and not on some stupid cell phone conversation, text message, FB feed, or other meaningless thing, then careless things will continue to happen. The majority of people I see walking around any day are just not "present". They are distracting by any # of things, none of which are the people they're with or activity they should be doing.

Coming from an insurance agents point of view, you cannot put this responsibility on anyone other than the parent driving. It is NOT the daycares responsibility to start hoping on the phone exactly at 8:15 to send out calls and texts to ask where the kids are. There is no "guarantee" that the parent will even get the call or text, then there is the chance the daycare will be blamed and made to be liable for not getting the call/text out on time or something. So no, this would not work and will likely never happen. The buck stops with the parent. Unfortunately, it is more common that it happens when its an out of the ordinary situation, like the dad taking the kid instead of the mom who usually does. Its sad, but it is an accident and can happen to any of us. JMO.

I dunno, I am closer to Bug on this one.

How in the freaking hell do you forget that *you* put your child into a car seat and strapped him/her into said car seat. How do you then forget that child in the back seat. Do you not see the child every time you look in the review mirror. Do you not hear the child babbling, coughing, crying, talking in the back seat.

How do you forget your child in the backseat of your car.

I am sorry Jo, but it is negligence.

But, Momma L. I shudder at the thought of parents needing electronic reminders that they have children. I mean really, why don't we just install microchips on the kids that will beep every 15 minutes. Or wireless controlled bracelets that will shock the parent every 15 minutes to remind them that they have a child.

Sorry, I am vitriolic tonight and kids dying needlessly just sets me off.

I love you all.

I think having a reminder call is an excellent idea. My daughter's elementary school does call if a child has not arrived by 8:15AM. I think a lot of day care providers also call if a child does not arrive and there has been no call from the parents.

I don't know about getting this specific legislation passed but I would think most schools and daycare providers would happily get on board with the idea if they don't do so already.

Another idea...parents could set a reminder or an alarm on their cell. A message will pop up that says BABY IN CAR with a blaring ring tone. Maybe someone could make a HEY DON'T FORGET YOUR KID ap.

There was an instance here where the school did call, but by the time they called, and the mom went to her car, it was too late. :)

I just don't get it. How do you not glance in the back of your car as you are getting out and locking up? As a driver, how do you not at least once glance in the rearview mirror and see your child there?

As far as an alarm, one that would work is one that is triggered by weight and motion. If the car sits still for 30 mins and the weight sensor detects weight in the seat, it sets off an alarm.

Placing your phone, laptop, etc. in the back seat as a reminder?
Your child is more important then a device.

I feel for the parents, because it happens way too much in Texas. But let's say there was a car alert, and it malfunctioned? The parents are responsible. Period.

I have to admit that a few weeks after Oliver was born, I went to Wal-mart simply to get out of the house for a little bit. I reached over to grab my purse, saw the diaper bag, and realized that I had my son in the car! Now I ALWAYS take the diaper bag with me when Oliver is coming with me and I ALWAYS put the diaper bag in the passenger seat next to my purse as an added reminder!

I certainly don't think there should be a law or a service the government can't afford. I do think there are much easier solutions. Like setting an alarm on your smart phone. Pretty much everyone has a phone that can set an alarm now. If your husband (who normally does not do drop offs) is taking the baby to daycare - have him set his alarm to go off. Not a perfect solution but It could help.

There have also been incidents where a parent's car alerts them that someone is messing with it, and they don't remember that they had the kid so they ignore it when the car is really telling them the kid is moving around inside.

This is a heartbreaking situation. The thing about it is, in their mind, they went through their day. Nothing is wrong. Until....

One thing you can do is put something you need, like your phone or purse, in the back, even without the kid in the car. It'll be habit. If you forget the item, you'll miss it. You'll go looking for it. You'll see your kid. Or put a post it on your steering wheel. Or have someone call you if it's not typically your turn to drop the kid off. Sometimes daycares will call if they don't see your kid at the usual drop off time. I think that if you need a reminder, ask for one or make one. Be a safety net for each other. It does not take much to save a life. It doesn't need to be a law. I found myself peeking in coworker's cars on my way in to make sure the baby seat was empty.

Great ideas :-) Yes, it is soooo sad.

I don't think we need legislation - we are governed enough.

It would be great if each family would put a practice in place where if the regular person is not taking the baby to daycare, that the other person call that person at or near dropoff time to remind/check. This is something that each family needs to do for themselves.

Let's start the practice here with us on this site. If your SO is taking the child to daycare, and it's not their usual routine, please call your SO or spouse to make sure the child was dropped off. Tell your friends; tell your family. Just by word of mouth we can make a BIG difference!

The mother of the baby could have saved his life, if she had called the father at some point when he was expected to arrive at work. Just a quick check-in call to see if hte older kids got to school alright and how did the baby do with the drop off, etc.
As far as "hot" cars, small babies can die of dehydration after hours of neglect. They can also freeze to death in the winter.

It is so sad that this happens!!! I always put my baby's diaperbag in the front seat with me or strap in a teddy bear etc. It is a reminder to look in the back seat. Also for parents that drop off at daycare--a system where the parent gets a phone call if their child isn't there within 15 min of normal time, would be helpful.....Something needs to happen so this doesn't have to happen to another child.

I do not recall babies being left in the car when they were allowed to ride in their car seat in the front seat. I do not believe it is that dangerous in my opinion. It just seems that in this stressful world and rush rush rush people are not thinking clearly and those that are to use to having babies with them in the car will forget. I remember we were unloading groceries, my sister, mom and myself, and we forgot the baby was in the backseat. She wasn't in there hardly any time, bush the fact of the mater is we forgot her. That's when I told my sister that I saw now how a parent can forget a child. I M not taking up for them, it's just that I can understand.