Mother who forgot baby in car wants changes made to car seats

[chag]

I do believe she plead guilty did she not so that would be a sign of taking responsability right? For others this has happened to, who knows as for how it would work I would think it would be tied in with the cars computer so when the engine turns off it goes off just as if you've got the key in the ignition

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by chag

I can definitely see young working mothers with as much stress as they have nowadays going through something as horrible as this

I don't know about that. I mean I was 18 when I gave birth to my now 11 year old daughter. I was a full time college student and had to get a part time job. I had a LOT going on but was never careless enough to leave my daughter behind, even during during nights that I would only sleep a couple of hours because I had to study and felt like a zombie during the mornings... I could never EVER imagine doing something like this. I am sorry, but there is absolutely no excuse in my book to do something like this. My child has always been my first priority and I could never do something like this. I do feel sorry for these parents, I can only imagine what is must be like "killing" (accidentally) your own child.

[habanerita]

I am totally in agreement and as I posted I had my share of misses and of mishaps when my children were little. There but for the Grace of God go I. An alarm or anything else that might help is a good thing.

Originally Posted by chag

Very very surprised there aren't more comments like these(If I missed others I apologize). Even I admit I've been victim to too many things on the brain. Forgotten something or entirely missed something I was supposed to do. Thank God in Heaven it was never a child but I can't even begin to imagine the sadness on this families hearts I'd have to say the loss of a child just beginning to walk and beginning a very special time in her parents hearts and memories is punishment enough and thankfully the mother is trying to prevent it from happening to anyone else is a great thing. Hopefully more good than bad will come out of this tragedy.

[chag]

To Charlie
I'm sure your an exception and a wonderful one at that but things happen and this is a sad example of it. She probably would have never thought it could ever happen to her either

[chag]

Originally Posted by habanerita

I am totally in agreement and as I posted I had my share of misses and of mishaps when my children were little. There but for the Grace of God go I. An alarm or anything else that might help is a good thing.

I think that's the key word here H. Help. Prevent and keep the children safe

[Charlie]

I wonder if these parents had any of those mirrors you put in the back to look at your child......

[dallas]

I have a feeling that some of you (perhaps all?) are going to let me have it after this post but I have to say it because it always comes to mind after reading of tragedies such as this.
I believe that the silly notion of "having it all" may be a big factor in these situations. We want children but don't want to give up a career and we try to juggle. We have stressed parents dropping children off a day care at Lord-only-knows what time in the morning, so that they can rush to their busy jobs then after 8/9/10 hours at work, rushing back to pick up their children, going home, cooking dinner, bath time, bedtime, get up early and do it all over again. Everyone is exhausted and stressed, going through the motions without stopping to think. It's exhausting being a SAHP and exhausting to work full time and when you combine the two, is it any wonder that things like this can happen?

[Roo]

^^ no one should flame you, dallas. Except to say that many folks don't have a choice and have to work, but yes, I see your point and agree on many levels.

[nataliam1976]

Plus as someone mentioned in one of the threads, 75% of child deaths are caused by parents. This is an enormous percentage and if there is no punishment involved in those car deaths, its only a matter of time when somebody uses it consciously and gets away with it. Sad but true.

[merika]

Originally Posted by Roo

I actually got a little angry when I read the article, bella. The reason is that if there are alarms placed on car seats and they don't work right, then the parent gets to sue the alarm company for negligence if their child dies. It totally removes the responsibility for remembering your child is in the car from the parent.

I disagree with you on this one. My car has a seatbelt alarm and I'm a careful driver but there have been occasions when, if not for the alarm I would have driven off without fastening my seatbelt because I've been distracted by something. It doesn't mean that I always wait for the alarm before I fasten my belt or that I will sue Ford motor corp because it didn't work and I had an accident, it just REMINDS me when I've forgotten - which happens about once every three years but it happens. I'm human.

Why would you even think about disagreeing with something that might prevent a child's death by whatever means?

The reason more deaths occur now is that there is a rule for rear facing child seats; when we were children this was not in effect. It's easier to forget if you only see the back of your child's seat in the rearview mirror and can't see whether the seat is empty unless you park the car and go look.

[merika]

...and I've also forgotten my purse in my car, especially if I didn't need to take it out at a particular store so any conjecture about whether the lady forgets her purse or not is entirely pointless.

It's real easy to point fingers and be self righteous...because WE'VE never made a mistake like that - yet.

[chag]

Well said merika

[Jahpson]

*violins playing*

When I was a child, my brother and I had the less then fancy child seats back in the 80s-90s then there are today, and my mother and father NEVER forgot us.

Self-responsibility is something she needs to embrace. Modern contraptions cannot make us better and alert parents!

[chag]

Violins playing? Wow. Compassion gone to hell in a handbasket with that one. Like I've said and others too accidents can, will and do happen regardless of just how careful you think you're being. Obviously it will never happen to you or anyone you know, at least you hope.

[chag]

Oh and those modern contraptions save lives every minute of every day dear