Let me start off by saying that one of my WORST fears is forgetting a baby in the back seat. With my first baby, I remember wondering how on Earth anyone could ever “forget” that their baby was in the back seat. It didn’t make sense to me AT. ALL.
Then one day I was out of my normal routine. I was watching someone else’s kids, driving someone else’s vehicle, and one of her kids needed something at the Dollar Store for a school project. I walked the kids into the store (probably while also talking on the phone and trying to figure out what to make for dinner that night), when one of the kids asked me where my baby was.
That’s when the horror hit me. I had left her in the car.
I’ll never forget that feeling. I had done exactly what I thought was too crazy to even fathom. I forgot she was in the car with me. Luckily, it was an overcast day and she hadn’t been in there long–luckily. But the whole way home I wanted to cry. And I felt like the world’s worst parent.
In recent years, I have talked to other level-headed, amazing moms with similar stories of forgetting a baby in the back seat (or a sleeping child).
Since my experience, a video came out that went viral on Facebook about not leaving your kids in the car, even for a few minutes. I am not linking to this video, because although I think it has a good message, it was way too traumatic for me. I have had about 20 nightmares since watching–each about me leaving my kids in the car! They are horrible nightmares.
I am now convinced that it can happen to ANYONE. Which is why I wanted to write this post. If it ends up saving even one life, it’s well worth it.
My sister-in-law gave me a great tip to help remember a baby or sleeping child in the back seat. Some of you may have heard it, some of you may not have. Either way, I hope you will share it with any mom that you know. Let’s make sure this never happens to us, or any of our family members or friends.
THE SHOE TRICK. The point of the shoe trick is that whenever you go to put your baby in their car seat, you take off one shoe and put it next to him/her. Even on your spaciest days, the chances that you will walk into the store with just one shoe on are pretty slim. My sister-in-law does this any time she is in a different routine (driving at a different time that usual, to a different place, or with a different person). Any time she thinks there is even the SLIGHTEST chance that she could forget, she takes her shoe off.
On a Timer. Another trick I have heard is to set an alarm for the estimated time that it will take to get to your destination. Title it “baby” or whatever will remind you to grab that precious child of yours.
I have heard of some others, but these are the only two that feel fail-proof for my personality and my current phase of life. If you have any other ideas, I would LOVE to hear them! Please, please PLEASE! Don’t say it could never happen to you. Just be cautious just in case! 🙂