All to often we hear stories on the news of children being forgotten in the back seat of a car. Thirty-three children (mostly babies) died last year, a low number when you consider that the yearly average is thirty-eight. Hearing these tragic stories we all think how could a parent forget their child. Sleep deprivation and routine change, which we all know is part of a new parent's life, are the usual culprits. There are a few steps that you can take to make sure this doesn't happen to you. I know what your thinking "it could never happen to my child". I am sure that that is what those other parents thought right up until the time it happened to them. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry.
1) Don't ever leave your child in the car. Quick errands sometimes turn into extended errands.
2) Keep items that you need to take with you in the back seat beside the car seat instead of in the front seat.
3) Keep a stuffed animal in the carseat when it isn't in use. Place the large stuffed animal in the front seat when baby is in car seat. Hard to ignore a large stuffed animal.
4) Use a child alert system that work like the key alarm. ChildMinder Smart Clip System and the ChildMinder Smart Pad System, Cars-N-Kids Car Seat Monitor to name a few. Note they only work if you use them.
5) If your child has a daycare or babysitter, ask them to notify you if your child doesn't show up.
6) Use the drive-thru services when ever possible. If you don't get out of the car there is no risk of forgetting your child in a hot car,
7) Keep car locked at all times when not in use, to avoid having a child wandering into the car to play.
8) Of course! There is a new app for this.
9) Let any caregiver who is going to be transporting your child know about these tips.
No comments:
Post a Comment