"Baby on board" advice for parents

Another baby has died in an overheated car while a parent forgot that the baby was in the car. While I find it incredible that a parent could be so distracted by anything that they forget they have the baby along with them in the car, I accept that humans will "zone out" in certain circumstances. One is when there is a change in routine, where a parent takes the child who normally does not to daycare and so forth. The other thing I understand, to some degree, is that people strap their kids into carriers in the back of big SUV's and so forth and so if they fall asleep, as they often do, they are "out of sight and out of mind." (I still am the type of person who would obsess with driving extra careful when I have a baby in the car, and thus would be unlikely to forget the baby is there, no matter how quiet he or she might be during the ride). But humans make mistakes.

I have a suggestion. You know how there are a lot of toys that attach via key ring to purses and so forth? Kids put them on knapsacks? I suggest you get one for each of your infant children. Then, whenever you take your baby to your car, you take that toy along and either hang it on your key chain or on your rear view mirror, your purse or briefcase, etc. This is your "baby on board" reminder.

So even if you are a hectic parent who has the baby when you don't normally on your commute, and you forget the baby is in the car, when you park and go to leave your car you can't help but see a big fluffy yellow chick, or pink pig, or teddy bear or whatever dangling from your keys, your purse, your briefcase, the car door handle, or wherever you had placed it when you got in the car.

Grandparents, this is something you can buy for your children for their "baby on board" reminders. It seems that nagging is really appropriate here. Even one death is too many and I read about it year after year after year.

So you keep the toy or toys, one for each infant or small child, where you keep your car keys in your home. When you pick up your car keys you also pick up the toy and bring it with you along with the baby to the car. You place the toy in the unforgettable and un-missable place where you are certain to see it when you arrive at your destination and park your car. If you are dropping off the baby at daycare, for example, you keep the toy in the un-missable spot in your car. Thus when you get in your car at the end of your work day, you see the toy there and remember that it's your turn to pick up the baby. When you arrive home and put your car keys in their usual place you put the "baby on board" toy next to your keys, ready for the next use.

Do it, folks, and tell others to do so. Better yet, buy extras and give them to other parents and explain the idea to them. I really hope this helps.