That seems like a staggering statistic. You may be asking yourself, "Who forgets about a baby in a car?"
The truth is, we all do.
Parents of every socioeconomic level have done this. Professionals, stay-at-home parents, grandparents; all good people.
But why is it happening more now?
In the 1990’s the pediatrics and automotive industries recommended that car seats be moved to the back seat to avoid airbag injuries, but no one anticipated the tragic reality that this move would cause. Not only that, but the stress and pressure of being an adult -- much less a parent -- can overwhelm your brain to the point of being utterly distracted.
Out of sight and asleep in the back seat, infants are regularly forgotten there.
Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann and Melanie Cole, MS, discuss how dangerous (but yet preventable) this can be.
Out of sight and asleep in the back seat, infants are regularly forgotten there.
Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann and Melanie Cole, MS, discuss how dangerous (but yet preventable) this can be.
Kathleen Berchelmann, M.D., is a pediatrician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine, and an official spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Kathleen is the co-founder and director of ChildrensMD, a blog written by five dynamic mom-pediatricians who share their true confessions of trying to apply science and medicine to motherhood. Kathleen and her husband are raising five children.