Reader comments
Baby critical after being left in hot car

So sorry for the mother. God bless this child.

Time and time again we become distracted and forgot our most precious children.

This happens more and more because they are in the backseat. One time when my first was very young (now in his 30's) I was at a laundrymat I almost forgot him. I consider myself a loving and caring mom. My heart aches for this mother and other mothers that this has happened to. The law cannot punish her anymore than she is punishing herself. Don't give me that more holdier than thou speech.

This is happening more and more and that is because no one slows down or even stops to take a breath anymore. We get so wraped up in everything that we forget the little things; in this instance our children. My thoughts a prayers go out to this family.

This may be a stupid idea, but what if there was some way a sensor could be put in the car that went off when a baby was left in a car seat, tied into the car system when there is a certain amount of weight in the seat. You know, like when I leave my lights on or leave in my keys. I don't know if this is possible, just a thought.

Poor mother. I don't know if I could forgive myself. I hope she can.

That does not sound stupid at all. In fact it might be the next option put into vehicles. Great Idea!

There seems to be an assumption that there is a higher rate of this sad occurrence now than in the past. Can anyone back up such an assumption? It may be true, but do we really know?

It's like war. Everyone assumes that wars are more common and more violent now than in the past, but I think an objective look shows that this world is actually safer now than just about ever in history, on the whole. Now we just happen to be more informed and aware.

This is seriously a good idea. I know more than one person who has nearly forgotten a baby in a care--they are in the back, as Okie said. And if you have several other kids and packages and so on, it might happen to even very well-intentioned parents.
I remember once when I lived near enough (about 2 blocks) to our church that our family often walked. We had a baby only a couple of months old and six other kids. Suddenly, as we were walking, I realized that NO ONE had picked up the baby (different ones of us took turns carrying him--we didn't have a stroller, this was over 30 years ago). Talk about mortified! See Mom run!
I do hope this baby will recover.

No, we can't back up the assumption. But in the past, we never buckled up, so the kids never got left in the car.

I once left my baby in the car for about twenty minutes before I remembered. I felt so terrible. This could happen to anyone.

I started putting my purse in the backseat with the baby every single time I drove so that this would never happen again.

There's actually something already on the market that does something similar to your good idea, Clare. It's a thing that clips on to your baby's clothing. If you walk away more than ten feet or so, it makes a small dongle on your keychain go off. Your idea based on weight in the car seat is a good one as well.

--->I started putting my purse in the backseat with the baby every single time I drove so that this would never happen again.<---

I understand your panic, and bravo for coming up with a nearly fool-proof way to make sure it never happens again. Very smart!

Isn't it sad that, in this modern world, we're more apt to forget a baby than a purse?

the purse is always in the car with me, but the baby isn't. The baby is often home with Dad when I go shopping. So the purse still stays in the back seat. You can't make me feel bad about doing what what my subconcious will remind me of.

Where do you people come from. Maybe you need something bad to happen to you so you can become humble.

2 hours though? How is it possible to forget a 6 month old baby for so long? They need constant food and care. There weren't other children distracting her as far as I read. It just seems like a very costly mistake. Maybe the mother was sleep deprived but 2 hours? I really pray that the baby will come through but the probability of that happening is very slim.

Get to the drawing board and design it! Thats a great idea! Saves lives and feel really good about making your money! Go Clare!

"happened to me" -- I don't think anyone was trying to make you feel bad. Instead, I read praise for your idea with the purse.

I, too, pray that this child will recover.

with all the stuff we carry around now days. So many sensor alarms would be going off that no one would pay any attention. Look at it now with just door locks etc. Think of something else folks. God bless this family...and the baby. Cars are just not for leaving baby's in period. Don't do it folks.

when innocent victims are hurt or killed by other's negligence it doesn't really help to say that it was an accident, the baby will be just as dead if it was an accident or not.

And I'm sure you have NEVER done anything from distraction that you regret or someone else could possibly consider unforgiveable??? Get off your high horse.

When it comes to criminal behavior, especially when others will be in danger, I am so with you. But, I would imagine that the least likely person to leave a child in the car, would be a person who has already done it. The best that can come out of horrible events like this is that we become more educated. There are some great ideas being discussed here. We live in a very different world. Like was said, kids weren't in car seats in the back seat. We are trying to do too much. It is easy to say we need to slow down, but it is not always easy to know how to do that. This mother is suffering already. Of course I care about the innocent child. I have four children of my own and the thought of one of them being stuck in a car (or anywhere)calling for help makes me literally sick, but prosecuting the mother won't help. Education and innovation will.