<p>Everyone agrees this is a tragedy beyond words. These stories come up often enough that there really should be a massive educational campaign, without judgement about how to prevent them.</p>
<p>It is a given fact that the human brain, can act on “auto pilot”. If you drive the same way to work for YEARS, it is often easy to get there without being conscious of all the decisions you made to reach the destination. A new parent, or one acting out of their normal routine is at risk of making a fatal error. The suggestion of the diaper on the front seat is a GOOD one, and should be part of discharge teaching for EVERY baby discharged, along with some statistics. Another young mother at my job, when I was expecting my first, gave me advice to put my purse on the back seat next to the baby. Another GOOD idea, and shouldn’t be sneered upon just because a “good” mother would never forget. That can be extrapolated to putting a briefcase, cell phone, tool box etc in the back seat to enable your brain (sometimes sleep-adled and overwhelmed) to learn new motor patterns.</p>
<p>While it may be hard not pass judgement, lets instead share suggestions to prevent -without assuming “it would never happen” to me, to my family , to “good” parents. Share them with friends, family, co workers, day care providers, baby sitters, neighbors. Someone, someday may be thankful when they arrive at work and have to look around for their purse…</p>