I recently read this horrifying story in a parenting magazine, possibly American Baby - I read a lot of them, but that’s not really the point is it?

Horrifying story: What the magazine noted is that it’s more common than we think for a parent to leave a baby in a car. Between 30-40 babies die each year because a parent left them in the car, only to come back and find them dead from hyperthermia.  In the story, founder of Kids and Cars noted that often, it’s not some loony parent - it’s simply that their routine changed. For example they don’t usually take the baby to day care, but had to, forgot and drove to work, and then left the baby in the car. Stuff like that. Scary stuff.

The article recommends that you take a stuffed toy and leave it in the car seat. When you put your baby in the car seat; put the stuffed toy up front with you - in the passenger seat. Then you’ll see the toy and be reminded of the baby.  It strikes me as terrible, but not terribly out of the question, that a good parent could leave their baby in the car. I do remember how dead tired being a new parent is - ok still is. It’s not a bad idea. For more ideas about kids and car safety visit the Kids and Cars site. They have tons of helpful hints and tricks that can help your little one stay safe in the car.