Re: Forgetting your baby in the car

MrsPatterson · August 2010

I just re-read the article that Useonfire posted about the parents who forget their babies in the car and they die. It kills me every time. I'm JW what everyone thinks on this one. Do you believe these parents should face legal consequences?

ENev · August 2010

No, I don't. I think they made a TRAGIC mistake that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.

What KILLS me is that here in Milwaukee, we're facing a co-sleeping death EPIDEMIC in the poor parts of the city. Something like 15 this year already. Many people wonder, myself included, if these people are purposefully killing their babies and using "co-sleeping" as the excuse. Or even if they aren't doing it on purpose, they are putting their children in unsafe sleeping conditions and getting drunk or high and smothering them.

Yet they don't face criminal charges! THOSE people should face charges before parents who leave their kid in the car completely accidentally.

lkstor · August 2010

ENev:
No, I don't. I think they made a TRAGIC mistake that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.
What KILLS me is that here in Milwaukee, we're facing a co-sleeping death EPIDEMIC in the poor parts of the city. Something like 15 this year already. Many people wonder, myself included, if these people are purposefully killing their babies and using "co-sleeping" as the excuse. Or even if they aren't doing it on purpose, they are putting their children in unsafe sleeping conditions and getting drunk or high and smothering them.
Yet they don't face criminal charges! THOSE people should face charges before parents who leave their kid in the car completely accidentally.

I disagree with you completely. Of course you should face legal consequences. You were negligent as a parent. The laws do not necessarily imply INTENT to do so. If you kill someone inadvertently kill someone you are still legally responsible.

nicobean1 · August 2010

I always put my diaper bag and anything else I plan to get out of the car with into the backseat next to DS. I've told DH to do the same - if he has him in the car, put the laptop, his messenger bag, lunch, etc next to DS and then he will not risk forgetting him in the car.

Jacquiemark · August 2010

IMO, yes I think they should. Although they have to live with what they have done, they are still negligent. They can be found liable. It would be hard to prove to me that it was a "accident." You should know where your baby is at all times and never leave it up to chance that you are just running in for a "quick" errand.

MrsPatterson · August 2010

Jacquiemark:
IMO, yes I think they should. Although they have to live with what they have done, they are still negligent. They can be found liable. It would be hard to prove to me that it was a "accident." You should know where your baby is at all times and never leave it up to chance that you are just running in for a "quick" errand.

I definitely agree that parents who purposely left their child in the car to go run an errand deserve to be prosecuted. But I can't wrap my head around the thought of putting a parent in prison who completely accidentally left their baby in the car. I know we can't imagine doing that ourselves, but the parents profiled in this article are clearly in such terrible emotional and mental anguish over what they did. I would hope they would get community service at most, as well as court-required counseling, since I feel like having to live with the knowledge that your baby died because of you is more punishment than a court could ever prescribe.

Jacquiemark · August 2010

MrsPatterson:

Jacquiemark:
IMO, yes I think they should. Although they have to live with what they have done, they are still negligent. They can be found liable. It would be hard to prove to me that it was a "accident." You should know where your baby is at all times and never leave it up to chance that you are just running in for a "quick" errand.

I definitely agree that parents who purposely left their child in the car to go run an errand deserve to be prosecuted. But I can't wrap my head around the thought of putting a parent in prison who completely accidentally left their baby in the car. I know we can't imagine doing that ourselves, but the parents profiled in this article are clearly in such terrible emotional and mental anguish over what they did. I would hope they would get community service at most, as well as court-required counseling, since I feel like having to live with the knowledge that your baby died because of you is more punishment than a court could ever prescribe.

I see what you mean but it would depend on the details. Tragic accidents with loved ones happen all the time that are "mistakes" and people are charged with manslaughter just as well. I guess it comes down to being a case by case basis and what the court decides. Either way it is a horrible and tragic situation.

To me, it's a child, a life that you are responsible for. It is not a set of keys or your purse that you forgot in the car. I just don't understand how someone could not realize that they didn't drop off their child or thought someone else got them out of the car (always check to make sure). If you are a very forgetful person, you should take measures to make sure this doesn't happen. Like placing all your belongings in the backseat. I have also heard a suggestion about putting a stuffed animal in the front seat to remind you that baby is on board. Also setting up with Daycare to call you if your child does not show up. Preventative measures are very easy.

Useonfire · August 2010

Living with what you did (even by accident) for the rest of your life has to be worse than anything prison could be like...

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