how is it possible to forget you have a child in the car?

Question

i'm not a mother but i know if i had a child i would not forget that they are in the car. there has been a rash of these incidents lately and am wondering how is this possible??

to add to this question no not everyone is perfect but that is ridiculous. you carry a child in your stomach for nine months you would think you would excercise a little more caution.

Answer 1

The only thing I can think of is that they parents are busy and their minds are elsewhere and the baby is asleep so they aren't making any noise. But honestly I don't know. All I know is that I couldn't forget my son in the car.

Answer 2

The most understandable case of this occurring that I remember is a family just home from church. There were several children, some teenagers, and everyone just piled out of the van assuming someone else had gotten the baby. Her body was found hours later. When you have a large family and they share responsibilities it's easy--though you can ask yourself the question why didn't the parents check?

We are a society constantly focused on the ME factor. I can't believe, as a mother of 5, that anyone truly forgets their child is in the car unless their abusing drugs, alcohol or are on meds--and shouldn't be driving anyway. Still things do slip my mind. Yesterday I left the groceries in the car and the store is 5 min away. Society has made it acceptable for these people to say they "forgot" their child was in the car. I guess it's easier than digging into the whys. Sadly these parents have to live their lives with the guilt of knowing their child died through their action or inaction. That has to be a really rough thing to deal with.

Answer 3

First let me say that when this happens accidentally, it is a tradgedy. Anyone who would do this on purpose is a murderer. With that being said, I have had 3 children and understand how hectic daily routines can be: getting them ready for school/babysitter/daycare, getting yourself (and husband) ready for work, remembering all the last minute details: lunch money, school projects, work reports, etc. All of the stuff going thru one's head at 7am (or whatever) after not getting enough sleep for ...as old as the children are, confounded by dropping one child off here, another there and then realizing you forgot a report...I can see how it could happen if the baby is sleeping in a car seat in a back seat or even 3rd seat of a van. I personally always look in my car before leaving it in a parking lot to ensure I haven't left anything--my purse, money etc. (my kids are older) visible that might encourage theft. I think these accidents are horrible and wonder how a mother could ever get over such a thing. I don't think it's stupidity, altho' I'm sure in some cases, its a contributing factor. Too much going on, not enough sleep, or other health issues...not thinking about the task at hand-getting kids safely to their destinations. I certainly dont excuse it, but I can see how it could happen.

Answer 4

Im a relatively new mom.... my baby is 16 months old and Im 39 years old. This is my first child. Ive never left my baby in the car - but - I can tell you that pregnant women get scatterbrained and sometimes the effects do linger on past giving birth. Becoming a parent for the first time literally does change EVERYTHING from what time you get to sleep, eat, and even use the restroom! Between sleep deprivation and dealing with all the changes in life - it can easily overwhelm you and simple tasks like going to the grocery store suddenly become major outings.

There is no excuse for forgetting a child - dont get me wrong - but I do feel bad for the parents accidentally do so and get the wrath from people who automatically assume that the parent was out doing drugs or something bad.

Answer 5

Alot of people are under stress. It is very possible to forget about the child in the care when you are pressed for time. what if you have a good baby that doesn't cry alot, and you have so much on your mind. Look at how many people get out of cars without keys, or don't shut the lights off. it can happen to anyone. Now there are some people that leave their children in cars to kill them, but not all.

Answer 6

I know what you mean. I read this in the paper all the time
just in the area where i live. Some of these girls are just
what they are. Young girls with babies who have way to
much on there minds they forget. There in a rush with
getting to the mall or they have boyfriend/husband problems
which to no avail is no excuse what so ever. It just breaks
my heart when this happens. Then the ones who are on
drugs, need i say more!!
Its just not the kids, its animals as well. Some people need
a good knock up agaisnt the head. To many have watch
BRITNEY to long.

Answer 7

i have never done it but i can see how it will happen. My daughter is very quite in the car and i don't usually take her in the morning. There have been times when i need to take her and i am half way to work instead of to grand ma because i forgot she was in the car and was taking my usuall route. If by some chance i am late for work and i get to work i usually just jump out and run for the elevator i don't look in the back seat on a normal day so i can see how someone would forget just doing their everyday routine that does not usually inculde the child

Answer 8

I think it's usually a case of someone's mind being so overly occupied that they just dont stop and take the time to think. I know I forget a LOT of things. I've never forgotten my child in the car... alas I have the opposite problem. I'm so used to having them with me all the time that I try to get them out of their car seats even when they stayed at home. Perhaps that's because it's habit for me to have them with all the time... and maybe not for the parent who forgot their child. Either way, it's tragic.

Answer 9

i asked this question yesterday. i got alot of responses saying oh its possible if you are running on no sleep. No im sorry i had a job where i worked until 230 in the morning and when i got home had to take care of my daughter for a couple hours and then finally got sleep until 7 or so and maybe snuck in a 30 min nap when she napped and i have still never even forgot my baby in the back seat. some people just shouldnt have kids.

Answer 10

Personally I don't think it is. Hectic as your life may be, forgetting a child has to be one of the most impossible things. Either these people left them in the car thinking they would be fine, or did it purposly.