babies dying in cars because their parent forgot to drop them off at daycare

[Anonymous]

So, I was just reading another (of the many) news reports of a parent forgetting to drop their baby off at daycare, and finding the baby dead in the car. It's so sad. My son's daycare (Heritage Learning Center) in Hyattsville has a policy that if you are going to be late dropping your child off, or if they are going to be out that day, you MUST call them and let them know. If you don't, they call the parents to check, and they also fine you (a small amount, which is probably just to remind you of the importance of calling them in these situations). Don't most daycares do this too? It seems like a no-brainer for all daycares to do this. Does your daycard do this?

[Anonymous]

I don't think it should be the daycare's responsibility to follow up on why the parent didn't drop the child off.

[Anonymous]

My preschool does not call and I wish they would. I'm a new parent there, but I think I might try and change this.

[Anonymous]

We've been at three different daycares and none of them have called when I didn't drop a child off. I agree that it would be terrific, but it is one more thing a daycare would need to be responsible for, with no direct benefit to them.

[Anonymous]

My daycare definitely does NOT do this.

[Anonymous]

I post this every time I see a thread like this.
The best way to avoid this is to make a habit, every single day, of putting your bag/purse/briefcase whatever it is you take with you to work in the back seat with the baby. Don't ever put it up front with you. If by some horrible chance you are off your schedule and off your game and forget, you'll see the baby when you go into the back to get your stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it should be the daycare's responsibility to follow up on why the parent didn't drop the child off.

I don't see it as a question of responsibility and fault -- I see it as one more opportunity to avoid a horrific tragedy.

[Anonymous]

after reading those I starting putting my laptop in my back seat.

[Anonymous]

I can't help but wonder if this would somehow put a daycare at risk for being sued. Let's face it, people sue over everything, and I could see someone leaving their child in the car and trying to say that daycare did not call in time, called the wrong number, should have kept calling etc and place blame on the daycare.

[Anonymous]

How about you take responsibility for dropping your own kid off. Geez. Can you do anything? Just give the kid to the govt to raise for crying out loud.

[Anonymous]

This is parent responsability and Not the daycare...do not make sence...Who ever is the mom or the dad who forget the baby in the car, is Totally crazy!!!

[Anonymous]

My daycare definitely calls if we don't drop off our DD by around 10am or so. I don't think they "have" to, and we obviously believe it to be OUR responsibility, but it certainly is nice to know they notice, and care.

[Anonymous]

One of the best newspaper articles I have ever read is on this topic.

Warning: it is very, very sad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/27/AR2009022701549.html

[Anonymous]

Our DD's preschool calls if she doesn't show up, and our daycare in another state did as well. I'm surprised to hear that this is not the norm.

[Anonymous]

We did the purse in the backseat thing too. It works. I also am careful to use my keys for locking the car door all the time. I never left my kid in the car, but two times I drove off to work and only noticed I didn't drop off at daycare first till I was halfway there.