My daycare used to call and she did request that we call if we're going to be late dropping off. But now she has so many kids, I don't think she notices so much. I did read that article a couple years ago when DS was an infant and it totally freaked me out. I'm generally the drop off and pick up person. If someone else takes DS to daycare, I always wait until 15 or 20 minutes past when I know they would have been dropped off and call that person to see how the drop off went to ease my mind. For rear facing children, I think it is especially easy forget them if they fall asleep - can completely see how that would happen after reading the article.
Another idea in addition to the bag in the back that I read was to put a large stuffed animal in the carseat when your child isn't there - then put the animal on your front passenger seat on top of your stuff when you put the child in the car.

Our daycare does not call. I kind of wish they would, but would prefer that they pay more attention to my child first (vs taking one caregiver away to make phone calls).

I read that WP article when it was first run (in the magazine, I believe) and was absolutely horrified. B/c the circumstances are SO MUNDANE and I could TOTALLY see myself or DH getting stressed out, and then one little blip in the routine would lead to a tragedy.
DH didn't see what I was so worked up about. His thought: "We're not idiots." But my point was those parents weren't idiots either (I don't think).

We do have a schedule in which DH ALWAYS does dropoff and I ALWAYS do pickup which I think lessens some of my fears.

Daycares also usually want to know why you aren't there, particularly when there's an illness and they want to alert other parents.

Anonymous wrote: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?

While the calls might save a life, I actually think the goal is likely more practical. If your daycare knows they won't have X number of infants today, or that they'll be below ratio until 10, or whatever, they can arrange staffing to suit. For example, if you're in MD where you can have 2 teachers with up to 6 toddlers, or 3 with up to 9, and you know you only have 6 today you can move the third teacher to cover the absent infant teacher. If you have 6 toddlers but don't know if the 7th is at the doctor and arriving any moment, then you need to hire a sub.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Great idea, thanks for sharing!

No they don't. If you regularly drop off I don't see how you can forget but if you are the parent who is just the back up or doesn't do it regularly, then I can see it happening. Good for your child's school. It is a great thing to do.

I think the purse in the bawonderful is a wonderful strategy. My kid is past this stage and while I never forgot to take him to daycare I have gotten out of work and driven to his school to get him, not remembering that he's at camp, or driven home right past my mom's where I am supposed to pick him up. So I know I am capable of doing this.