Lakewood Mother Who Mistakenly Left Her Child In a Car Shares Her Frightening Experience

Submitted: Hi. I’m a busy mother of four children between the ages of 11 and 3 months. I had a baby 3 months ago. When I went for my first visit to the pediatrician with my newborn, as the doctor was leaving, I was asked if I had any more questions. I actually asked the doctor if he had any idea of a way to remember that I have a baby in the backseat because it was my absolute biggest fear (a friend of mine lost a baby from being in a hot car around that time). He gave me some suggestions, and I left. I worked out my own method of how I was going to remember to take my baby out of the car — and it was working seamlessly.

This past week, I returned to work after maternity leave, so my life did have a bit of a change.

On Wednesday, I went grocery shopping with my husband and 3 of my children. I was the passenger and my husband was the driver. On the way home, my husband made a stop, and I stayed in the car with my baby (and the groceries), while the other 2 kids who were with me went out of the car with him. It was taking him a while to return. It was a bit cooler outside, and I figured that leaving my groceries in a closed vehicle for a few minutes would be fine. I shut the engine and went inside.

I was inside for about 15 minutes with my husband and kids — they were showing me that they got chocolate. I told them they should take some also for their sister who was at home. That thought triggered a memory that I left my baby in the car!!!

Baruch Hashem when I got to the car, she was okay. As I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t the hottest day, but I don’t want to think what would have happened had it been hot out.

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16 COMMENTS

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Clever Elley
5 months ago

Free Clever Elley devices can be picked up in the Arlington area.
This device is plugged into a power port in your car, and it will remind you to check the back seat every time the engine is turned off.
You can reach out to 848-240-1880 to pick yours up!

Z_E
Reply to  Clever Elley
5 months ago

this is such a nice and generous thing!

Heshy
5 months ago

People have to know, that leaving your baby in the backseat, can be one step closer to forgetting them there ‏חס ושלום.
The best prevention is to put them in the front passenger seat, so you always see them.
Lots of people do it already, and i believe it is legal in some places in the USA and in other countries.
About the airbag, you would obviously disable it, If your car can do that. If not maybe there are workarounds.
Right now, I don’t think it’s legal in New Jersey, but it should be.

P.S. anyone who thinks a parent is at fault for leaving a child in the car is wrong for thinking that. Why? Because it was Hashem’s will For a child to die, there have been unfortunately other tragedies as well- drowning, kidnapping etc… They could’ve been prevented, by locking an extra gate or watching them closer, but it was all Hashem’s plan. We have to do our hishtadlus as much as possible, but it’s up to Hashem what ends up happening.

s
Reply to  Heshy
4 months ago

That is a very disturbing statement !

H
Reply to  s
4 months ago

Which part of it is disturbing?

E
5 months ago

Clever elly is available to purchase at 3M pharmacy in Lakewood. Stop what you’re doing, by one. U don’t buy it and have it, imho your Korov LMazid. Enough of this. Stop what you’re doing and get it. Someone else posted Theyre free if u call them. Do it right now.

Esti
5 months ago

Every parent’s fear!
It could happen to the best of us, it’s imperative we take action that can prevent this. Thanks for posting about Clever Elly. It seems easy to use

Shmeel
5 months ago

The easiest thing to do is put your wallet or purse in with the baby. Something that’s part of your habit of Not forgetting. It’s called Second nature. Automatically you’ll think- “Where is it?”.
This won’t cause an extra Dime. No excuses I can’t afford the other products that are out there.

pb
5 months ago

the clever elley device is not fool proof there is a much better alarm for a small fee that reminds you WHEN THE BABY IS IN THE BACK not every time you turn off the car and your baby isn’t there_that just makes you ignore the alarm!! PLease do yourself a favor and get this car alarm. You can call 732 674 8951. this person installed it for me and its great!!

Me
5 months ago

My friend taught me to leave my shoe in the back seat. Its very helpful. You feel the weirdness of one shoe the entire ride & dont forget the baby.

Rivky
5 months ago

Scary to say but I had a similar thing. One morning on my way to drop off my baby at the babysitter, there was terrible traffic so I decided to quickly make a stop in the grocery, hoping the traffic would ease over the next few minutes. While walking the aisles in the store, I suddenly remembered that my baby was still in the car. I left my cart in the store and ran to the car. This happened in the winter and my baby was sleeping in her car seat. I was so so shaken up. I gave a tremendous amount of tzedakah as I felt I needed to do something. I’m a responsible, organized, normal person. I can not understand how this happened to me. One thing I learned from this is to never ever judge. Hashem should watch over all of His children.

Lakewood Yid
4 months ago

A good idea can be to make it a habit to always look at the back seats (particularly car seats) – and even if you think – and are sure – baby not there. If make it an absolute rule – every single time, it becomes second nature and easy, and will always do so, no matter what. And of course to know that cars heat up VERY quickly.

Boruch
4 months ago

There’s a device called ride’n remind that gets integrated into the vehicle itself( rear doors and car horn ). It’s sold and installed cso radio.call or WhatsApp 7329421101

Simple and Cheap
4 months ago

I read in the Ami to buy a chip clip, write on it kid in car. When you buckle your child, clip it to your shirt. When you take the child out, clip it back on the car seat straps. I have been using this and works for me.

chip clip
4 months ago

where is “chip clip” available?

Simple and Cheap
Reply to  chip clip
4 months ago

you can probably find in dollar store, walmart or amazon. its a clip you use to close a bag of chips with.