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As others have said this is a problem that in 2017 should already be solved by technology. But in the event you don't have access to a technological solution t

As others have said this is a problem that in 2017 should already be solved by technology. But in the event you don't have access to a technological solution try this: If you have an infant in your car get in the habit of taking your shoes off and putting them next to the baby when you drive. When you reach your destination you might forget the infant...but you won't forget your shoes. Edit: My dad (who was an absent-minded engineer way before I was) taught me this trick. Edit 2: Just called my dad to remind him about this and he said "it was only one shoe...the one you don't use on the pedal". I've been doing it wrong all this time :). So the correct way is...put your non-pedal shoe next to your child. You'll remember it when you start walking :)

icebraining 9y ago
Eh, most countries don't have a non-pedal shoe - we use the other to operate the clutch :)
- ryan-allen 9y ago
  I drive barefoot, problem solved!
Inconel 9y ago
That's definitely an interesting method. I'm always surprised that I don't see more people relying on checklists in day to day tasks. I use checklists religiously at work and have incorporated them into my daily life as well. I have a number of friends who are constantly leaving things behind(cellphones, wallets, house/car keys), I don't think I'm any less of a naturally forgetful person than them, but because I use simple checklists I rarely forget things compared to them, even when I'm exhausted or stressed out. Whenever I babysit my two young nieces I now just add an extra step to my checklists; don't forget kids in car.
- Schwolop 9y ago
  My atheist grandfather taught me the sign of the cross for this reason - "Spectacles, testicles, wallet, and keys."
  - prawn 9y ago
    For those who tend not to forget their testicles, just patting the pockets where you store the wallet and keys works for me. I think of it in terms of a number - day to day, it's three: phone, wallet, keys.
- xur17 9y ago
  Out of curiosity, what system do you use for recalling / going through your checklists?
  - Inconel 9y ago
    Depending on the situation it's a combination of to-do list programs on my phone and computer, I personally use both Google Keep and Todoist, and physical checklists that I either type out and print or hand write. For the most important checklists, especially at work, I will usually hand write them in addition to using a computer. I'm a stickler for good penmanship and I find that taking the time to make an outline of my checklist and then transposing it to a handwritten pad involves a kind of deliberateness that is both somewhat relaxing and helps insure that I've covered all my bases, while only adding a few minutes to my day. Less important things may start off as a physical checklist but then once they become second nature enough I just rely on memory. But again, for things where mistakes would result in something more than a minor inconvenience I still use physical checklists. The beauty of these checklists for me is that instead of having to remember 5,10,20 or 50 individual things, I just need to remember one thing, that is to check the checklist.
- function_seven 9y ago
  I have a bad habit of forgetting things at home when I leave in the morning. I developed a habit: “Wallet, keys, badge, smokes, phone” I pat the pocket each item should be in as I say it out loud. Unfortunately, I now do this on auto-pilot. I pat the pocket, say the word, leave the house... and realize I don’t have my badge on me when I arrive at work. I’m thinking about installing a card reader that locks me in the house if I don’t have my badge :)
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
  - wolfgang42 9y ago
    I developed the habit of feeling each item instead of just patting the pocket. That way, if the item is missing you won't be able to complete the action. On the other hand, I've found that I now have the problem that if there's an item that's supposed to be missing (for example if I've lent my keys to someone) I have a constant low-grade panic where I keep checking my pockets, realizing there's something missing, reminding myself that it's supposed to be, and then doing the whole thing over again a few minutes later.
    - mcguire 9y ago
      That's how I do the same thing, and I have the same problem.
  - huebnerob 9y ago
    You just need to mandate actual physical contact with the item in question. I won't let my apartment door close until I've jingled my keys in my pocket, has never failed me.
  - comstock 9y ago
    On Japanese trains, staff use a system called "pointing checking" where you point and say the name of the thing to check that it's been done. The verbal confirmation seems to help avoid actions becoming automatic.
  - 9y ago
- neurotech1 9y ago
  When the Navy introduced the NATOPS[0] program, including pilot checklists, aircraft mishaps decreased significantly. The introductory statement: NATOPS is a positive approach toward improving combat readiness and achieving a substantial reduction in the aircraft accident rate. Standardization, based on professional knowledge and experience, provides the basis for development of an efficient and sound operational procedure. The standardization program is not planned to stifle individual initiative, but rather to aid the commanding officer in increasing the unit’s combat potential without reducing command prestige or responsibility. There is significant research that when hospitals required surgeons to use checklists, surgical errors decreased significantly.[1] Some friends who are NATOPS qualified pilots actually do have NATOPS-style checklists for parenting their kids, for both routine and non-routine/emergency tasks. e.g Check that the kid is not in the car as they exit. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOPS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOPS [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/04/18/checklists-appear-to-reduce-deaths-after-surgery-a-large-study-finds/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/0...
semi-extrinsic 9y ago
I heard of a similar system (think it was from Mexico) of having a small teddy bear in the glove box, then put him up on the dash when you're driving with your infant in the back.
rocqua 9y ago
As horrible as this form of death is, it seems statistically unlikely. I'd wager that there are orders of magnitude between child deaths in cars due to heat and child deaths in cars due to crashes. As such, I don't think an app for this makes sense. I don't think this ranks when looking at the numbers. That said, this must be amongst the worst ways of losing a child, and that is saying something.
- nervousvarun 9y ago
  I think you're thinking of this from a purely "statistical scope of the problem" perspective and underestimating the value of "emotional commitment of a parent for their children". If there was an app (would require hardware...some sortof linkup with the child seat) I'd imagine if it was marketed right and there were studies supporting it's effectiveness you could charge an awful lot for it and virtually every parent would buy one. That's gotta be a substantial market. And it's a universal (global) problem. Car seats are incredibly expensive (actually it's not just car seats...pretty much any 'technology' associated with infants). Every parent wants peace of mind and I'd venture most would be willing to pay heavily for it. Edit: On mobile and probably worded this poorly but TLDR: Parents aren't making rational decisions here w/ safety purchases for their kids. They'll spend a lot on something that eliminates a potential life-threatening issue...even if it's statistically rare.
  - wongarsu 9y ago
    I don't know the American market, but from a Western European perspective that sounds hard to market right. Everyone thinks of mistakes as something other people make (as opposed to accidents, the selling point of good car seats). Nobody is going to think "hopefully I don't forget my child in the car", or at least won't buy anything that gives away that thought.
    - mcguire 9y ago
      From the article: "In 2000, Chris Edwards, Terry Mack and Edward Modlin began to work on just such a product after one of their colleagues, Kevin Shelton, accidentally left his 9-month-old son to die in the parking lot of NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The inventors patented a device with weight sensors and a keychain alarm. Based on aerospace technology, it was easy to use; it was relatively cheap, and it worked. "Janette Fennell had high hopes for this product: The dramatic narrative behind it, she felt, and the fact that it came from NASA, created a likelihood of widespread publicity and public acceptance. "That was five years ago. The device still isn't on the shelves. The inventors could not find a commercial partner willing to manufacture it. One big problem was liability. If you made it, you could face enormous lawsuits if it malfunctioned and a child died. But another big problem was psychological: Marketing studies suggested it wouldn't sell well. "The problem is this simple: People think this could never happen to them."
rrdharan 9y ago
I like this technique, but sadly it's harder to implement if you have a manual transmission.
- toomanybeersies 9y ago
  I don't see why you can't just drive with bare feet? That's how I usually drive, since I wear flip flops everywhere, and driving with flip flops is a bad idea. If I'm wearing boots, I'll often drive with bare feet too, depending on the vehicle.
- lttlrck 9y ago
  I learnt to drive in the UK without my shoes for better tactility. It helps.
balls187 9y ago
Seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. You're better off not driving at all and solve that minor risk as well as the more likely risk (automobile accidents are the #1 killer of children)[1] 1: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pediatric/conditioninfo/pages/causes.aspx https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pediatric/conditioni...
jnordwick 9y ago
Why would you not correct your original statement instead of putting it in an edit footnote? Some people may not read that far and you are giving bad info.
- nervousvarun 9y ago
  Was on mobile and it was easier to just append to the end of the original post. Can you be specific on what exactly is the "bad info" in my post?
codinghorror 9y ago
I love this story so much

icebraining 9y ago

Eh, most countries don't have a non-pedal shoe - we use the other to operate the clutch :)

ryan-allen 9y ago
I drive barefoot, problem solved!

Inconel 9y ago

That's definitely an interesting method. I'm always surprised that I don't see more people relying on checklists in day to day tasks. I use checklists religiously at work and have incorporated them into my daily life as well. I have a number of friends who are constantly leaving things behind(cellphones, wallets, house/car keys), I don't think I'm any less of a naturally forgetful person than them, but because I use simple checklists I rarely forget things compared to them, even when I'm exhausted or stressed out. Whenever I babysit my two young nieces I now just add an extra step to my checklists; don't forget kids in car.

Schwolop 9y ago
My atheist grandfather taught me the sign of the cross for this reason - "Spectacles, testicles, wallet, and keys."
- prawn 9y ago
  For those who tend not to forget their testicles, just patting the pockets where you store the wallet and keys works for me. I think of it in terms of a number - day to day, it's three: phone, wallet, keys.
xur17 9y ago
Out of curiosity, what system do you use for recalling / going through your checklists?
- Inconel 9y ago
  Depending on the situation it's a combination of to-do list programs on my phone and computer, I personally use both Google Keep and Todoist, and physical checklists that I either type out and print or hand write. For the most important checklists, especially at work, I will usually hand write them in addition to using a computer. I'm a stickler for good penmanship and I find that taking the time to make an outline of my checklist and then transposing it to a handwritten pad involves a kind of deliberateness that is both somewhat relaxing and helps insure that I've covered all my bases, while only adding a few minutes to my day. Less important things may start off as a physical checklist but then once they become second nature enough I just rely on memory. But again, for things where mistakes would result in something more than a minor inconvenience I still use physical checklists. The beauty of these checklists for me is that instead of having to remember 5,10,20 or 50 individual things, I just need to remember one thing, that is to check the checklist.
function_seven 9y ago
I have a bad habit of forgetting things at home when I leave in the morning. I developed a habit: “Wallet, keys, badge, smokes, phone” I pat the pocket each item should be in as I say it out loud. Unfortunately, I now do this on auto-pilot. I pat the pocket, say the word, leave the house... and realize I don’t have my badge on me when I arrive at work. I’m thinking about installing a card reader that locks me in the house if I don’t have my badge :)
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- wolfgang42 9y ago
  I developed the habit of feeling each item instead of just patting the pocket. That way, if the item is missing you won't be able to complete the action. On the other hand, I've found that I now have the problem that if there's an item that's supposed to be missing (for example if I've lent my keys to someone) I have a constant low-grade panic where I keep checking my pockets, realizing there's something missing, reminding myself that it's supposed to be, and then doing the whole thing over again a few minutes later.
  - mcguire 9y ago
    That's how I do the same thing, and I have the same problem.
- huebnerob 9y ago
  You just need to mandate actual physical contact with the item in question. I won't let my apartment door close until I've jingled my keys in my pocket, has never failed me.
- comstock 9y ago
  On Japanese trains, staff use a system called "pointing checking" where you point and say the name of the thing to check that it's been done. The verbal confirmation seems to help avoid actions becoming automatic.
- 9y ago
neurotech1 9y ago
When the Navy introduced the NATOPS[0] program, including pilot checklists, aircraft mishaps decreased significantly. The introductory statement: NATOPS is a positive approach toward improving combat readiness and achieving a substantial reduction in the aircraft accident rate. Standardization, based on professional knowledge and experience, provides the basis for development of an efficient and sound operational procedure. The standardization program is not planned to stifle individual initiative, but rather to aid the commanding officer in increasing the unit’s combat potential without reducing command prestige or responsibility. There is significant research that when hospitals required surgeons to use checklists, surgical errors decreased significantly.[1] Some friends who are NATOPS qualified pilots actually do have NATOPS-style checklists for parenting their kids, for both routine and non-routine/emergency tasks. e.g Check that the kid is not in the car as they exit. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOPS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOPS [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/04/18/checklists-appear-to-reduce-deaths-after-surgery-a-large-study-finds/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/0...

semi-extrinsic 9y ago

I heard of a similar system (think it was from Mexico) of having a small teddy bear in the glove box, then put him up on the dash when you're driving with your infant in the back.

rocqua 9y ago

As horrible as this form of death is, it seems statistically unlikely. I'd wager that there are orders of magnitude between child deaths in cars due to heat and child deaths in cars due to crashes. As such, I don't think an app for this makes sense. I don't think this ranks when looking at the numbers. That said, this must be amongst the worst ways of losing a child, and that is saying something.

nervousvarun 9y ago
I think you're thinking of this from a purely "statistical scope of the problem" perspective and underestimating the value of "emotional commitment of a parent for their children". If there was an app (would require hardware...some sortof linkup with the child seat) I'd imagine if it was marketed right and there were studies supporting it's effectiveness you could charge an awful lot for it and virtually every parent would buy one. That's gotta be a substantial market. And it's a universal (global) problem. Car seats are incredibly expensive (actually it's not just car seats...pretty much any 'technology' associated with infants). Every parent wants peace of mind and I'd venture most would be willing to pay heavily for it. Edit: On mobile and probably worded this poorly but TLDR: Parents aren't making rational decisions here w/ safety purchases for their kids. They'll spend a lot on something that eliminates a potential life-threatening issue...even if it's statistically rare.
- wongarsu 9y ago
  I don't know the American market, but from a Western European perspective that sounds hard to market right. Everyone thinks of mistakes as something other people make (as opposed to accidents, the selling point of good car seats). Nobody is going to think "hopefully I don't forget my child in the car", or at least won't buy anything that gives away that thought.
  - mcguire 9y ago
    From the article: "In 2000, Chris Edwards, Terry Mack and Edward Modlin began to work on just such a product after one of their colleagues, Kevin Shelton, accidentally left his 9-month-old son to die in the parking lot of NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. The inventors patented a device with weight sensors and a keychain alarm. Based on aerospace technology, it was easy to use; it was relatively cheap, and it worked. "Janette Fennell had high hopes for this product: The dramatic narrative behind it, she felt, and the fact that it came from NASA, created a likelihood of widespread publicity and public acceptance. "That was five years ago. The device still isn't on the shelves. The inventors could not find a commercial partner willing to manufacture it. One big problem was liability. If you made it, you could face enormous lawsuits if it malfunctioned and a child died. But another big problem was psychological: Marketing studies suggested it wouldn't sell well. "The problem is this simple: People think this could never happen to them."

rrdharan 9y ago

I like this technique, but sadly it's harder to implement if you have a manual transmission.

toomanybeersies 9y ago
I don't see why you can't just drive with bare feet? That's how I usually drive, since I wear flip flops everywhere, and driving with flip flops is a bad idea. If I'm wearing boots, I'll often drive with bare feet too, depending on the vehicle.
lttlrck 9y ago
I learnt to drive in the UK without my shoes for better tactility. It helps.

balls187 9y ago

Seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. You're better off not driving at all and solve that minor risk as well as the more likely risk (automobile accidents are the #1 killer of children)[1] 1: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pediatric/conditioninfo/pages/causes.aspx https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pediatric/conditioni...

jnordwick 9y ago

Why would you not correct your original statement instead of putting it in an edit footnote? Some people may not read that far and you are giving bad info.

nervousvarun 9y ago
Was on mobile and it was easier to just append to the end of the original post. Can you be specific on what exactly is the "bad info" in my post?

codinghorror 9y ago

I love this story so much