Forgotten baby syndrome explained

Forgotten baby syndrome refers to a phenomenon in which young children are mistakenly left in vehicles.

Analysis

Over 25% of parents with children under 3 have lost awareness of the child being present in the car at any point during the drive.[1] Each year, around the world, dozens of children die of vehicle-related hyperthermia.[2] Because these numbers began to rise after the popularization of air bags[3] and rear-facing child safety seats, researchers began to suspect that memory may be the culprit.[4]

According to David M. Diamond, a psychology professor at the University of South Florida who has been studying the phenomenon since 2004, the phenomenon is a consequence of tension between the brain's habit-memory and prospective-memory systems,[5] which is resolved when basal ganglia "habit memory" suppresses the "prospective memory" system of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex,[1] [6] [7] resulting in a false memory and what he calls "autopilot".[6] [7] [8] Other psychologists have suggested the phenomenon is functionally similar to forgetting keys in a car[9] or forgetting to post a letter.[10]

Diamond has identified common factors of the phenomenon as "stress, sleep deprivation, and change in routine".[7] Stephen Cowen, a psychology professor at the University of Arizona, has said that stress can render a person "more attentive to the immediate sensory stimuli or threats in your environment but not as attentive to your more distant memory of leaving your children in the car".[11]

Prevention efforts

There have been several efforts to address the phenomenon through technology, including back-seat alert systems (which note when a backseat is opened prior to driving), car-seat alarms (which detect whether a child is buckled in),[12] and end-of-trip reminders.[13] The Association of Global Automakers and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers have committed to the standardization of rear-seat-occupant alert systems by 2025.[14] Italy and Israel have enacted laws requiring such safety systems.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Hot-Car Deaths and Forgotten-Baby Syndrome: A Case Against Prosecution. Erika. Breitfeld. 2020. 25. Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law. 72–106.
  2. Lee-Kelland . Richard . Finlay . Fiona . 2019 . GP3 'Forgotten baby syndrome': a systematic review and analysis of caregiver intention . Archives of Disease in Childhood . 104 . Suppl. 3 . 10.1136/archdischild-2019-epa.69. 208413251 .
  3. A Content Analysis of Criminal Cases Concerning Unattended Children in Vehicles Between 1990 and 2021: Empirically-Based Suggestions for Reform. Jacob W.. Forston. Henry F.. Fradella. Chapman Law Review. 26. 1–55. 2022.
  4. Rodney. Rudd. Aloke. Prasad. Doug. Weston. Kedryn. Wietholter. July 2015. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Functional Assessment of Unattended Child Reminder Systems. Introduction and Background. 2.
  5. News: ABC News. 'Forgotten Baby Syndrome': A Parent's Nightmare of Hot Car Death. July 14, 2016. Nicole. Pelletiere.
  6. News: Hot Car Deaths: Scientists Detail Why Parents Forget Their Children. NBC News. June 27, 2017. Kalhan. Rosenblatt.
  7. News: Consumer Reports. Research Shows That Anyone Could Forget a Kid in a Hot Car. Emily A.. Thomas. August 18, 2022.
  8. News: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. You say it could never happen, but it does. Here are the reasons infants are left in cars. Anna. Groves. July 26, 2018.
  9. Web site: Arizona State University. Leslie. Minton. Study: Hot cars can hit deadly temperatures in as little as one hour. May 24, 2018.
  10. News: BBC News. Mother suffered 'forgotten baby syndrome', death inquest told. March 22, 2017.
  11. News: Quartz. The neuroscience that explains the awful truth that anyone is capable of accidentally killing their child. June 27, 2017. Corinne. Purtill.
  12. News: 'Forgotten baby syndrome' is more common than you think. Here's how technology can help. CTV News. Lillian. Roy. August 22, 2022.
  13. News: 7 apps and smart technology designed to prevent heatstroke deaths in children. Emilee. Speck. June 16, 2022. Fox Weather.
  14. News: Car and Driver. Rear-Seat Occupant Alerts Will Be Standard on All Cars by 2025. September 5, 2019. Mihir. Maddireddy.
  15. News: Jerusalem Post. From August 1: Devices to prevent drivers from forgetting kids in cars. Zev. Stub. June 27, 2021.

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