Forgotten Baby Syndrome: A Growing Concern Among Parents
A tragic incident occurred in Sausheim, Alsace, on Tuesday, May 28, when a 16-month-old toddler died after being left in a car parked in full sun. The father, who was supposed to drop his son off at daycare, instead drove straight to work and forgot the child in the back seat. The baby was found dead at the end of the day by emergency services, after being exposed to severe heat inside the car parked without any shade.
Reports indicate that temperatures outside reached up to 22 degrees Celsius, but inside the car, it soared to a fatal 47 degrees. The father, who realized what had happened only after being alerted by his wife, was taken to the hospital in shock. An autopsy is set to determine the exact cause of death, although hyperthermia, or overheating, is suspected.
The Increasing Cases of Forgotten Baby Syndrome
This tragic event underscores what researchers refer to as ‘forgotten baby syndrome.’ Studies show that a significant percentage of parents have inadvertently forgotten their child in the car at some point. Although most incidents do not result in serious consequences, the growing number of such cases is alarming.
A report from a 2020 Italian study highlights this increase, noting that forgotten baby syndrome can affect adults whose psychological and cognitive functions are otherwise completely intact. American psychology professor David M. Diamond, who has extensively studied this phenomenon, explains that factors such as stress, lack of sleep, and changes in routine can trigger such dangerous lapses in memory. These routine actions—like driving to work—get performed on autopilot, creating false memories in the brain.
Both parents are currently receiving psychological care, while the investigation, led by the Mulhouse gendarmerie, aims to uncover all the details surrounding this heartbreaking event.
- This incident is not an isolated case. For example, in 2021, a father in Croatia forgot his five-year-old child in a car, which also resulted in the child’s death. In Bavaria 2022, a baby was found locked in a car, although there were no signs of the parent.
- Authorities emphasize the importance of awareness and preventive measures to avoid such heart-wrenching scenarios. Experts suggest multiple reminders and systems, such as placing an essential item in the back seat with the child or setting up alarms, to ensure this mistake doesn't happen.
