[billygoatgruff]

This happened in Dallas about 5 years back. A waitress at a restaurant left her child in the back seat and about 4 hours later, shoppers discovered it. It was too late for the child.

Why again, do they have to be put in the backseat, out of sight, out of mind? Just sadly stupid on the part of everyone involved.

[Clara Lou]

They belong in the back seat because the back seat is far from the dashboard and the windshield. They belong in the back because the driver needs to focus on driving, not fussing over a baby.

[Ron in Acreage]

I think you nailed it. Out of site. Sleeping kid. Slips ones mind. Car seats should be allowed on front seat in plain view and this would not happen nearly as often. I know, what about crash protection etc.? The parent should decide front or back.

[denfurb]

Nanny State won't let you put babies in the front seat. Also, cars with air bags are dangerous for babies in a car seat.

Very sad, but how could you not know the kid is in the car?

[linda_22003]

"Why again, do they have to be put in the backseat, out of sight, out of mind?"

Because it's "safer".

As a kid of the late '50s, everyone my age grew up rocketing around the car like a BB in an empty coffee can, not strapped in like we were astronauts on a space launch. If we died in the car it was from the force of an accident, but never from being left behind!

[sportutegrl]

I agree with you. I know I am going to get flame city on this one, but do you remember the Simpsons cartoon intro with Maggie in the front seat next to Marge? When baby seats first came out, they were used in the front seat next to mama. Good parent child bonding, too. Only some MALE who has real jealousy issues could have come up with the baby-facing-backwards-on-another-seat-row set up we have now. Now children have to be teenagers before they can ride up front next to mom. Kids have to be in car seats older each year. When it comes to car seats, I am a libertarian.

[I Drive Too Fast]

Another reason is the passenger side airbag could kill the infant if you were involved in a crash and it deployed because the car seat faces backwards if the infant is younger. I am not sure what the age/weight limit is when they can ride facing forward.

[SuziQ]

Why again, do they have to be put in the backseat, out of sight, out of mind?

Because newer cars had airbags that were too powerful, and they told folks NOT to put car seats in the front. Thankfully, mine were all babies before air bags on the passenger side were typical. I always had them in the front passenger seat so that I could talk to them and keep them occupied. If they can see you, and 'chat' with you, they are much happier, and you're a much less distracted driver since you don't have to be worrying about them in the back seat.