You mean, $65 to keep DCS from paying you a visit.

If you buy one you should get a visit by DCS.

It's a sad fucking world when people need technology to remind them there is a kid in the back seat of their car.

This post reminds me of something...can't place my finger on it....$hit ...

(runs out to car)

@tarochan: That was great. :)

To me, this is the kind of thing that would appeal to the type of parent that puts their kids on an actual leash.

@scoobydoo: i was reading an article on the cnn site yesterday that said "technology exists that can save childrens lives, and automakers refuse to implement it" or something to that effect, and it was talking about shit like this...
sad fucking world, indeed.

It's called RFID. Under the skin. Almost painless. Look into it.

Just make sure that when you become dependant on it, that the battery doesn't die (like it did on my baby's monitor the other day). When you're sitting on the deck enjoying a beer then suddenly realize that you forgot about baby (or he's crying his face off because you are nowhere to be found) the guilt and pain will make you feel like shit.

Wow. I don't know what DCS means, and I hope I never do. It sounds like something that people who need this product are really familiar with.

Well, lets not blame the manufacturers for making this. Yes it's a sad world, but it's not the childrens fault either, that some parents will actually benefit from this.

Now let me ask; if you have this and loose your kid, what then? My suggestion, your kid will better off beign adopted.

Sad, but there is a need for this.....every year we read of parents who leave kids in sweltering cars to die because they forgot. Remember, you need a license to have a dog, but any idiot can have a kid.....

[www.insidebayarea.com]

even though parents might say "I'd never leave my kid in the car", it happens. And more now than before. ^^^ news report with studies on this.

Yet another gizmo designed to defeat Darwin... If you can't remember to bring your child with you, Darwin wants your little bundle of genes to be eaten by a lion, or left in a hot car... Survival of the fittest

@NOSAUTEN - I'm guessing that DCS is similar to DCFS - Department of Children and Family Services

Keychain alarm my ass. They need to have a shock collar like those invisible dog fences have if they're so dumb that they would forget their child.

As a father of a 18 month old in all seriousness there is a need for this product.

(07-26-07) 14:44 PDT BENICIA, California -- Authorities today decided not to file charges against a Benicia father whose 11-month old son died Wednesday after the man apparently forgot to drop him off at day care and left the boy in the car for most of the day. Danny Takemoto, 46, was released from Contra Costa County jail in Martinez at 1:50 p.m. today, said Jimmy Lee, spokesman for the sheriff. Sheriff's officials allowed Takemoto and his family to exit the jail from an area reserved for inmate transport to avoid reporters, Lee said.
He could still face charges pending the outcome of the investigation, which will include toxicology tests on the boy, named Ian, said Concord police Lt. David Chilimidos. But after an inconclusive autopsy today, Chilimidos said, investigators met with a deputy district attorney, who decided not to file charges at this point. Takemoto had been held at the jail on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment since Wednesday. Chilimidos described the father as distraught and said he was not considered a flight risk.
"We wanted to expedite this case as fast as possible," he said this afternoon. "This certainly doesn't preclude any potential charges in the future. We have investigated for the last day and a half or so and while we had probable cause to arrest him for the crime, we are still looking at other evidence, checking statements and looking at forensics." Chilimidos said police wanted to have the district attorney's office weigh in, partly because their burden of proof is much higher than the probable cause threshold that allows police to arrest someone on suspicion of a crime. "We also just wanted this thing resolved somehow," he said. "This is rotten -- from every angle you look at it, it's terrible and tragic." The child was strapped into his car seat when Takemoto left home early Wednesday and went directly to his office at a medical equipment company in Concord, Chilimidos said. His wife called him at work shortly before 3:30 p.m. to ask why the child care facility had phoned to report that Ian was not there. Takemoto ran outside and found his son dead in the back seat of the car, Chilimidos said. He was arrested after being questioned at police headquarters, Chilimidos said. The lieutenant said the tragedy has weighed heavily on investigating officers, and that he has set up psychological debriefings for all of the firefighters and officers who responded to the scene. Toxicology results could take weeks, said Chilimidos.

I can imagine that when we have fully functioning robots that us humans will be required to bring one with us at all times to hold our hands while crossing the street...you know, for safety and all.

This is so typical. The world keeps passing laws to "protect" careless (and often stupid) people, such as the helmet and seat belt laws for adults. I agree with @Munch, let nature take its course, no matter how tragic.

I know it's just a doll, but, damn, that babydoll is quite the fatty. I swear, that head has its own weather systems!

You know, people, stuff happens - nobody's perfect. Of course, it seems insane to you and me that someone could actually forget a kid in the car (especially mine, given how loud he screams when he's buckled in). But it happens to people, and not just the rightful Darwin Awards crowd. This thing is like insurance - full of holes, might not cover you in the case of an actual emergency, etc. - but there is the one in a million chance that it might prevent you from making the biggest mistake of your entire life. Is it worth $65 for that one in a million chance? Personally, I don't think so, but I don't begrudge someone else who thinks differently.

For me, I'm more about the rearview camera. There's nothing that chills my blood more than the thought of my toddler running out in back of my car when I'm on my way out in the morning, half asleep.

@pupaboy: as a father of a five month old, nothing wrenches my gut more than when I hear stories where an inadvertant slip of the mind results in a child being left to fend for themselves in a deadly situation (such as this story, or one in which a toddler followed behind her father as he left the house for work in a blizzard).

I also heard that fathers of newborns have elevated levels of estrogen, and therefore I avoid watching dramas in the theatre cause I don't want other to see me turn on the waterworks. Maybe that's why I'm replying to your comment...

Maybe you get hit with that sinking feeling you forgot something. Car keys: check. Sunglasses: check. Wallet: check. Baby...Uh oh. Never fear.

What is wrong with you people? This is a wonderful device. You can't judge someone until you are in their shoes. Many things can happen to a person that could be out of the ordinary for the day and if you child falls asleep, it's sad to say, some are pre-occupied with the dealings of the day. This is a device to save lives. Should you assume that nothing like this should ever happen, well then assume you are a responsible enough driver that you will never be in a car accident and don't put your child in a car seat. I am very upset with some of these responses.

Maybe this story I found will change the minds of some of those who made such heartless comments.

July 30, 2004 is a day that I will never forget. I had fallen asleep the night before on the couch. I had put Mackenzee in her baby hammock in our bedroom and then started to watch television with my husband, Ed. The next thing I knew it was 1:30 am. I got up and went in to check on Mackenzee. I left Ed sleeping in the living room. Mackenzee was quietly stirring in our room which is what she usually did before she woke up to eat. I picked her up and laid her next to me on my bed. As soon as she lay next to me, she settled down and began sleeping soundly again. I lay there for a few minutes and watched her, and then I fell back to sleep also. Several times, she would become restless, and I would wake up expecting that she was hungry. However, she would just scoot herself closer against my body and go back to sleep. This went on until about 4:00 am when I got up and sat at the computer next to our bed and paid bills. I continued to watch Mackenzee sleep, and I marveled at the fact that she was ours and how much of a blessing she was.

At 4:30 am, I finally woke her up to feed her. I said, "Okay, Little Bit, it's time to get up and eat." She smiled at me. She had the most beautiful smile. We stayed in the bedroom as I breastfed her from one side. She fell asleep again after about 15 minutes of eating, and so I decided to go get her dressed so that she would wake up to finish eating.

I carried her into her nursery, picked out her outfit, laid her on the changing table, changed her diaper, and got her dressed. Mackenzee quietly smiled at me the whole time. She was always so happy. My husband, Ed, woke up while I was getting Mackenzee ready. He peeked his head in her room and told us both, "Good morning." He then went out to get ready for work.

I stood and talked to Mackenzee and began playing her "boop boop" game with her. She sometimes would have some nasal congestion in the morning, especially if I drank any milk which I had done the night before. Her "boop boop" was her nasal aspirator. She wasn't very fond of it and at first, would cry when we used it. However, I began going "boop boop" when I would suction out her nose. She started smiling all of the time when we did that, and so it became her "boop boop" game. It took several minutes to get her little nose cleaned out, but at last I did.

After that, I took her out to the living room to finish breastfeeding her. It took her another fifteen minutes, and she had had her fill.

By this time, Ed had gotten her diaper bag ready, gotten my other daughter, Kaylee, and my niece, Kayleen, up to get ready to go to Mammie's work, and had fixed the girls breakfast. He came and took Mackenzee so I could get ready for work. I took my shower, and when I came out of the bathroom, I saw Mackenzee lying on the couch staring up and back at the wall behind her. I always said that is where her angels were. She had a big, beautiful smile on her face. Kaylee picked her up then and carried her around the house for awhile. Kaylee loved that she could do this now because we hadn't let her for a long time. I went into the bedroom and quickly got dressed and ready for work.

When I came out, Mackenzee was in her car seat. I swooped her up and held her close. I didn't want to leave her. I told her, "Let's hide you from Daddy, and I hold on to you all day." Mackenzee just smiled at me. I walked around with her and talked to her until I had to leave for work. I hated to go because I hadn't had that much time with her in the morning since I had been home with her during maternity leave.

Finally, I relented and put her back in her car seat. I remember her lifting her head up as if she was trying to sit up in her car seat. She pulled at her bib and chewed on it. She had done that so much that morning that it wasn't tied in the back anymore and was just lying on her belly now. I kissed her "goodbye" three times and told her I loved her. I kissed the girls and Ed and told them I loved them, too. They left a few minutes before I did. I went around the house and shut off all of the lights. I got my things together and left for work.

I had just started my job at Citrus Memorial, and so I was quite busy learning the skills necessary to work in my department. I called Ed around lunchtime and asked him if he was going to pick Mackenzee up or if he wanted me to do it. He told me that he was getting done early at work and was going to go home after work and mow the lawn so I should go and get her. My daughter, Kaylee, was spending the night with my mom and dad, and so I didn't have to worry about her. I told him that I would pick Mackenzee up from daycare.

I got done working a half hour early, and so I called Ed to see how his day was going. He said they had to work later than they had planned, and he was just going back to the office now. We again discussed who would get Mackenzee. Once again, we agreed that I would do it. When I got to the car, it was extremely hot inside. I started the car and let the air conditioner kick in and cool down the car before I started out to get Mackenzee. I didn't want her to get into a hot car.

I arrived at the daycare and went in to get Mackenzee. I had been thinking on the way over that I would take her out and buy her some new bibs and socks. I was also glad that I got to have a little alone time with her before Ed would get home from work. I walked into the nursery. The daycare worker was holding a chubby little baby girl. The woman said, "She just woke up." I looked at the baby for a moment, but she wasn't Mackenzee. I began looking around the room. Mackenzee was nowhere. I panicked. I knew that she wasn't there. Finally, the daycare worker asked, "Who are you looking for?" I said, "Mackenzee." She replied, "She hasn't been here all day. She wasn't here yesterday, either." I told her, "I know she wasn't here yesterday because my husband didn't have to work, but he worked today." The whole time I am saying to myself, "He left her with mom this morning." The worker must have seen that I was upset. She told me to use the phone in the other room to call my husband. I thanked her and went out.

I went into the next room and called Ed. He answered with, "What's up?" My voice began to quiver as I tried to control the emotions that were flowing through my body. I said, "Where's Mackenzee? She's not at daycare." His phone went dead. I quickly dialed the number to his cell phone again, but it just rang and went over to his voice mail. The feeling of dread was beginning to overwhelm me. I called again. This time the phone was answered. My husband was screaming and crying. In that instant, I knew.

I let out a blood curdling scream and ran out of the daycare. Several people chased after me. I only remember the daycare director. They asked me what happened. I screamed and cried, "He forgot her!" Everyone tried to calm me down, but it was no use. I knew that my precious baby girl was gone. The daycare director drove me to my husband's work.

When I got there, Ed and someone else were pulling Mackenzee in her car seat out of the back of the car. Her little lifeless body ripped my heart to shreds. I remember throwing myself on the ground as I screamed and cried. This couldn't be happening to us. It couldn't be happening to me. I had waited so long for her to come into my life. I begged and pleaded with God. They wouldn't let me touch her. I remember that someone took her out of her seat and laid her on a shirt or something on the ground. They still wouldn't let me touch or hold my baby girl. Finally, the paramedics put Mackenzee in the ambulance.

After that, much of what happened is a blur. I remember being moved here and there. I remember answering some questions. I remember my mom holding me. I remember the daycare director holding me. Nothing could console me, though. I wanted my beautiful baby girl to be alive. I wanted them to come out of the ambulance with her. I wanted them to bring her over to me so that I could hold and kiss her. I didn't want any of it to be real, but it was very real. Our "Little Bit" had been taken up to heaven to be with God, and we were left with empty arms and broken hearts.

The days since have been filled with tears, "what ifs", grief, laughter, fond memories, etc…. Someone told me that it would feel like I was on a roller coaster ride, and she was right. I never know when the tears will come. Each day, we wake up hoping that it was all a nightmare, and each night we go to bed longing for the day we will see Mackenzee in heaven. I have begun writing a journal filled with all the memories we have of our "Little Bit." I never want to forget one moment with her. I think the journal has helped me some to work through all of this. It hasn't made it any more real for us. Ed, Kaylee, and I still want to believe that she will be home waiting for us.

I know that many people cannot understand how anyone could forget his/her child. Believe me, I was the same way. Not a month before all of this happened, I had heard about a father who had forgotten his baby. I told Ed that if he ever forgot Mackenzee, I would kill him. He looked at me and said, "What kind of an idiot forgets their child." My husband struggles with blame everyday. He and I both don't understand how he could have forgotten her, but he did. This kind of thing is happening way too often. Ed and I didn't think that it could happen to us. We thought we were immune.

I would like to say that each day the pain gets less and less, but that just isn't true. Some days are good and others are bad. I have to say that it was God who has gotten us through this. His strength and comfort have been constant forces in our life. Now we pray for wisdom along with the comfort and strength. Our hope is the promise that one day we will be with Mackenzee in heaven and then nothing or no one can tear us apart again. Until then, I have comfort knowing that our "Little Bit" is with Jesus. We couldn't ask for a better babysitter.