Something tells me that people who are willing to leave a kid in the car alone while they go shopping won't be too disturbed by a beeping noise, alas.

Unfortunately, this probably wouldn't help if one is so distracted that they forget their child is in the car. Also, many of these incidents happen because people actually believe they can leave their kid in the car for an hour in 90 degree weather and it will be fine. There is no technology that can compensate for pure ignorance.

Maybe instead of a simple beeping noise you could have a recitation of the criminal penalties the parent would face if the kid doesn't make it. That might be more effective.

This is a decent idea but too close to a personal incident. A nurse in Colorado rushed in to the hospital to help with a major car accident, but forgot her sleeping two year old was in the SUV. He died. Maybe a wireless (for transporting between vehicles, battery powered device that would prevent the driver from leaving the seat quickly - like the doors not locking, or some alarm, or windows rolling down. It's feasible....I just wish it didn't need to be. And don't worry if others don't like your idea right off. A friend started a company that is worth several million dollars now and NOT ONE person who listened to him at startup thought it would work. And who knows, maybe the government would require this devices's use with every car seat!

Unfortunately, a majority of those who "forgot" actually thought someone else was getting the child. (They knew they were leaving the child there but thought a spouse/whatever would be along shortly--who thought the other was taking care of the child.

How about something to alert the child that the adult has gotten out of the car?

Don't dismiss this idea so quickly, and don't think that you are not capable of committing this tragedy. All you need to do is to make the car alarm go off if one tries to lock the doors when the car is off and a seat belt is still buckled. Occasionally this might be annoying, but who cares if it saves your child.

Good idea....I think the alarm should be tied into your car alarm though.,,something really loud. You know this can be tied into something like onstar. The car could have a pressure detector on both the drivers seat and the baby car seat. If after 5 or so minutes there was no pressure detected on the drivers seat but pressure was detected on the baby car seat then the car would send a signal to onstar. Onstar would call to see if an adult was in the vehical. If not then police would be notified to check on the car. Maybe onstar could even roll down the windows a bit.

Where was this rash of incidents regarding leaving children to expire, I have not heard of this mass event, although I am sure it does happen?I am not convinced that someone would leave their child unintentionally for a long period of time in a vehicle, hence forgeting them, but it must be tempting as it must be for some to leave their offspring or annoying barking dog to suffer in the family car while they do something more interesting.

But if it puts the absent minded amongst us at ease then its a good idea if they want to have it fitted, lets hope it does not become a standard extra as I hate those 'nanny-state' you have not done this and that buzzers and boing alarms.

Has anyone invented an in car boing/alarm fitted as standard that tells the driver its dark and they stupidly don't have their lights On while they are driving????

I am from Australia and have heard about a product on the market for a child seat warning system built into the vehicle. It sounds a familiar alarm to the driver for about 3 - 5 seconds. Its mainly just to remind the driver about the dangers of leaving the child in the vehicle. I think the government is trying to get around the issue of people saying "I forgot" and will now say that the system will now leave the parents no excuse. I believe the system is a good idea - because you only need to forget once. Here is a piece I found...:

The system is purely for the safety of your child. The system is aimed to better help parents and those caring for children understand the seriousness of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle. A lot of parents and people in general, respond to our product as non-important, as they feel they will never forget about their child, or they will never leave their child unattended in a vehicle. We have seen to many instances where children are dying from the carelessness of people who use the excuses:

· “I’m only going into the service station for 1 minute”.· “The baby is asleep, I don’t want to wake him/her, and I’ll be quick”.· “It’s too much trouble removing the child from the seat when I’m only going to be a minute”.· “The windows were down a crack; it wasn’t that hot when I left”.· “I forgot”

The system was created to remind you of the dangers. Take heed to the notification system. You will always remember to remove your child, except for that day that you forget or choose not to. Don’t let your child become another statistic. Become a responsible parent today.

Regards - Adam

Would that same device cause the ringing when there was no child in the car seat?

At some point, a person has to be accountable for their own actions. We can't design in safety mechanisims for every possible hazardous condition. No one can afford that kind of car. Running the car while stopped, should the engine shut off on its own to prevent CO poisoning? And freeze the person with a bad starter in a winter time emergency condition.

I agree but the technology does exist; http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6488156?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1

http://www.babyalert.info/home.php

http://sistersofinvention.com/index.html