Always use restraints on car seat

[IsabelleCanada]

This is not really a question, just need to vent. I went to Walmart with my husband and 3-week old baby and he was in his car seat and we put the car seat on a table (at McDonalds) and I took him out to breastfeed him (discreetly) and then I put him back in his car seat but didn't secure the restraints or belts... well my husband started rocking him to get him to sleep and the car seat simply fell down on the ground and my baby boy went flying out and landed face down on the ground. I've never been so frightened in my life, I didn't think and just scooped him up, I was hysterical, yelling for someone to call 911, the ambulance came and took us to the emergency, I was freaking out of my mind, he didn't have any bleeding, no cuts, nothing seemed out of place, he was crying at first when I picked him up but then he calmed down. My husband followed the ambulance in our car.

The baby did cry in the ambulance because they put him in a stabilizing gear to prevent further neck and back injuries... they put a tiny oxygen mask on him, I was just aside myself

the trauma team at the ER was waiting for us, they all hovered over him, took his vital signs, sent him up for a million X-Rays through which he cried and screamed... but he didn't have a scratch on him, nothing. We ended up staying at the hospital for observation for 24 hours with him, he's been feeding well and sleeping great, the doctors came every hour to check his vital signs (temp, pipul dilatation, heartbeat, ...)

I really feel like such a bad mom because this wasn't an accident, it was preventable, it was the result of careless and irresponsible behavior... don't get sloppy and cut corners like I did because the guilt I have to carry with me is endless, I can't forgive myself, I really thought he would be paralyzed or dead, I truly believed that. Every time I close my eyes, I can see his little body flying and landing on the ground, it's mind-numbing. The images keep playing over and over.

PLEASE USE THE RESTRAINTS AT ALL TIMES WHEN USING A SWING OR CAR SEAT. Don't get lazy like I did, it almost cost me the love of my life, one of my kids.

[Tasia32]

That is a scary situation but I am glad that your baby is doing great. I had a situation where it made me feel like a horrible mother because I wasn't thinking and locked my son in the car now he could have died and I just felt horrible and when we got him out I didn't want to let him go. I was crying hysterically and I just felt like the worse mother in the world, but things happen we just have to learn from our mistakes.

[kc1021]

Thanks for sharing your story.  Just yesterday I put my 2 year old in his car seat and forgot to buckle him in.  Luckily he is old enough to talk and said "Im not buckled in" but it could have just as easily been my new born baby.  It happens and thank you for reminding us to be extra attentive!! Babies are very strong, even though that must have been horribly traumatic, he will be perfectly fine so don't give your self too hard of a time.  Glad he is doing well!!

[GRose]

I forgot to say how happy I am that your baby is ok and was unharmed!

[GRose]

How scary, dont feel like a bad mom, it happens, you're right, it is preventable, but it happens. Dont beat yourself up :)

Not only is there a risk of the baby falling there is a risk that you might forget to buckle baby back in before you get in the car.

I did that with Noah once, I unbuckled him in the store and left his blanket on, since the blanket was covering his chest I didn't remember that I unbuckled him and got into the for a 30 min drive and didn't notice till we got home. I never would have forgiven myself if something would have happened.

I was so ashamed of myself I didn't tell his Dad what I did.