sleep deprived mum calls emergency services as she forgot her baby

[Myztiks#1Fan]

An exhausted mother had to call firefighters to check on her baby after she left him at her Melbourne home to go pick up her son from preschool.
The woman, known only as Sue, called triple-0 at around 3pm AEDT yesterday when she realised her mistake. Four firefighters rushed to her Surrey Hills home immediately — and found the six-month-old baby safely asleep in his cot, The Age reports.
The scene was later attended by two police officers.
The embarrassed mother told radio station 3AW she had not slept for two nights before the incident and wasn't thinking straight.
"The baby was feeding every hour seemingly and I had passport stuff to organise," Sue said.
"I was concerned I was going to be late for kinder [kindergarten]. My head was jut full and I got in the car, I just got in the car."
Sue did not realise she had left her baby behind until after she arrived at the preschool — a 20-minute drive from her house — and saw there was no child in the back seat.
She rushed to collect her four-year-old son while calling neighbours to see if they could check on the baby.
When no-one answered her calls, she phoned triple-0.
"I thought: 'They're probably going to think I'm completely irresponsible and stupid but … I've got to put that behind me'," Sue told 3AW.
"I feel a fool but I had to keep him safe."
It was a move that was praised by emergency services.
"When you have kids and you're sleep-deprived, you will not blame this person one bit," Metropolitan Fire Brigade spokesman John Rees was quoted by the Age as saying.
"The mother has done exactly the right thing. Don't take a chance."

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8211948/sleep-deprived-mum-forgets-her-baby

thank goodness she called them and baby was ok. sleep deprivision is horrible horrible. its such a scary thing to happen so massive :hugs: to her

[~CupCakes~]

what a brave woman and a wonderful mummy!!!!!! sleep deprivation is hell............ :hugs::hugs: to her

[lealea79]

Awe poor lady, but also brave.. Some people (not me) could class that as child neglect/abuse...
hope she gets some much needed sleep..

[Boobycino]

Oh goodness. I know I've gotten to the shops and panicked and checked jaspers in the pram! Sleep deprivation is an insane thing.

Good on her being brave enough to call emergency services. It would be a horrible call to make, but good on her making it :yes:

And I'm glad the bubba didn't even notice! :)

[Boobycino]

Awe poor lady, but also brave.. Some people (not me) could class that as child neglect/abuse...
hope she gets some much needed sleep..

Surely not. Unless someone has no children or no heart it's clearly an honest mistake. Big woopsie but you wouldn't call 000 if you didn't deeply care. Just momentary lost the plot.

[Gandalf]

I think its wonderful that everyone was so understanding! i think that kind of mistake can happen to the best of us - and i think she's wonderful and brave for having rung the emergency services :yes: (i worry that if i'd been in the same situation i would have been too embarrassed/worried i'd be classed as negligent etc :no:).

And i hope that she gets some much deserved rest soon :fingerscrossed:
[especially since the thought of people that sleep deprived driving is just as scary as children being left home alone tbh :eek: i know it happens, i've been there, but its still a scary thought]

[veve]

gosh .. been there . felt that fear!!

The number of times I remind myself where the kids are and who is watching them ... I have been paranoid about it since I saw an ep of law and order (I think?) where the dad drove to work .. and was supposed to drop the kid at daycare, but the bubba feel asleep - dad forgot and went straight to work .. parked the car ... walked off .. :(

nightmareish stuff - and really .. when you are THAT tired ... its so hard to focus through the fog :(

[Guest1234]

She put her child before her pride, she did the right thing, and knowing where she went wrong, she probably won't do this again.
So glad the baby is ok!

Sent from my HTC Desire using Bubhub

[Boobycino]

That's what I'm scared of too! When I'm out without Jasper I have to remind myself where he is 50 times. I went down to melbourne for the weekend without Jasper and my brother kept going :eek: where's Jasper?!?! Getting off and on trains, because I was tired enough to jump every time!!! Argh!

It would be a nightmare!!!

[TheUndomesticGoddess]

oh how scary! Im so paranoid about forgetting bub's in the car and going shopping etc let alone leaving him at home accidentally! poor woman...how her heart must of stopped when she realised!!!

[PuppyGuts]

gosh .. been there . felt that fear!!

The number of times I remind myself where the kids are and who is watching them ... I have been paranoid about it since I saw an ep of law and order (I think?) where the dad drove to work .. and was supposed to drop the kid at daycare, but the bubba feel asleep - dad forgot and went straight to work .. parked the car ... walked off .. :(

nightmareish stuff - and really .. when you are THAT tired ... its so hard to focus through the fog :(


that was actually based on a true story jen, it happens alot in america there was a thing on oprah about it and its just horrible what some bubs went through, im sure ive seen a thread on here about it too.
they are suggesting to put your mobile phone in the car seat with bubs then when you get out and do the mental check-list, you will remember. I find it kind of sad that you would remeber your phone before bubby but yeh sleep deprivation or change of routine can definalty mess us up.


ill never forget putting DD in her seat then getting in the car and looking at her in my little car seat mirror a bit down the road and i realised i hadnt strapped her in! horrible horrible thoughts i had for days

i think that lady is so brave and i cant imagine one person who would think badly of her.

[3boysNAprincess]

gosh .. been there . felt that fear!!

The number of times I remind myself where the kids are and who is watching them ... I have been paranoid about it since I saw an ep of law and order (I think?) where the dad drove to work .. and was supposed to drop the kid at daycare, but the bubba feel asleep - dad forgot and went straight to work .. parked the car ... walked off .. :(

nightmareish stuff - and really .. when you are THAT tired ... its so hard to focus through the fog :(


Same as me.. that episode and the real life mum it happened to that was on oprah has scared me..

I always end up in a panic where i run back to the car just in case (when DH is minding them)

scary stuff..

Good on her for putting her baby before her pride..

I do wonder though IF docs was called...

I dont think they should of been but its probably protocol.

[MrsBeee]

gosh .. been there . felt that fear!!

The number of times I remind myself where the kids are and who is watching them ... I have been paranoid about it since I saw an ep of law and order (I think?) where the dad drove to work .. and was supposed to drop the kid at daycare, but the bubba feel asleep - dad forgot and went straight to work .. parked the car ... walked off .. :(

nightmareish stuff - and really .. when you are THAT tired ... its so hard to focus through the fog :(

This happened a few years ago in Toowoomba - the dad usually took the baby to daycare, but this day for some reason the mum was doing the drop off, the baby fell asleep and she left him in the car and he died :gloomy: So so sad. My sister knew her through her work and said she was such a wonderful mother, just that day her mind was on other things, she was overtired, and she forgot :(

[OJandMe]

Omg. I have had that feeling. It's horrible. To think you've forgotten them. I almost have a couple of times.

Once I drove all the way home form picking the kids up and went to get them out, only to realise that I'd driven the whole way with Lysander not buckled into his seat!! :eek: A 20min drive at 100km an hour!

I'd put him in the seat quickly while I ushered the others into the car, just to get him out of my arms.. and then I buckled the rest in, and assumed I'd already buckled Sander.
:no:

I've forgotten to buckle the older ones a couple of times, but they holler and shout and call out MUUM you forgot to buckle me!! Before I even get to my seat.

She did the right thing, good thing the baby was still asleep.

[bumMum]

She put her child before her pride, she did the right thing, and knowing where she went wrong, she probably won't do this again.
So glad the baby is ok!

Sent from my HTC Desire using Bubhub
I agree! She did the right thing for sure

[Atlantic Puffin]

Ohh poor lady!!!... How brave of her to put her embarassment aside and call for help... Even though she could have gotten in trouble!...

They say that being awake constantly for 48hours or more is equivilent to like 0.08 alcohol levels...

I honestly think thats not true... i think its worse!!! I have been up that long before and about the 32 hour mark started hulucinating (sp?) and hearing things!

Crazy stuff..!

[share a book]

I didn't see that episode of Law and Order but it sounds hairy. So glad she called and didn't think twice about who to ring in that instance. i wonder how many people would just rush home instead of calling anyone else? So glad everyone was ok, what a great Mum for remembering when she did and knowing what to do.

[Lemonhead]

I've never been that sleep deprived but gawd how awful that must be :(

How can a baby not sleep for 2 days lol

[Savingfishfromdrowning]

ill never forget putting DD in her seat then getting in the car and looking at her in my little car seat mirror a bit down the road and i realised i hadnt strapped her in! horrible horrible thoughts i had for days



I have done that too :( I got home and went to get her out and my heart just stopped!

I also freak out that I might forget her one day, so I put my handbag in the back seat now.

[nothanksbye]

The poor mum but what an amazing lady to call and have her baby checked on.

I have been that sleep deprived and often have to double check everything.

I average 3 hours sleep a night...it takes its toll on your brain.

[WorkingClassMum]

I *get* where she's at - poor mum. She'll be hounded and judged by so many for a human failing

I was sooooo SD with DD I once fell asleep stopped at red lights while driving - I even slept through the other cars tooting - I turned the car around and went home - I should have caught a taxi

[bundmum]

I've been that tired and freaked myself out that I'd left him somewhere in the shopping centre. Before I freaked out completely I remembered I had left him somewhere... With my husband *rolls eyes*

[Benji]

Awh that poor woman. I wish there was more support for sleep deprived mums and less criticism. Sleep deprivation is a form of torture, and I mean that literally. I'm so glad everything is okay, I wish I could give her a great big hug.. not to mention a break for some sleep :hugs:

[MothersMilk]

There is a reason that sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture - because it is torture.
I have had many moments, while sleep deprived, where i have thought 'Sh1t, where is the baby' (usually while i am holding the baby). I would wake and think the baby was missing but it was just that i had moved the baby from my bed to the cot (or vice versa) and forgotten. It is so awful feeling that tired and vague...awful.
I really feel for the woman and i'm glad she had the good sense to put her pride aside and call 000 and i'm so glad the ambulance officers where understanding.
It could happen to anyone.

[share a book]

It could happen to anyone.

This part is so true, it could easily happen to any one of us. This is a loving, caring mum who obviously put her baby ahead of all else and did what had to be done. she wasn't some neglectful or abusive mum wanting to go out without the baby and leaving the baby unattended. This is the type of thing nightmares are made of, and I also wish there was more support for mums who are struggling like this. I have not personally been through it, but can somewhat related the carseat thing. My friend put DD's seat in her car but hadn't installed it, just sat it on the seat. I put the seatbelt through it, realised I'd left the dog locked inside the house (he was coming too) and went back for him and in that time DD climbed into her carseat and my friend had buckled her in. I buckled the dog in, buckled myself in and off we went 6 hours on the open road all the way to where we were going, then drove all over the place, then 2 days later 6 hours home. It wasn't until we were home and I was taking the seat out that I realised the top clip wasn't attached :eek:

And I wasn't even sleep-deprived, just distracted!!! Imagine if there had been an accident, since we drove through monsoonal weather and hit water over the road, nealy went off the road, came close to hitting a semi up ahead of us without their lights on, anything could have happened! I wish there was more in place for mothers other than judgement.

[OurLittleBlessing]

ill never forget putting DD in her seat then getting in the car and looking at her in my little car seat mirror a bit down the road and i realised i hadnt strapped her in! horrible horrible thoughts i had for days
.

:freakingout:I did that too once when DD1 was very young and up for hours at night. I couldn't believe I could be so stupid! But sleep deprivation can make you do things that you would never imagine possible.

I can totally understand why Sue did what she did. Poor woman, I'm so glad that everything was okay.

[sunnymummy]

I think this can happen SO easily and to anyone!

Good on her for going public as a warning about the dangers of sleep deprivation. :cheerleader1:

Good on the emergency services for treating her with respect rather than crucifying her for a genuine mistake. :highfive:

ETA I have failed to strap DS into his car seat too.

[Mrs Awesome]

Oh my gosh CC, I didn't realise you had already started a thread on this before i started mine! Mine is not a spin of or anything btw....oooops! Maybe the mods could merge the threads?