Back in June of 2022, we aired an episode on water safety. Parts of that were tough to record because no parent wants to think about the tragic “what could happen” scenarios with children and water.
Today’s episode is also one that kicks every parent in the gut: forgotten baby syndrome. Forgetting your child in a car seat. We’re kicking into summer here in the South and it gets hot & stays hot here, which means car vigilance is so important.
But our guest with us today has actually done something about that awful scenario. We’re talking to Michael Israel, the inventor of CLEVERELLY, a unique alert device that prevents the unthinkable.
WELCOME & INTRO
Let’s give some background around this heart-breaking issue. An unfortunate statistic is that, in the US, every year we lose an average of 39 children from being accidentally left, intentionally left, or gaining unsupervised access to a vehicle. Children may not be able to escape safety restraints or unlock car doors, and children’s bodies overheat three to five times faster than adults’. In 80-degree weather, a car can heat up to 123 degrees within 60 minutes.
Every parent wants to believe, “That could never happen to me.” The thought of forgetting your child in a car seems unthinkable – something only careless or negligent parents would do. But science, research, and heartbreaking real-world cases tell a very different story.
In fact, over 25% of parents with children under 3 have lost awareness of their child being present in the car at some point during a drive (Wikipedia). Parents who are loving, responsible, and attentive.
What is it about our brains and multi-tasking that makes us vulnerable to lapses?
Zoning out is incredibly normal. Our brains shift into autopilot – especially during repetitive routes or low-stimulation conditions. This mental drift is worsened by:
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Multitasking habits
- Lack of sleep
- Technology overload
Fatigue alone is a major driver of mental distraction, leading to slower reaction times and missed cues. Add in phone notifications or conversations, and the brain has even more to juggle.
Do you know any parents of young children who are fatigued?!? Do you remember what it felt like to operate on weeks of lack of sleep in those early months?
What are some RISK FACTORS for this situation?
Being aware of when you’re most vulnerable is important.
- Change in Normal Routine
Maybe your partner usually handles daycare drop-off, but you’re filling in that day. Perhaps you took a different route because of roadwork. Or you were running late and skipped your usual stop.
Your brain relies heavily on habit and routine. When that routine changes, your brain may default back to its usual patterns – like driving straight to work and forgetting you had a child in the back seat.
- Sleep Deprivation & Exhaustion
Fatigue is a major contributor to memory failures. Sleep deprivation impairs brain function by reducing short-term memory, affecting focus and concentration & increasing cognitive overload.
When we’re exhausted, it’s much easier for the brain to slip into autopilot – where your regular driving routine takes over and awareness of your child fades.
- Stress & Mental Overload
High levels of stress flood the brain with cortisol, which interferes with memory and focus. The awareness of a child can be lost when the brain is processing too many things at once.
We’re most vulnerable when rushing to a meeting, handling work calls during a commute, juggling mental to-do lists when driving, or worrying about unrelated personal issues.
It’s not about how our brains work under pressure.
- Quiet Back Seats & Rear-Facing Seats
Many forgotten child tragedies involve infants and toddlers who are quiet, rear-facing, and out of sight. Children may fall asleep during the drive; they’re too young to speak up if you forget them; and rear-facing car seats make it impossible to see them directly while driving.
Without visual or auditory cues, it’s easier for your brain to forget their presence—especially during those high-risk moments of distraction, stress, or routine change.
- The “I Could Never Forget” Mindset
Ironically, believing you’re immune to forgetting makes you more vulnerable. This false sense of security means you may not take preventive steps – such as habit reminders or using safety devices – because you believe forgetting is something that happens to “other people.”
The truth is: When am I most at risk of forgetting my child?
- When I believe it can’t happen to me.
- When I underestimate my brain’s limitations.
Understanding that anyone can forget is the most powerful first step toward prevention.
Things that Can Help
Perhaps you keep your diaper bag or a stuffed animal in the front seat of your car. Or maybe you make it a habit to always open the back door when your park. Those may be helpful habits and reminders.
There are also sensors or dashboard reminders now in newer cars that light up when you park—visual cues to check the back seat.
So Michael Israel & His Dad Squad come along… Michael, what was the catalyst for this device?
What is Clever Elly and how does it break a person’s “autopilot”?
- Every time you exit your car, Clever Elly gives a clear verbal reminder: “Check the back seat.” (in a different way).
- This simple prompt interrupts autopilot thinking, snapping your awareness back to the moment.
- It works no matter how tired, stressed, or rushed you are.
Features?
–comes in multi-packs so you can also have one for grandparents’ car or regular sitter.
Learn more at cleverelly.com and start building safer habits today.
#ForgottenBabySyndrome #CleverElly #ChildCarSafety #ParentingAwareness #BackSeatCheck #SafeDrivingHabits
Even with the best intentions, younger drivers are navigating a cognitive minefield – and traditional dings and dashboard lights just aren’t enough.
Clever Elly isn’t just a reminder. It’s a pattern disruptor.
Plugged into your car’s 12V socket, it delivers a voice prompt the moment you switch off your engine: “Check the back seat.” This single line interrupts the flow of autopilot and brings you back to the present moment – right when you’re most likely to forget.
It works because it’s designed for real human behavior. Unlike passive safety features buried in dashboards or infotainment systems, Clever Elly:
- Speaks audibly, not visually – ideal for tired or distracted brains
- Is triggered by routine – at engine off, when habit loops matter most
- Reinforces one simple action: look before you lock
This isn’t about high-tech complexity. It’s about psychology. If our brains are hardwired to drift, we need tools that anchor us.