8 Ill-Advised Options For Baby Storage
The recollection of that feeling is what caused me to literally flinch while reading the story of Breona Synclair Watkins, a Florida mother who put her five-month old infant in the trunk of her car. She put the baby there because she was afraid of getting in trouble for not having a carseat for the infant to ride in. Of course, this is a very reasonable way to handle the fear of getting in trouble, when you’re about eight. So to help Watkins out, I put together this small explainer of places to not put your baby:
1. On a 14-year-old’s lap
According to The Daily News, the infant didn’t start out in the trunk. The infant started out on the lap of Watkins’ 14-year-old companion, who was sitting up front. Once they were pulled over Watkins asked her friend to stick the baby in the trunk through a hole in the backseat. No.
2. In the trunk of your car
Obviously. Watkins was pulled over for running a red light and having a missing headlight, which is when an officer heard crying from the trunk. He presumable then said, “Get out of there, baby. Babies do not go in trunks. Silly baby.”
3. On top of a rusted pair of gardening shears
If you’re going to stick a baby in a trunk, at least clear a spot first. The baby does not go on rusty garden shears.
4. On top of a rusty clothes hanger
No one should be lying on rusty clothes hangers, but the baby with the soft spot on their head especially should not be chilling in your trunk on top of a rusty hanger.
5. On top of a rusted tire iron
Babies don’t even know how to change tires.
6. On anything rusty
The only rusty things in Watkins’ trunk were the iron, shears, and hanger, but you should always consider nestling your child in soft blankets as opposed to rusty metal.
7. Near a pile of plastic bags
While it’s true that babies love plastic bags (Who doesn’t?? They’re a laugh riot!) it isn’t recommended that you let your child play with or otherwise flail around in the trunk of your car with plastic bags nearby.
8. Next to a used gas can
Everyone knows that you should always ride around with a full gas can in your trunk. Just in case you run out of gas.
In any case, Watkins predictably got in a shit ton more trouble for stashing her infant in the trunk of her car than she ever would have by just owning up to not having a carseat, and has been charged with :”child abuse without great bodily harm, obstruction without violence, operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, driving an unsafe vehicle, disobeying a traffic device, driving without a child restraint and without a safety belt for a passenger under the age of 18.”
Remember, kids, no one puts baby in the corner (of the rear compartment of your vehicle meant for storing groceries, the towel used to mop up chocolate milk out of your floorboards, and rusty stuff through a hole in the backseat)!
Image: (Andrey Popov/Shutterstock)