Last month in Alabama, a two-year-old child died after being left in a parked car for over five hours. The outside temperature wasn’t even extreme. Inside the car, it became deadly in minutes.
This is 2025. We know the dangers. We have the technology. So why is this still happening?
The Problem That Refuses to Go Away
Every year in the United States, between 30 and 40 children die in hot cars. Some are victims of neglect. Many are victims of momentary lapses in attention — caregivers who were distracted, stressed, or operating on autopilot.
It’s easy to assume this could never happen to me. The truth is, it can happen to anyone.
- A baby falls asleep in the back seat.
- A change in routine throws off your mental checklist.
- You’re running late for work.
And in just 10 minutes, the inside of a car can heat up by 20 degrees. Even on a mild day, that can be enough to cause heatstroke, organ failure, and death in a small child.
We’ve Had Warnings for Decades
The awareness campaigns are familiar:
- “Look before you lock.”
- “Where’s baby? Check the back seat.”
- “Heat kills.”
And yet, here we are — reading the same headlines year after year.
What’s missing is universal, affordable technology that makes forgetting impossible.
Technology Exists — But Not for Everyone
Some new cars include rear seat reminder systems. Others can sense movement and trigger alerts. But:
- These features are optional or available only on certain models.
- Most families can’t afford to replace their vehicles just for a safety feature.
- Aftermarket solutions exist — but many are expensive, clunky, or not widely known.
We need something different: portable, affordable, and scalable — something that works in any car, for any family
The Solution: Baby Buddy On Board™
At the American Family Center, we’ve stopped waiting for the auto industry or lawmakers to make this standard.
We’re building it ourselves.
Baby Buddy On Board™ is a simple, attachable device that:
- Detects when a child is present in the car
- Monitors for dangerous heat levels
- Connects to a caregiver’s phone via Bluetooth
- Sends an alert if the caregiver walks away
- Escalates to a backup contact — and, if needed, emergency services
It’s like a safety seatbelt for your memory.
Why It’s Different
- Portable: Works in any car, no installation required
- Affordable: Designed to be low-cost (or no-cost) so it’s accessible to all families
- Reliable: Built with proven sensor and alert technology
- Life-saving: Makes the difference between tragedy and intervention
How You Can Help
We’ve launched our Phase 1 goal to raise $11,000 — funding the first working prototypes, a basic mobile app, pilot testing, and launch materials.
Your support will:
- Put Baby Buddy On Board™ in the hands of families who need it most
- Fund the research and development to make this device reliable and scalable
- Help end this preventable tragedy
Lets Be Part of the Solution Together
The heartbreaking headlines will keep coming — unless we do something now.
Visit babybuddyonboard.org to see how it works, track our fundraising thermometer, and make your donation today.
Together, we can make hot car deaths a thing of the past.
The American Family Center is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, free from government alignment or funding. Our work is made possible through the generosity of individuals, businesses, and foundations who share our commitment to stronger, safer communities.
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