Núria Casanovas, psychologist: "Stress and fatigue can cause the brain to go on autopilot and forget important things like having a child in the car."

The recent tragedy in Valls (Tarragona), where a two-year-old boy died after being forgotten by his father inside a vehicle , has once again highlighted a problem that, although seemingly unimaginable, is repeated in different places and circumstances. This phenomenon, known as forgotten child syndrome, is the subject of study by neuroscience and psychology, which point to a series of factors that can cause an adult, in situations of stress or fatigue, to lose sight of their own child.

This is a situation that, as unlikely as it may seem, has a cognitive explanation. Núria Casanovas, a psychologist specializing in childhood, adolescence, and families and vice president of the Social Intervention Psychology Section of the Official College of Psychology of Catalonia, explains that in certain situations, the brain can go into "autopilot" and omit important actions without any intention or conscious negligence on the part of the adult.

Is it really possible to forget a small child in the car?

Although it may seem surreal or impossible, yes. It has happened more than once, and unfortunately, it's not that rare. There are cases that don't become public knowledge because, fortunately, someone notices in time and nothing bad happens. This is known as forgotten child syndrome. From neuroscience and psychology, we know that there are several factors that can lead the brain to erase something so obvious.

What factors influence?

Stress, fatigue, lack of sleep … These are common situations, especially when juggling work responsibilities, household chores, and young children. Sometimes the brain is so overloaded that it goes into automatic mode, making us more distracted.

What exactly does this 'auto mode' mean?

It's that state in which we act without thinking much. It's happened to all of us at some point: arriving somewhere without remembering how. Or like when we breathe, we don't need to think about it. The same thing happens with routines. If there's a change—for example, a father taking the child to daycare when the mother normally does—the brain can follow the usual route and forget that the child is in the car, especially if they're asleep and can't be heard.

What if that person usually makes that trip with the child?

It can also happen. Sometimes, if you're thinking about something else or have a distraction, your brain 'replaces' that memory. It assumes you've already done what you were supposed to. And since there's nothing to set off an alarm, you're left with the feeling that you've done it, even if you haven't.

Is that considered negligence?

From a psychological point of view, no. It's not conscious negligence or a willful omission. It's a very serious human error, but it's not intentional. It's very different from deliberately leaving a child in the car. Here we're talking about something unintentional, and therefore it can't be prevented like normal negligence.

The emotional consequences must be very harsh…

A lot. It's not just a devastating loss, but the trauma of feeling responsible. Many people fall into a deep depression, with very dark thoughts, even suicidal thoughts. That's why specialized psychological support is essential.

And what can be done to prevent it?

The most important thing is to be present. In psychology, we call this mindfulness: being aware of what we're doing. Just as we check whether we've turned off the faucet before leaving the house, we should also get into the habit of always checking the back seats of the car before leaving. That simple gesture can prevent tragedy.

What types of strategies can help in everyday life?

A good way to do this is to use visual reminders. For example, leaving your purse or cell phone in the back seat next to the child, but its effectiveness depends on each person's profile. If the person typically pays little attention to details or tends to be distracted, this may not be enough. However, in less common situations—when the adult isn't the one who normally drives the child or there's a change in routine—this type of reminder can be very effective.