Toddler survives fall from third floor window

Not such a miracle. Virtually everybody can survive a two or three story drop, though of course we want to avoid testing that maxim as much as possible :)

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What a lucky thing. I'm also happy for the boy and his family. I'm trying to think of a way to say this that doesn't sound condescending, and I think I'll fail, but -- let's try to remember that hindsight is always 20-20. The word "irresponsible" is so derogatory, especially when applied to parents. There are many, many reasons that a parent might not have a window lock. Perhaps they have a myriad of other more pressing things burdening them. Or perhaps they just didn't think about it. Let's be happy that their lack of locks didn't result in a tragedy--- and might have actually *helped* prevent future tragedies by serving as a reminder to other parents.

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I also think that irresponsible is a bit of a stretch.
For all we know, this may have been the only time no one checked the window. Depending on the type of window, the baby may have figured out how to open it on their own - it`s certainly not impossible.

Accidents happen - some are scarier and more dangerous than others... But I don`t think there is any parent out there who hasn`t made one single mistake that could have had a very bad outcome.

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I also agree that this sounded a tiny bit harsh. Frankly I never check my windows...but that's because I never open them. I don't have a child safe window lock, but my qindows *do* lock. I do have a question though, and bear with me as my computer is somehow malfunctioning and I could not read the link...if he's a bit over a year he's roughly the size of my son, and far from being tall enough to reach a window without climbing (and probably falling a few times in the process). So, if it's mentioned in the link...how did he get up that high, and how long was he left alone to be able to get the idea and carry it out?

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I am very paranoid about making sure the windows are locked in my 3yo daughters second story window, especially since one of my friend's daughters fell out of a window when she was 2. The locks were high on the window, where I was sure she couldn't reach them. Yet, one day I walk in to her room and she is sitting in the window with her legs hanging out. She had figured out how to climb up on a shelf, lean way over, open a lock that is even difficult for me to budge, figured out the mechanism, and opened it. We are very lucky and thankful that she didn't get hurt, but I don't feel I was irresponsible in any way. We as parent's have to remember that we are not God, we are not all seeing and all knowing. Things happen, even after our best attempts at safety.
I refuse to pass blame on a parent who has had the terrifying experience of their toddler falling out of the window. I'm sure they are blaming themselves plenty. It's easy to look down your nose at all the other "bad" parents, until one day something horrible and unexpected happens to you.
Have a little sympathy.

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This story should remind all parents and people caring for children that accidents are the commonest cuase of death in toddlers. Having had 6 children who have had their fair share of accidents, I know how easily they can happen. We should be especially careful about fires and falls.
I go into this in more detail in my blog Childhood illness which morphed into Pediatric Questions and answers.

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I don't think this is a case of an irresponsible parent. I have 3 children ages 6 to 1, and I never go around checking the windows before I let them play in their rooms. I would drive myself and the rest of my family crazy if I wandered around the house every day checking each bottle of cleaner to be sure the caps are on tight. This is obviosuly a terrible fluke.

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Actually, I do think it was irresponsible and totally preventable - in NYC you are required to have child-proof bars on your windows, and for very good reason. It's not a miracle he survived, they just got incredibly lucky and hopefully will learn a valuable lesson.

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The parents are so fortunate to have a second chance. There have been so many who didn't get that chance. Falls are not the only horrible accident that can happen with unchecked windows. I know a child whose hand was crushed when the window crashed down on it.

Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/

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Greta, maybe they have been asking their landlord for those window guards and he's been dragging his feet on it and they can't alter the apartment without his permission. You don't know.

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"commonest", huh.

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Save the judgment and just be thankful that this poor kid is safe!I would have been freaking out were it my kid!!!!

We live in military housing, and cannot put bars up on the windows, or modify the house in any way. we have a 4 year old who has not only figured out how to unlock and open the windows, but does so with great regularity in his room and the nursery. And as the windows are VERY old, they don't always stay up and he got his hand smashed one day - we are so thankful nothing was broken!

I don't think it's fair to make any assumptions in this case.

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I am a parent of five children, ranging from 15 (of course she won't fall out the window) to 1 1/2 years old. I have a huge phobia of a child falling out of a window, but guess what? My older children do not. I am constantly having to ask is your window locked, and have put up tons of gates in the house so my younger child will not go upstairs and risk falling out of one, but I can see how it could happen. I'm just happy for this family that they managed to have a miracle in all of this, but I don't necessarily feel it was because someone was being irresponsible. I'm sure there was a reason for them to encounter a near tragic tragedy.

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