November brings two big routine benders, the end of daylight saving time and Thanksgiving travel. Sleep shifts, darker evenings, crowded parking lots, and unfamiliar cars all push the brain toward autopilot. Loving parents can finish a drive convinced they already unbuckled the car seat.
Why December quietly raises risk
• Clock change fog
When you “fall back,” circadian rhythms lag for several days. Fatigue and grogginess reduce prospective memory, the brain’s ability to remember a future action like check the back seat.
• Early darkness
Dusk arrives during school pick ups and store runs. Low light hides what your eyes should catch.
• Holiday logistics
Thanksgiving errands, airport runs, and house guests add decisions and distractions at the exact moment you park.
• Unfamiliar vehicles and routes
Borrowed cars, rentals, and detours remove the cues you rely on.
Dark evening playbook
• Bring a tiny light
Clip a keychain light to your keys. Shine it at the harness and touch the buckle if visibility is poor.
• Park for the habit
Choose a bay that lets the child’s door open freely and faces your walking path.
• Finish the check before calls
If the phone rings as you park, say, Give me ten seconds, safety check, then answer.
Thanksgiving week, travel without errors
• Airport curbside
Crowds and bags scramble attention. Say to staff, One moment please, safety check. Run the ritual, then unload.
• Road trip stops
Announce the rule to everyone, At every stop we run the back seat check. Park, run the ritual, then pay or collect food. Switch drivers more often than usual. The new driver says the phrase before moving, Keys, phone, baby, then go.
• Family visits
Greeting at the curb interrupts habits. Assign roles. One adult runs the ritual. The other waves hello and carries dishes or gifts.
Time changed. Your ritual should not. Ten seconds at every stop, empty seat included. Let a gentle audio cue cut through clock change fog, let your own voice anchor attention, and let one small habit carry you safely through early darkness and holiday travel. Small, consistent actions save lives, and this one works in any car you drive.
