There are a lot of upsides to a front-load washing machine. They're quieter, use less water and energy per load, and you can fit more clothing in each wash for greater savings. There is also a potential downside if you are a parent, as Lindsey McIver of Conifer, Colorado found out recently.
She shared her story with other parents on Love What Matters to know her story so it never happens again to another parent.
Not that a determined toddler couldn't get into a top-loader, but that usually requires some extra climbing skills. A front-loading machine happens to sit at the perfect height for little children.
After her trusty old top-loader died, Lindsey McIver was excited to buy and install a "new and cool" front-loading machine.
"We told them several times that they were not to touch it. They all replied 'OK.'"
He was crying so hard that he could barely speak. Dad caught on quicker and was rushing out of the room before Lindsey could piece it together. It was one of the worst things a mom could hear.
In the few minutes it took to be awoken and rush to the basement, the machine had already begun tumbling, water filling the drum quickly.
She knew she needed to warn other parents. The fact that the machines were better at noise reduction was backfiring in the worst way.
She was wet and had a few bumps, but was otherwise okay. "After going through all the ‘what if’s’ and ‘could have’s’ we know we are very blessed and God had mercy on our sweet daughter," Lindsey said.
"We are continually surprised at the new, inventive ways our kids come up with to try and die. And this was definitely a new one."
Digging through the manual, the parents found that while the machine did have a safety setting that should have prevented the machine from turning on, there was no way to keep the kids from opening the door and climbing inside.
She urges other parents of young children, as well as friends and family they visit often, to make sure that their front-loading washers are properly secured.
"I realize that there are ways we could’ve prevented this from happening. This is the season for swimming pool accidents and kids being left in hot cars and all sorts of other horrible accidents. And that’s what most of them are. Accidents."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
