Being a parent means worrying about all the little things that could go wrong. But what if the danger is hiding in plain sight, right in your car? One mom’s terrifying experience is now a viral warning for parents everywhere.
Natausha Furlong, known on TikTok as @morethanjustamother, shared a shocking video that has parents rethinking car safety. In the clip, smoke rises from her daughter’s car seat. The culprit? A beam of sunlight reflecting off a car seat mirror, igniting the fabric.
“If you have a car seat, you need to watch this,” Natausha begins in her video. Her voice trembles as she explains how close she came to disaster. “I didn’t even know this could happen until it literally just did.”
@morethanjustamother to all the parents out there, just be aware of how quickly this can happen. I'm so glad it didn't happen while my daughter was strapped in. #diono #carseat #parents #parentsoftiktok #momsoftiktok ♬ original sound – 𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑎 𝐹𝑢𝑟𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔
The footage shows the smoldering seat, with smoke visibly rising from the burn mark. “It could’ve been so much worse,” she adds. “The weather’s heating up, and you need to know about this danger.”
She explains how she discovered the issue: a mirror attached to the back of the front seat—commonly used to keep an eye on rear-facing children—had acted like a magnifying glass. The intense sunlight focused on one spot, causing the fabric to smolder and eventually catch fire.
Thankfully, Natausha caught it just in time. The burn mark on the seat is a haunting reminder of what could have happened if her daughter had been inside or if the car had been left unattended.
Parents flooded the comments with shock and gratitude. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention,” one wrote. “I would’ve never thought of this!” Another added, “That is terrifying. Why aren’t car seats made from non-flammable materials? You should report this to the manufacturer!”
However, one commenter reassured others that the car seat likely had flame-retardant properties, as it appeared to singe rather than burst into flames.
Others shared tips to prevent similar incidents. One parent suggested, “With the weather getting hot, I throw a white fitted crib sheet over the seat when it’s not in use. It keeps the buckles cool and prevents this kind of thing.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder to double-check for reflective surfaces in your car as temperatures rise. Natausha’s video is a wake-up call for all parents to take a closer look at their car setups.
So, before heading out on a sunny day, ask yourself: could something in your car turn a beam of light into a serious hazard? Share this story to keep other parents informed—and their little ones safe.
