{"id":1172,"date":"2021-02-03T11:10:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T11:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/primedparent.com\/?p=1172"},"modified":"2022-09-25T19:40:54","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T19:40:54","slug":"is-it-safe-for-a-baby-to-sleep-in-a-car-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primedparent.com\/is-it-safe-for-a-baby-to-sleep-in-a-car-seat\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Safe For A Baby To Sleep In A Car Seat ? Dangers Of Sitting Device Sleeping"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Although SIDS is a very sensitive subject, every parent should know how to keep their baby safe. So, is it safe for a baby to sleep in a car seat ? It is not safe to allow your baby to sleep in their car seat for prolonged time periods, or unobserved when they are out of the car. <\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tragic phenomenon has had devastating effects for so many families. As new parents, my wife and I had seen a heart-breaking story on a news broadcast of how one mother returned to discover her child was not breathing after being left asleep in their car seat. It had a very big effect on us, leading us to research this topic further online in order to learn how we could keep our precious little one safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read this article for more information on safe sleeping for your baby in their car seat and other sitting devices, and to answer the question ‘is it safe for a baby to sleep in a car seat’ ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Often the exact cause of death is often unexplained. However, there is an association between SIDS and babies sleeping in certain products. These include car safety seats, swings, strollers, rockers and bouncers. In 2019, Fisher-Price urgently recalled its \u2018Rock \u2018n Play Sleeper\u2019 [1]<\/strong><\/a>. This followed reports of infant deaths in this device. Kids II also recalled their baby rockers following similar reports [2]<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subsequently, a study led by Dr Colvin (University of Missouri) was published in the <\/a>Pediatric journal<\/em> [3]<\/strong><\/a>. It analysed over 11,000 sleep-related infant mortalities and looked into the question is it safe for a baby to sleep in a car seat?. They found that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • 3% of the deaths were in sitting devices<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Of these, the majority were aged between 1-4 months<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Most of these deaths were due to suffocation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Around 63% occurred in car seats (35% in swings, and less than 5% in strollers)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Around 90% of deaths in sitting devices were in non-travelling situations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Incorrect harness use was the biggest risk factor<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • SIDS-like risk factors were also present (e.g. premature birth, low birth weight, smoke exposure)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Why is it so dangerous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    Babies often fall asleep in their car seats<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    One of the main dangers is due to the angled positioning the sitting device creates. Young babies, particularly those under 6 months, haven’t yet developed competent head control. This position can also create extra pressure on their developing spines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Falling asleep for a prolonged time in this upright position poses a big risk that the baby\u2019s head may flop forward. This restricts their breathing and is known as positional asphyxiation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Strangulation and suffocation can occur from safety strapping and padding. This is often found on sitting devices like car seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are some common mistakes parents and carers make when their baby falls asleep in a car seat:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Often a sleeping baby remains in their car seat, even after arriving at their destination. The car seat is then moved inside or attached to a stroller, in the hope of not disturbing the baby while they sleep. Avoid this mistake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Moving the sleeping baby in their car seat and putting them on to a new surface, can inadvertently move the baby\u2019s head position. This can lead to positional asphyxia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • You may loosen or unbuckle the strapping assuming it will be more comfortable for the baby. This can lead to the baby sliding down into an unsafe \u2018c position\u2019, where their chin tucks down to their chest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Unbuckling the lower leg safety straps whilst leaving the top chest straps still secured is dangerous. It can lead to the baby sliding down and strangling themselves on the chest straps. A wriggly baby who is not secured in anymore, is more likely to get into dangerous positions where they are trapped and can no longer breath.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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