Is It Ok For A Baby To Sleep In A Car Seat?

How To Ensure Your Child's Safety In A Car Seat

You may do more than just limit your baby's napping to increase his or her safety on the trip. Some other considerations:

• Verify that the seat belt is securely fastened. Make use of the LATCH mechanism or a secured seat belt and check that the seat is placed as instructed by the manufacturer. A CPST (Certified Passenger Safety Technician) can check that the seat is installed properly, or they can double-check your work.
• Keep the car seat rear-facing for as long as feasible by placing it in the back seat. In no circumstances should you ever put your child's car seat in the front passenger seat. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that she remain in a rear-facing car seat until she exceeds the manufacturer's height and weight limits for that seat.
• Verify that the chair satisfies all safety standards. Basic safety requirements must be met by all seats sold in the market today. If you're buying brand new, make sure you verify the expiration date (which should be printed on the seat itself) and keep the manufacturer's instructions. Verify the expiration date to ensure it is still safe to use, see if it has been recalled (recalls are listed on nhtsa.gov), and inspect it carefully for any fractures or missing pieces if the car seat has been used before (even by a older sibling). Don't sit on a previously occupied chair if you can't verify its safety. Never use a car seat again after it has been in an accident.
• Stop for rest stops on long voyages. Every two hours on a long drive, stop so that the baby can get out of the car seat, nurse, and change diapers.
  Do not make any kind of catering offer. Both of these things can be potentially fatal if swallowed. You should hold off on eating and drinking until you reach home, or at least until you stop to stretch on a lengthy trip.
• You should never use a car seat in any other setting. A car seat is not a place to take a nap or sleep, nor should it be used as place to carry a child when you're not in the car. When you go grocery shopping, try not to add the baby's car seat to the cart, as this could lead the cart to topple over. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a stroller, carrier, or sling instead.
• Never buy or install any kind of car seat add-ons. Accessory products, such as headrests, support inserts, epaulettes, harness coverings, seat belt adjusters, and so on, marketed separately to your car seat by the a third-party manufacture have not been safety-tested and may actually reduce the safety of your child's seat. The AAP advises against transporting young children in a vehicle. If your baby is prone to reclining in her car seat, the AAP recommends using a rolled up receiving blanket on each side of her or a tightly rolled diapers or cloth between the kid and the crotch strap. In any case, it's smart to double-check the seat's manual to make sure it's okay to do so.
• Don't dress your infant in unnecessary layers. Keep your youngster warm by dressing her in light, thin sheets and draping a blanket and coat over the harness straps. Your child's safety may be compromised if they wear a bulky coat, snowsuit, or multiple layers on top of each other.

Babies enjoy vehicle rides and often fall asleep. The repetitive hum of the motor might be comforting to your infant, who may go off to sleep. The wriggling motions tend to keep infants awake and alert, which in turn encourages healthy breathing.

What's more, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns against letting a child spend extended periods of time sleeping in a car seat (AAP). The risk arises when your infant or young child sleeps in an awkward position, such as sitting up or leaning forward.

A baby's heavy head can slip forward while seated, obstructing their airway and putting them at risk of asphyxia.

That's why it's not a good idea for infants to nap or sleep in their car seats outside of moving vehicles for the first year of their lives.

There is a similar danger for infants who nap for extended periods of time in high-quality strollers & baby swings. The SNOO Smart Sleeper is great because it allows your baby to lie flat on his or her back while yet experiencing the soothing rocking motion of a vehicle or baby swing. It's a safe and effective approach to help your baby get to sleep faster by simulating the rocking motion they experienced in the womb.

If your infant falls asleep in the car, don't freak out! The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that as quickly as you get out of the car, you put your child to sleep on a flat, hard surface.

Install The Seat Properly

Children should ride rear-facing in a car seat (either an infant or a convertible) until at least the age of 2 (or until they reach the car seat's height and weight limits, whichever comes first). No of the model, all rear-facing seats must be positioned at an angle between 30 and 45 degrees to be safe.

Mary Haverstick, a safety champion and child safety specialist for Evenflo, a company that sells baby equipment like car seats and strollers, says, "Most manufacturers give a line on a labeling or a bubble indication to show you how and where to position the child seat at the inclined point."

Because the seat is crash-tested at a specific angle and that angle is safe for most usually developing newborns, it is imperative that you install the device in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, which also include age and weight criteria.

Only Use An Approved Positioner.

Utilise only what is allowed for it and supplied by your car-seat maker" if you need to use an infant linear actuator in the car seat because your newborn is too little to fit in the seat properly, as recommended by Haverstick. The car seat manufacturer has performed safety testing with the included head pillow and newborn insert if one was included.

If the manufacturer hasn't crash-tested the positioner, we have no idea if it will adequately support the baby's head for ventilation.

Keep in mind that positioners are designed for infants only when they reach a certain height and weight. If you want to know when the car seat positioning attachments need to be removed, make sure you read the instructions.

Secure The 5-Point Harness System.

If you're going to be transporting your infant in a car seat, always make sure they're securely fastened in using the harness. Infants are protected from harm in the event of an accident with a five-point safety harness.

Even in the event of a perfectly calm drive, it protects infants from suffocating by sliding down, wriggling from the seat, and rolling into the fabric of the car seat.

However, safety tests for infants using inclined sleepers, which typically put babies at an inclination of roughly 30 degrees, were never conducted. A three-point groin harness does nothing to prevent them from slouching, wriggling, or turning onto their backs.

When babies are placed in inclined sleepers, they are placed on the a contour with high - density foam, which increases the risk of asphyxia. Babies in inclined sleepers pose a safety danger if left unattended, according to Hoffman.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against putting infants to sleep in inclined sleep items and instead suggests they sleep flat on their backs without any pillows or blankets.

Keep A Close Eye On Your Child.

Even if your kid is properly secured in a car seat, you should still check on them frequently. Car seats were designed for use under the watchful eye of an adult. Jennifer Stockburger, operations director and leader of CR's car-seat test program now at Auto Test Center, stresses the importance of stopping frequently so that your infant may get out and stretch during long rides.

Use The Car Seat In Conjunction With An Approved Stroller.

There are a variety of stroller bases available that are specifically made to secure infant car seats. This allows parents to take their sleeping infant from the car seat or carrier directly into the stroller travel system.

Make sure your stroller base is compatible with your car seat if you intend to use one, and never leave your kid unattended when using a travel system.

To give your kid more freedom of movement when the car is not in motion, you may be tempted to undo the harness straps or release a buckle on the car seat.

However, this should never be done since it raises the risk of the child slumping forward in the seat, blocking the air vents, or wriggling out of the harness and becoming trapped. Harness straps that aren't completely fastened might cause suffocation in infants.

Use A Seat Away From The Car Or Stroller.

The danger of respiratory issues as well as other problems increases after the car seat is removed from the automobile or stroller base and is not being used in the manner for which it was designed.

So, if you're bringing your sleeping infant from the car into the house, you can put the car seat down on the floor for a moment. You shouldn't set it on a counter top or a bed or couch, though.

A minor shift in weight from an infant in the harness might cause the car seat to collapse over, smothering the baby if it lands on a soft surface. Having the baby's head fall forward and block their airway is another risk associated with an improperly adjusted seat.

If your baby is still asleep when you reach your location, it is preferable to transfer him or her to a hard, flat surface (like a cot or bassinet) rather than leaving him or her in the car seat.

That's right, kids, car seats are fine for the trip, but not for the overnight. Parents and caregivers can be assured that their infants are safe when riding in a car with an appropriate car seat, but this should not be the primary sleeping arrangement for the child. There is no suitable alternative to a crib or bassinet, such as a car seat or an inclined sleeper.

What Makes A Car Seat An Unsafe Sleeping Place?

Babies' airways become blocked when their heads slump forward while they sleep in a sitting position.

A research published in 2015 inside The Journal of Pediatric found that positional asphyxiation, which can affect children up to the age of two, was the cause of death in 48% of car seat deaths. The remaining 52% of fatalities were the result of people suffocating on straps that weren't fastened properly.

Cat napping in the car is fine for your infant as long as the trip isn't too long (though no firm limitations have been established), but you shouldn't let them stay asleep once you get there. The baby's position can shift when the car's bucket seat is detached from its base and placed on a different surface.

Testing a car seat requires positioning it at a predetermined angle.

While the ability to attach a car seat to a stroller or shopping cart may seem like a huge time-saver, it actually forces newborns to spend a lot of time sitting in an unnatural position; in fact, some stroller systems position kids in even more of an upright position than the car seat base.

Parents often adjust the straps or unbuckle them completely or partially when they remove the car seat from the vehicle, thinking the baby will be more comfortable. This is risky.

Chin to chest, a hazardous position for a baby, is easy to slide into. An unrestrained infant has the potential to turn completely sideways or inverted in their car seat, obstructing their own airway if you fail to buckle them in.

It's not uncommon for caregivers to fasten the clip over the chest but leave the clips between both the legs undone. A youngster can suffocate if they slide into the seat and become entangled in the chest strap.

A large number of deaths inside the study were related to babies spending too much time in car seats. About a third of all deaths involving sitting devices occur while the caretaker is asleep, which may indicate that the infant was left inside the car seat for a prolonged period of time without supervision.

Conclusion

This reduces your baby's SIDS risk. Babies should only sleep in cribs, bassinets, portable cribs, or play yards. Longer excursions should include two-hour breaks for the baby to stretch. Check the expiration date and follow the manufacturer's instructions when buying a car seat. Car seats should never be used for sleeping or carrying children.

Never add anything to a car seat, even a seatbelt. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against car seat slumber. A baby's heavy head can fall forwards and suffocate them when seated. Car seats should face inward until age 2. Rear-facing car seats are safest at 30–45 degrees.

Accident-proofing newborns with a five-point safety harness. Hoffman says leaving a baby in an inclined sleeper is dangerous. Stop often to let your baby stretch on long travels. Untight harness straps can suffocate babies. Entering the car, a baby's car seat can be safely placed on the floor.

If the car ride is brief, an infant can nap, but don't let them sleep in after you arrive. Car seats and inclined sleepers are unsuitable alternatives to cribs and bassinets. Newborns are awkwardly positioned in car seats. Unrestrained infants might shift sideways or inverted in their car seats, blocking their airway. During the study, many babies died from being in car seats too long.

Content Summary

• The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests always placing your baby to sleep on her back (never her belly) without any bedding or toys in her crib or cot (AAP).
• Don't freak out if your infant nods off on the ride home from the store or the park.
• Don't give in to the temptation of a peaceful nap in the car and let your baby sleep in her car seat for any longer than necessary.
• Never ever let your infant nap or sleep in her car seat.
• Some other considerations: Verify that the seat belt is securely fastened.
• Keep the car seat rear-facing for as long as feasible by placing it in the back seat.
• In no circumstances should you ever put your child's car seat in the front passenger seat.
• Verify that the chair satisfies all safety standards.
• You should never use a car seat in any other setting.
• A car seat is not a place to take a nap or sleep, nor should it be used as a place to carry a child when you're not in the car.
• Never buy or install any kind of car seat add-ons.
• Accessory products, such as headrests, support inserts, epaulettes, harness coverings, seat belt adjusters, and so on, marketed separately to your car seat by a third-party manufacturer have not been safety-tested and may actually reduce the safety of your child's seat.
• The AAP advises against transporting young children in a vehicle.
• Don't dress your infant in unnecessary layers.
• What's more, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns against letting a child spend extended periods of time sleeping in a car seat (AAP).
• That's why it's not a good idea for infants to nap or sleep in their car seats outside of moving vehicles for the first year of their lives.
• There is a similar danger for infants who nap for extended periods of time in high-quality strollers & baby swings.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that as quickly as you get out of the car, you put your child to sleep on a flat, hard surface.
• Children should ride rear facing in a car seat (either an infant or a convertible) until at least the age of 2 (or until they reach the car seat's height and weight limits, whichever comes first).
• No of the model, all rear-facing seats must be positioned at an angle between 30 and 45 degrees to be safe.
• Because the seat is crash-tested at a specific angle and that angle is safe for most usually developing newborns, it is imperative that you install the device in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, which also include age and weight criteria.
• Utilise only what is allowed for it and supplied by your car-seat maker" if you need to use an infant linear actuator in the car seat because your newborn is too little to fit in the seat properly, as recommended by Haverstick.
• If the manufacturer hasn't crash-tested the positioner, we have no idea if it will adequately support the baby's head for ventilation.
• If you're going to be transporting your infant in a car seat, always make sure they're securely fastened in using the harness.
• Infants are protected from harm in the event of an accident with a five-point safety harness.
• When babies are placed in inclined sleepers, they are placed on the a contour with high - density foam, which increases the risk of asphyxia.
• Babies in inclined sleepers pose a safety danger if left unattended, according to Hoffman.
• Even if your kid is properly secured in a car seat, you should still check on them frequently.
• Make sure your stroller base is compatible with your car seat if you intend to use one, and never leave your kid unattended when using a travel system.
• To give your kid more freedom of movement when the car is not in motion, you may be tempted to undo the harness straps or release a buckle on the car seat.
• So, if you're bringing your sleeping infant from the car into the house, you can put the car seat down on the floor for a moment.
• Having the baby's head fall forward and block their airway is another risk associated with an improperly adjusted seat.
• If your baby is still asleep when you reach your location, it is preferable to transfer him or her to a hard, flat surface (like a cot or bassinet) rather than leaving him or her in the car seat.
• That's right, kids, car seats are fine for the trip, but not for the overnight.
• Parents and caregivers can be assured that their infants are safe when riding in a car with an appropriate car seat, but this should not be the primary sleeping arrangement for the child.
• There is no suitable alternative to a crib or bassinet, such as a car seat or an inclined sleeper.
• A research published in 2015 inside The Journal of Pediatric found that positional asphyxiation, which can affect children up to the age of two, was the cause of death in 48% of car seat deaths.
• Cat napping in the car is fine for your infant as long as the trip isn't too long (though no firm limitations have been established), but you shouldn't let them stay asleep once you get there.
• The baby's position can shift when the car's bucket seat is detached from its base and placed on a different surface.
• Testing a car seat requires positioning it at a predetermined angle.
• While the ability to attach a car seat to a stroller or shopping cart may seem like a huge time-saver, it actually forces newborns to spend a lot of time sitting in an unnatural position; in fact, some stroller systems position kids in even more of an upright position than the car seat base.
• Parents often adjust the straps or unbuckle them completely or partially when they remove the car seat from the vehicle, thinking the baby will be more comfortable.
• This is risky.
• Chin to chest, a hazardous position for a baby, is easy to slide into.
• A youngster can suffocate if they slide into the seat and become entangled in the chest strap.
• A large number of deaths inside the study were related to babies spending too much time in car seats.
• About a third of all deaths involving sitting devices occur while the caretaker is asleep, which may indicate that the infant was left inside the car seat for a prolonged period of time without supervision.