Don't Let Your Newborn Sleep in the Car Seat: News You Need!

on August 24, 2009 at 3:03 PM

We've all done it: The baby falls asleep in the car and you don't want to wake him so you bring the car seat into the house and let him sleep. I did this all the time with my daughter! But new research shows that letting your baby sleep in a car seat isn't a good—or safe—idea. While there's no doubt that using a car safety seat can save your baby's life in the car, car seats should never be used as cribs or sleeping devices outside of your automobile. Here's why.

According to a new study in the journal Pediatrics, when a baby is sitting in an upright position in a car seat, the seat can compress his chest wall so that he doesn't get enough oxygen. When a car seat is properly installed in a car, the baby is seated at an angle, but if the car seat is sitting on a floor, the baby is not at the correct angle, and that could prove to be very dangerous. T Bernard Kinane, M.D., the lead researcher on the study, says that breathing problems will occur in about 20 percent of newborns. The study was done on infants who were two days old.

Thus, when it comes to installing your newborn's car seat, doing so at the proper angle is crucial. Each car-seat manufacturer specifies the correct reclining angle for their seat. As long as you install the seat at the right angle, your baby should be in a good breathing position. In general, an infant car seat should sit at a 45-degree angle to prevent the baby from slumping and to keep his airway open.

Be sure to read your car seat owner's manual to get the proper angle information and, as tempting as it is to let your baby sleep in the car seat outside of the car, don't do it. Until car seat are redesigned—the researchers recommend new buckles and a new back—they should be used only for traveling in cars.

If you're not sure if your car seat is installed correctly, take it by your local fire or police station and have them take a look.

Do you let your baby sleep in his car seat outside of the car?

About the author Suzanne Murray

is the Parenting & Political editor at The Stir/Moms Matter 2012.

Filed Under: baby gear, in the news, safety

Comments (39)

toriandgrace

on Aug 24, 2009 at 3:22 PM

Many doctors tell you to put your child in the carseat to sleep if they have bad reflux... also is this only carseats, or is this bouncers too? What about the age? Are these just children under 1 month? 2 months?

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aurorabunny

on Aug 24, 2009 at 5:04 PM

I've been trying to tell people this forever and no one believes me. Doctors REALLY need to stop telling people to do this for babies with reflux, because my son had severe reflux and we got told by so many doctors to do that until we finally went to one who knew what he was talking about.

We bought an Amby bed for our son with reflux when he was a baby and it was the best purchase EVER.

magoogie

on Aug 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM

I do let my daughter sleep in the car seat (reflux) in the house but I set it at an angle that's more ergonomic for her back and breathing. Funny part is when the seat is installed in the car, she's constantly drooping forward which makes me think the angle the seat is installed at sucks, but that's how it was designed I guess.

I also prop her head up with blankets outside the built in headreast otherwise when driving her neck will end up at a ninety degree angle against her shoulder. That being said, I'd suggest using your own judgement on what works and what doesn't.

justanotherjen

on Aug 24, 2009 at 5:47 PM

My son slept in his carseat for 3 1/2 months because of his reflux. No one told me to put him in there but I found it was the only place he would sleep. I spent 3 weeks listening to him scream all day then one day I set him in the carseat so I could tend to my older daughter and he was suddenly quiet. It was such a shock that both me and her (then only 15 months) stopped and stared at him. After that he slept in the seat and it was the ONLY time he slept. If I put him anywhere else (swing, bouncer, my chest) he would just scream and scream.

Our seat also rocked (one of the perks that was advertised) so I would rock him with my toe while I sat in a chair. I did tend to prop the front up to make it tilt back because it just looked more comfortable that way but not because of any concern with safety or because some expert told me to. I parent 90% on instinct and this is what my instinct told me to do. So far so good. Four kids and all of them have survived and rarely get sick and have never needed major medical care (we got our first ear infection after 9 years of having kids...my oldest and it was from swimming). I'll keep doing what I have been doing.

NewMomKelly

on Aug 24, 2009 at 5:48 PM

wait- what about if they fall asleep in their car seat in the car on your way to a restaurant or to the store?? if baby is not old enough to sit in the seat of the shopping carriage or in a high chair what do you do?

Kimra

on Aug 24, 2009 at 7:55 PM

my baby, 2 1/2 months old, sleeps in his carseat almost every night...he ONLY will sleep inclined...if i lay him flat on his back he won't sleep and cries...the only time he cries is when he is flat on his back...he isn't diagnosed with reflux (i guess cuz he rarely cries)...no one told me to put him in his carseat to sleep, i just tried it once and it is great...if he fusses a little i just rock the seat and he goes back to sleep...i go by my instincts and i'll continue to let him sleep in the carseat because right now it is the only thing that works for us

mommyheymommy

on Aug 24, 2009 at 9:11 PM

studies, studies, studies...I don't have babies anymore, but part of me cries, "OH PLEASE!"

Fallaya

on Aug 24, 2009 at 9:42 PM

These "studies" are getting more and more ridiculous.

on Aug 24, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Just because this was just published in the Daily Buzz doesn't mean this is a new study guys, it isn't. There have been multiple studies conducted on this very same thing. So just educate yourself about it before you poo-poo it.

Oh and in case anyone with a baby with reflux is interested:

www.ambybaby.com <--Best invention ever