[Tersh]

CBC News - Montreal - Baby seats are no place for sleeping: Quebec coroner

This story is older, but I was thinking of it because DS is asleep in his carseat as I type this. He's in no danger (I am looking right at him) and I hate to wake a sleeping baby. I didn't put him in there to sleep - he fell asleep on the way home from shopping and I left him in there.

In the summer, we travelled 7 hours with him. He was 7 weeks old. I certainly didn't stop to take him out every hour! With a toddler too, the trip would have taken us a whole day. We checked on him frequently though.

What do you think of babies sleeping in carseats? After reading that story, would your views change? On a long trip, would you actually take a baby out every hour?

[Smashley]

pfft. Stupid! When my daughter was a baby if she slept in her carseat, that is where she stayed. If she was sleeping I was NOT waking her up. This kid never slept. Also, she was super colicy, and the swing and the carseat were the only places she would sleep without freaking out and staying up ALL night.

ETA: I wouldn't put her to sleep in the carseat for super extended periods of time....like hours upon hours, but when they are newborns and never sleep...you do what works.

[mswordwiz]

Our babies do not sleep in their seats, not unless they are being driven somewhere.

[OceanChild]

I've never personally done it, but I know people who let their kids finish a nap in the car seat if they've fallen asleep in it on the way home. DD NEVER fell asleep in the car, except when she was an infant lol We have fun on long trips like that.

[TheOtherMichelle]

We only let dd nap in it if she fell asleep in the car and then needed to finish up the nap. It was never more than 1.5 hours and usually less.

[brui77]

I certainly wouldn't put a baby to sleep for the night in a carseat. But a short nap while driving is not a big deal. (Because presumably, the person who is actually driving the car is awake and able to keep tabs on the baby). I also think it depends on the age of the baby. After 6 months or so, or when the baby is able to roll over on his own, the risk of SIDS is substantially diminished. When my son was just a few weeks old, I felt the need to check on him constantly, regardless of where he was sleeping (which was usually in our bed or in our arms). Now, not so much.

In any case -- that poor mom. I don't know how you could ever get over something like that.

[Jarheadwed]

I am heartbroken for the mother, but if this is the first article we've read about it, I don't think its common. When we go back home for visits, its a five hour drive and we'll probably take the baby out when we stop for lunch and gas, but not every hour.

[frgsonmysox]

David had issues breathing and was placed on an apnea monitor for a few months. We were warned to not have him in the carseat too much because it decreases the ability to breathe.

[Torrie]

Seriously? I had no idea this was an issue until now. NO clue. The carseat was literally the only place that either of my kids would sleep for the first few weeks, so that's where they slept. I thought, no big deal. That's not something I would have done had I known this.

[Smashley]

hmmm guess with my next kid I won't be doing this. I guess you just assume it is safe. My DD and I were always in the car when she was a kid, and still are at 4. I swear I am in my car more than I am not. I will def keep this in mind next time.

[Emm17]

I never let Avery nap in the carseat, unless we were driving of course. I did read an article like this before she was born though.

[Keskes]

My kids both spent a lot of time sleeping in their bouncy chairs or swings. They wouldn't sleep laying flat, and they both had reflux. Laying them flat on their backs was not practical.

That poor mother.. the baby was only in that car seat for an hour. It's horrible to say, but it's very possible that baby would have passed on with or without the car seat.

I'm not negating the danger of sleeping in a seated position, just saying that if that baby died after one hour in that position, after an entire night of back sleeping, then maybe I just shouldn't take my kids in the car until they're six months old.

[aussiemummy]

That poor baby

I read an article like this when my first child was first born so my kids have never been allowed to sleep in their car seats (unless they fell asleep in the car but we've never been in the care for more than an hour or so anyway...).

I feel awful for the mother

[Kierasmom]

First time I've ever heard of that. My baby spends very little time in her car seat but I would probably let her finish napping if she were asleep.

[::er!ca::]

I'll admit that I didn't read the article... but I want to comment on something else

I have read studies and articles before that car seats can lower the oxygen level in newborns... it's not new news. But this is why we 45 degree rule for infants in their car seats, so that it allows the airway in a newborn to be open.

If the car seat wasn't installed on the base, it's very possible that it wasn't sitting at a 45 degree angle, the head could have flopped forward and cut off the airway.

This is also why preemies and some other newborns much do the car seat test before they're able to leave the hospital.

So it's incredibly important that a newborn have it's car seat installed at a 45 degree angle in the vehicle, to prevent the head from flopping forward (to the side isn't the issue, it's the forward part). Once an infant is older (between 5-6 months usually) the seat can be installed more upright. For older rear facing children, the car seat can be installed even more upright. 35 degree is the limit though. So 35 degrees for older rear facing children, 45 degrees for newborns, somewhere inbetween those two for infants 5-6 months of age.

[DollBabyKG]

Landon had terrible reflux, and the pedi recommended letting him sleep in his car seat to keep him elevated, and to prevent aspiration. It worked great, and he loved the car seat.

But when I got pregnant with Ashlyn, I found out about some new research regarding heartrate drops associated with babies sleeping in the car seat, so with Ashlyn, I bought a crib wedge instead. I'm too nervous to let her sleep in it all night.

But, if she falls asleep in the car, and stays asleep when we come in, I let her stay sleeping. I figure, I'm sitting right next to her, watching her.

[Jarheadwed]

^^ Haven't seen you in awhile! When did you have the baby?

[DollBabyKG]

Originally Posted by Jarheadwed

^^ Haven't seen you in awhile! When did you have the baby?

Sept 2. I've been kind of scarce. She had really bad reflux, and still has colic, and we're just now starting to turn a corner. Plus, I had to teach myself to step back, and remember that it's JUST a debate! I was letting myself get all huffy in real life when I got huffy on the boards (especially the political ones, LOL).

How have you been?

[irishxrose]

Originally Posted by DollBabyKG

Sept 2. I've been kind of scarce. She had really bad reflux, and still has colic, and we're just now starting to turn a corner. Plus, I had to teach myself to step back, and remember that it's JUST a debate! I was letting myself get all huffy in real life when I got huffy on the boards (especially the political ones, LOL).

How have you been?

I wanted to say that I'm glad you're back too! Aw, Joshua had reflux really bad too - I feel your pain, sweetie!

And I know I've been at that point with the debates too. It's really good to see you posting again though! Congrats on the new baby, she's an absolute doll! I hope the reflux and colic issues get better soon!

[mayandsofiasmommy]

Interesting article. Not sure what to think since I know MANY twin moms who have their babies who have reflux sleep in their car seats.