Is it ok for a baby to sleep in a car seat?

Question

My 1 month old son hates to be put down to sleep. He screams and cries when we try to put him to bed. Sometimes we can get him to calm down and go to sleep but he doesn't stay asleep very long before he wakes up again. One way we get him to sleep is if he is right next to us in bed but im a little scared about that since they tell you not to sleep with your kids. The other way is to put him in his car seat. He falls asleep very quickly and he sleeps soft and sound. Is it safe for him to sleep in his car seat all the time? Its not something I really want to do but im a little more concerned about his sleeping rather than where it is. Also what do you think about him sleeping with us? Do you also think that it is dangerous?

Answer 1

It is better for baby to get used to sleeping somewhere else, but it is not at all harmful for them to sleep in a car seat. Here's why:
1)car seat keeps them on their back, safest position for them to sleep in to prevent SIDS
2)For kids with acid reflux issues or who spit up often, doctors will sometimes actually recommend they sleep in the car seat b/c of the more upright position it keeps them in. Think of it - do you like sleeping flat? Babies don't either, but they can't use pillows b/c they could suffocate.

It is a bad idea for kids to spent too much awake time in a car seat, it can slow down their physical development b/c they don't get to work their muscles in that position. But, when they're sleeping...they're uh, sleeping! They're not working muscles! The biggest issue I'd have with a baby sleeping in a car seat is getting him out of the habit. However, that situation might very well fix itself when he starts to outgrow the seat and finds it uncomfortable.

As for baby sleeping with you - whether it is safe or not depends upon the situation. As already mentioned there are steps that need to be taken to safely cosleep with babies. Cosleeping is the norm in other countries, and the 'family bed' used to be commonplace generations ago even in the US. Think about it logically - babies are supposed to go from being inside your body for 9 months to suddenly doing everything on their own?! No wonder they can't sleep. It has actually been preliminarily found that sleeping alongside mother gives both baby and mother better sleep. They start to synchronize their breathing. Mom can better respond to baby's needs and get the rest she needs. Roll over, nurse, and get back to sleep! Yes, it is a hard habit to break, but quite honestly, worry about that later. When a child is ready, he will start to want his bed on his own. My son is 3 and still shares my bed, but has already started asking to sleep in his own occasionally. Enjoy that nighttime cuddle time - it won't last forever!

1)Prevent baby from rolling out (though this isn't likely, as it will stay right next to mom) with a guardrail or by pushing mattress next to wall.
2)put baby between mother and outside, NOT in middle of mom and dad.
3)same as crib - baby must sleep on his back
4)You need a BIG bed! Make it your most valuable piece of 'baby' equipment rather than an expensive crib baby doesn't like.
5)a cosleeping contraption may work better for you - one of thsoe that hooks onto your bed, or sits right next to it. Even a playpen in the same room can work. If you're a heavy sleeper, or you smoke in bed or drink, having baby in the same room is better than in the same bed.
6)Make sure your mattress isn't too soft
7)keep pillows an fluffy blankets away from the baby.

There is new info that cosleeping is indeed a safe practice:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t102200.asp

Evidence is compelling that sleeping with baby is actually safer than not b/c of mother's heightened sensitivity and ability to respond better at closer range than when baby is down the hall. Like everything else - generally speaking what comes most natural is often the right thing to do. Just as breastfeeding is amply easier and more natural to do than formula feeding and is in fact much better for mom and baby, so is cosleeping. It is unnatural to have baby a room away all by themself in a crib.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with having him sleep in bed with you....just take these precautions...
NEVER if you have had a drink or do drugs.
him on the inside of the bed against a wall or with a side rail
his head should be over your elbow next to you so that you cannot roll onto him
no big puffy blankets
nothing on bed or headboard that is small enough to choke him
if you are in a recliner or lying on couch, he can sleep on his tummy against your chest....this is a very soothing position for baby, just be sure that you don't fall asleep or that you are n a position he cannot roll off from...if you support your arms with pillows or blankets and brace them against his sides, he can't roll
also, put him on a mat or thin blanket on the floor in front of dryer...the sound and vibrations help to sooth to sleep....ditto for sound machines. They also have crib vibrators that you can buy. If he must sleep in car seat. Try car seat near dryer as mentioned before and then when he is used to that, try on the mat in the same spot so he still gets the sound and vibrations and might not miss the car seat. There are also baby swings which are great. They have ones that lie down for little ones who aren't big enough for the seats. The motion and the sound help sooth....don't get one that boasts no sound...that's half the benefit. Good luck...hope some of these suggestions work for you.

Answer 3

While I see meanolmaw's point from the article, my son slept in his car seat quite a bit. I purchased an eddie bower carseat stroller ect. Make sure your car seat has some thing that supports his head and he is leaned back as far as it will let him when he is sleeping. I forgot what they are called but there are things that kinda wrap around the head lightly but keep him from swinging it from side to side. My son always passes out in his carseat lol. Heck when I can't get him to sleep oh we are going for a car ride, as a last resort of course. Ive only done that 3-4 times my son is 9 months now. lol he can finally walk without holding on to anything. At least for 5-6 steps lol.

Answer 4

Co sleeping has been done since the beginning of time. If done carefully, it is a very good solution.

Off the top of my head: mattress to wall, use a side rail, consider putting mattress on floor. FIRM mattress (it should not make a large indentation when you lie on it of baby can roll in and suffocate), blankets and pillows away from the baby. You should be next to the baby, not hubby at first. No alcohol or sleeping pills or anything like that when co sleeping.

Being in the car seat for long periods of time isn't very good for babies motor skills development.

Answer 5

I had the same thing with my eldest daughter and I let her sleep in the car seat sometimes. The health visitor said that its not a good idea to do this too often as it can put pressure on their spine as they grow bigger. I then had my daughter in bed with me. I am a very still sleeper and was always aware that she was there. It definately worked for me but if you are restless at night and move about alot it may not be such a good idea. also instead of having her in the middle I got one of those bedside things that attaches to the frame of the bed so the baby can't fall out and had her on the outside of me, that way she wasn't going to be disturbed by my restless partner! The only problem I had was when she got older it bacame harder to get her to sleep in her own bed. I started going in to her room and laying in her bed with her until she went to sleep to try to get her used to it, but it didn't really work and she would wake in the night and I would find her next to me in the morning! It took a long time to get her to stay in her bed all night but now she is fine. Good luck I hope you find something that works for you!

Answer 6

If you want to put your baby to sleep in 20 seconds you must get the "Instant Baby Sleep" MP3 sound track. Here is their official web-site: http://www.instantbabysleep.net

The sound track gently produces energy over the full human hearing spectrum with an embedded pulse that gently eases the brain to the Alpha state well known for drowsiness and sleep induction.

Answer 7

Hi can i say im not trying to scare you however it is extremly dangerous to keep any baby in there car seat for any longer than hour! I know this through a docter, because of poor positioning it can cause a baby to have an aponea ( which is where the baby stops breathing) because they have no head
control. my daughter was born 27weeks and was in hospital for 10 weeks in those 10 weeks i learned alot. ppl are not aware of the dangers of keeping your baby in a car seat! i was totally nieve to it! When it was time to take libby home we had to take are pram in! which delayed her coming home as to my horror the pram was not suitable as it did not lay flat and were told that we could not use the car seat( which was part of the travel system). like i have said the use of a car seat is purely for the car, I would advise you not to use it as a place for baby to sleep. I do smpathise with you as though and wish you luck xxxxxx

Answer 8

Maybe you can start off with putting the car seat in the crib with the rail up of course. Then gradually like during nap times and bed time try to lay him down in the bed and when he wakes up put him in the car seat for a while. It sounds like you need to wean him off of it. Kind of like a bottle. I do hope this helps. Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 9

My son is 2 months old and i put him next to me to sleep...i know they say it's dangerous but it's the only way i'll get a good night sleep......as far as sleeping in his car seat if he enjoys it and doesn't cry why not

Answer 10

All 3 f my kids did for the first 2-3 months. The hardest part, was getting them used to sleeping in the crib. It took my son a few rogh nights, but now he is in the crib. Make sure to watch his head, if he favors 1 side, it could get flat.

Answer 11

Your child will be safe in his/her car seat. eventually they will not want to sleep in the seat anymore, so if it works now take advantage of it.

it's actually very safe seen as how they are technically on their back, and the are also less likely to choke on their vomit in that position.

i slept with my babies until they were about 6 months old. most mothers do this, even they are told not too.