Car seats are the safest place for a baby to be while in the car.
It is okay to let your baby sleep in the car– for short periods of time. They should be properly restrained in a car seat that’s been installed with appropriate positioning. I actually really like to use the car for a third or fourth catnap. As a day goes on the sleep drive isn’t quite as strong. That means many babies may need a little extra help with the naps later in the day. The car can be great for this catnap as babies typically like the motion. However, babies should not sleep in a car seat that is not in the car or approved stroller. This includes popping your baby’s car seat in the cart at Target! You can’t guarantee the seat will stay at the proper angle.
Most infant deaths in car seats happen when the seat is being used as a napping spot outside of the car.
What’s the danger? When babies sleep sitting up, their heads can fall forward, restricting their airways and causing them to stop breathing. This is known as positional asphyxiation. To keep the airway protected, always check the recline of the car seat. If you are using a car seat without a base, there will be a line on the side. This line will indicate the correct angle. If you are using the car seat in a base, the recline indicator is usually on the base and will be a ball, wheel, line or colored panel that shows if your angle is correct. It’s also important to make sure your baby is always fully buckled in the seat with no extra slack. Also, don’t add any after-market products. Putting something around, behind or in front of your baby’s head is not safe.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you move your child to a flat, firm sleeping surface as soon as you leave the car.
If you are out running errands, this may not be possible, so if you have a stroller that came in a travel system as a matching set you can transfer the car seat to that stroller. Another option is to move baby to a wrap or baby carrier if you need to get out of the car while you are away from home.
To attempt to smoothly transfer your baby to the crib or bassinet once you arrive home, try carrying the car seat into the room where their bed is. Make sure the room is very dark with white noise playing. Gently lift your baby out of the seat and place them into their sleep space with the lower part of their body touching the mattress first. Some babies transfer easily and some babies don’t. If your baby rouses mid-transfer, you can try running through your nap time routine which might include reading a book and singing a song, to see if that helps baby go back to sleep. If it doesn’t work, it’s okay! You might need to move the next nap or bedtime earlier. If you want to avoid the transfer altogether, then you can always keep driving around to let your baby finish the nap in the car.