Pint-sized passengers seem to exist pros at falling asleep in the automobile. But those on-the-become naps — while relaxing for yous! — aren't your baby's safest road to Snoozetown.

While a few minutes of R&R on the road isn't a big bargain, you shouldn't let your sweet pea slumber in the machine for long stretches or utilise her seat equally a defended slumber device.

Is it ever prophylactic for a baby to sleep in a car seat?

The safest place for your baby to slumber is on a firm, flat surface — such as her crib, bassinet, portable crib or playard. Your infant should ever be put to slumber on her back (never her tummy) without anything else in the crib or bassinet — no blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or bumpers, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

These practices are the best style to reduce the chances for sudden babe death syndrome, or SIDS.

Products that identify your baby in an inclined position like swings, bouncers, seats or fifty-fifty strollers aren't safe spaces for your baby to sleep, especially for long stretches. Sleeping while sitting upright (or semi-upright) tin cause a baby to slump down, and end upwardly in a chin-to-chest position, potentially causing suffocation.

If your baby falls asleep in the car on the style dwelling from the grocery store or park, in that location's no need to panic. As long as the trip is short and yous or some other rider has an center on your lilliputian dreamer, yous tin caput on to your destination without waking her.

That said, you should motion her to her crib or bassinet as shortly as you lot can, recommends the AAP. (Easier said than washed, we know!) While she's dozing on the drive, keep a close middle to brand sure she doesn't slump into a chin-to-chest position and that her nose or mouth don't go covered.

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Even though the peace and quiet of an unexpected car nap might be tempting, don't let your baby snooze in her auto seat for longer than necessary. And never put your baby in her automobile seat for the purpose of going to sleep.

As for long car rides? At that place aren't whatever expert guidelines for how long is too long for your baby to sleep in her seat. Just if you plan to be on the road for a longer trip, it's a good idea to pull over every 2 hours so your baby tin stretch her legs. Ideally, you should plan to do longer trips with some other adult whenever possible so ane person tin can supervise the baby while the other focuses on the road.

How to make certain your child is safety in their auto seat

Keeping the snoozing to a minimum isn't the only matter you tin exercise to ensure your infant'south ride is every bit safe equally possible. Some more than tips to keep in mind:

  • Brand certain your seat is installed correctly.Follow the manufacturer instructions to brand sure the seat is installed tightly, either with the LATCH system or a locked seat chugalug. A Certified Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) can assistance you install the seat correctly — or merely act as a 2d pair of eyes to see that everything is secure.
  • Put the automobile seat in the dorsum and continue it rear-facing as long as possible.Your child's automobile seat should always be installed in the back seat of the car, never in the front. And she should stay in the rear-facing position for as long as possible — until she reaches the maximum height or weight equally listed by the car seat manufacturer, according to the AAP.
  • Make sure the seat meets all safety requirements.All seats on the market today are required to meet bones prophylactic standards. So if yous're ownership new, just make sure to check key data like the car seat's expiration engagement (located on the seat itself) and to hold on to the manufacturer instructions. If your car seat was previously used (even by an older sibling), look for the expiration date to confirm information technology'southward still safe to use, check whether it'due south been recalled (you lot can find recalls listed at nhtsa.gov) and examine the seat thoroughly for whatsoever cracks or missing parts. If y'all don't know the history of a used seat, don't use it. Machine seats that have been involved in a crash should not be reused.
  • Have breaks on long trips. On long trips, pull over every two hours so your baby tin can stretch her legs, feed and have a diaper alter.
  • Don't offer food or drinks.Both tin can pose choking hazards. Save the snacks and sips for when you lot get dwelling house or serve them on a stretch break during longer trips.
  • Don't utilise the automobile seat outside of the car.Car seats shouldn't exist used equally a space for naps or sleep, or as a seat or carrier when you're not on the road. Resist the urge to put your baby's car seat in the shopping cart when at the store too, since it tin potentially cause the cart to tip over. Put your baby in a sling, carrier or stroller instead, the AAP recommends.
  • Avoid using aftermarket motorcar seat accessories.Headrests, support inserts, shoulder pads, harness covers, seat belt adjusters and other accessories sold separately from your machine seat by a third-political party manufacturer haven't been tested for rubber — and in fact, they could make your child'south seat less prophylactic. Go along them out of the car, recommends the AAP. If your babe seems to slouch in her seat, you may exist able to put a tightly rolled receiving coating on either side of her or place a tightly rolled diaper or cloth between your child and the crotch strap, the AAP says. Just always check the manufacturer instructions to confirm get-go that information technology's safe to do so for your specific seat.
  • Don't put your baby in beefy dress.Stick with light, thin layers and drape a blanket or coat over your kid's buckled harness straps if she needs more warmth. Beefy coats, snowsuits or heavy layers can compress in a crash, causing the seat straps to become loose and putting your kid at risk for injury.