In this article
It’s one of the oldest (and totally unofficial) parenting tricks in the book: If you want your kiddo to fall asleep fast, put ‘em in their car seat and do a few quick loops around the block. They’ll be asleep in no time. That’s because the gentle hum of the car’s engine is extra soothing to babies, and riding in their car seat (which is basically a soft and protective cocoon) offers a warm and comfy nap spot. But is napping in a car seat actually safe for babies? To find out, we asked Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician with KC Kids Doc, who said that for the most part, it’s OK — so long as it’s for a limited period of time and there’s no other option for a better sleep space.
“All babies will take quick catnaps while riding in the car,” Dr. Burgert tells CafeMom. That said, it’s important to remember that babies sleep safest on a firm, flat surface, says Dr. Burgert.
That means cribs and bassinets are ideal for naps and overnight sleeping (which makes sense, since that’s what they were really made for). But sleeping prolonged periods in car seats and other seated positions should be avoided whenever possible.
“As soon as you get home, it is best practice to move your sleeping child from the car seat to a safer sleep space,” Dr. Burgert urges.
One more bit of safety advice? “Never start a baby's nap in an inclined device,” adds Dr. Burgert. “It's an unsafe habit that can be very hard to break.”
So, yes, that means the baby swing. And the bouncer. And the rocker. (Despite how cute they look snoozing away in there.)
In fact, a 2015 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics warned against having babies sleep in these “sitting devices”. And when it comes to car seats, babies should be closely monitored.
The report, which was aptly titled “Cribs Are for Sleeping; Car Seats Are for Traveling,” found that the majority of sleep-related injuries and even deaths in children 2 years or younger occurred as a result of asphyxiation while sitting in a seated device such as a swing, bouncer or car seat. Still, study authors were quick to point out that in many of these cases, there were other safety issues at play.
“It is important to note that an infant in a properly positioned car seat, in a car, with properly attached straps, is at little risk from a suffocation injury,” a press release for the study read. “However, contrary to popular belief, the restraints and design of infant sitting or carrying devices are not intended for unsupervised sleeping.”
Study author Dr. Erich K. Batra, a pediatrician at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, added that “infants and young children should not be left unsupervised when using a sitting or carrying device due to the risk of suffocation and death.”
The bottom line? Catnaps are OK (and in many cases, unavoidable), but longer periods of sleeping? That’s a no-no. As Dr. Burgert says, the safest place for your baby to sleep for an extended period is on a firm, flat surface like a crib or bassinet. If your baby does take a snooze in the car, just make sure their sleep is supervised, that the straps are positioned correctly and buckles are fastened, and that there are no obstructions to their breathing.
