Scientists warn parents not to leave their sleeping babies in car seats for long hours. Why? Because according to them, babies put in car seats to sleep for a long time are at risk of suffocation or having problems in breathing.
The research published in the Fetal and Neonatal Magazine aimed to evaluate the effect of motion on babies placed in a car seat. To do this, they studied 40 babies, a mix of 19 healthy newborn and 21 preterm babies. They also used a stimulator, designed to replicate perpendicular vibration exactly the same to that of a car in 30 mph, to test the lung and heart functions of the infants for 30 minutes.
Researchers discovered the erect position of car seats, together with a motion of the car, could cause suffocation if the baby is left in car seats for longer hours -- anything over 30 minutes. This is a groundbreaking research to study the effects of movement on babies put in car seats.
The Lullaby Trust, a charity that aims to avoid sudden baby deaths, funded the research. Researchers from the University of Bristol and Southampton and the Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, led by Professor Peter Fleming of Bristol University, executed the research.
Because the findings, according to the researchers, suggested death ""could happen, although it would be a very rare event," take note of these warnings from the experts, as featured in Huffingpost:
- Adult must always sit next to a baby to ensure proper breathing.
- Reconsider leaving an infant in a car seat for long hours when not travelling.
- Take regular breaks whenever traveling long distances.
- Stop the car when you see the infant asleep and the head is dropping forward.
- Never let a baby continue sleeping in the seat after bringing it out of the car.
- Keep an eye on infants traveling in a car seat.
"There have been reports of deaths of infants who have been left in a sitting position, including in car seats - both on journeys, and when parents have used it as an alternative to a pushchair or cot for the infant to sleep in." Scientists, led by Fleming told DailyMail. "Our findings suggest this kind of thing [death] could happen, although it would be a very rare event," Fleming said.
