Many parents feel like they must strap their baby into a car seat in order to get them to sleep in the car. But is this really necessary? According to recent studies, babies who sleep in their car seats don’t actually do any better than those who don’t. In fact, they may even be worse off! Here are four reasons why you should try letting your baby sleep in the car without a car seat:
1. It’s Safer
It’s true that car seats can protect your baby from falling out of the car and getting hurt, but they also serve as a safety device for when the car crashes. Babies who sleep in their cars without car seats are more likely to be injured in a crash than those who sleep in their cars with car seats.
2. It’s More Comfortable for Your Baby
The National Sleep Foundation reports that babies who sleep in their own bed at night are generally happier and healthier than those who don’t. The same goes for babies who sleep in their cars – they’re generally more comfortable and content.
The dangers of sleep deprivation for infants
Babies should sleep in a crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet and a soft, comfortable mattress. This will help to ensure that they get the right amount of sleep and are not disturbed by noise or motion. Nursing mothers should also continue to breastfeed their babies even when they are sleeping in a car seat.
The benefits of breastfeeding
There are many benefits to breastfeeding, and babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their life. Breastfeeding is associated with a decreased risk of obesity in children, lower rates of asthma and allergies, and better mental health outcomes. It’s also been linked with increased intelligence and survival rates in babies who are malnourished or AIDS-infected.
When it comes to car safety, breastfeeding can also be a lifesaver. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers do not put their babies in car seats until they are at least 12 months old and have outgrown their toddler carseat. This is because car seats don’t provide the same level of protection as breastfeeding and can lead to head injuries in infants. In fact, a study published in the journal Injury Prevention found that between 1999 and 2009, there were an estimated 729 deaths related to car crashes in children aged one year or younger. Of these, 240 (35%) were due to accidents involving children wearing car seats.
Breastfeeding offers many other benefits besides safety, including better emotional health for both mother and baby. Research shows that breastfeeding decreases the need for medication for both mother and baby.
How to get your baby to sleep in a car seat
There are a few reasons why you may want to get your baby to sleep in a car seat while traveling. The first is safety. Babies are safer when they’re in a car seat, as they are less likely to be injured in a crash. A car seat also provides some extra protection from the elements, and can keep your baby warm on cold days.
The second reason to get your baby to sleep in a car seat is convenience. It can be difficult to find a place to put a baby down when you’re on the go, but a car seat makes it easy. Plus, many babies enjoy being in their car seats, so it can be fun for both of you.
If you’re planning on using your car seat for more than one trip, it’s important to know how to properly secure it each time. Make sure the harness is snug and the padding is covered by the fabric of the seat. And always make sure the latch is closed properly; otherwise, your baby could end up falling out of the seat during a crash.
Conclusion
There are a few good reasons why babies shouldn’t sleep in car seats. The first is that car seats can be quite dangerous for infants if they are not properly secured in them. Secondly, research has shown that babies who spend extended periods of time in car seats tend to have lower IQs and poorer academic outcomes when they reach school age. Finally, car seats do not provide adequate support for a baby’s back, which can lead to long-term health problems such as lumbago. If you’re at all concerned about the safety of your baby while they’re sleeping in their car seat, I suggest you take steps to ensure their safety instead by putting them down on a soft surface each night before going to bed.