“Let Them Sleep in the Car Seat” #wait

Leaving babies in car seats for extended periods can pose a serious risk of positional asphyxia, a condition where a baby's breathing is restricted due to their body position. Car seats are designed to keep infants safe while traveling, providing support and protection during car rides. However, when used outside of the car or for prolonged periods, these seats can lead to dangerous situations.

Positional asphyxia occurs when a baby's airway becomes partially or fully blocked due to the position of their head, neck, or body. In a car seat, a baby's head can slump forward or to the side, compressing the airway and making it difficult for them to breathe properly. Because infants have weaker neck muscles and less control over their head movements, they are especially vulnerable to this risk.

The semi-reclined position typical of car seats can also exacerbate the problem. While it’s safe for short trips in the car, this position can cause a baby's chest and abdomen to be compressed if they remain in it too long. This compression can reduce lung capacity and hinder effective breathing, potentially leading to oxygen deprivation.

#babies #parents

[tnijoo]

I never knew this. Everyone I’ve ever known let babies sleep in long car rides. That’s so terrifying.

[nicoleschultz]

Plus their heads are hella big in comparison to their bodies.

[Supergirl-rzyi]

Even if this tragedy doesn't happen there are multiple reasons. I knew a bad parent who left their son in a car seat all day. All the time. the poor baby's head was flatter than a pancake and had no hair growth in the back. Some people have no idea the lasting effects of the dumb crap they do.

[spamham]

This information is completely new to me! This is not common knowledge and needs to be spread! I highly doubt the baby sitter knew this and I feel so sorry for her. Also, I highly doubt that the babysitter had access to the instructions

[marclement]

Im always happy to see this doctor in my feed, theres always something helpful medically and informative.

[GregFirehawk]

This is just another one of those crazy facts that nobody would know if they weren't informed in advance. Like if I hadn't been told otherwise I would think that babies could drink water if milk was unavailable. It just intuitively makes sense that a baby could quench their thirst with water, I mean why not right, and yet it's lethal. Now apparently napping in a car seat is lethal. Babies are not fit to survive

[theinvisiblewoman]

I hope the court takes sympathy for the babysitter. She probably didn’t know this was possible and neither did the parents. That’s so sad. This is where I hope the spirit of the law is still alive. What a horrible incident for everyone involved especially the baby.

[twistidlojik]

I've never known this If car manufacturers know this then It should be widely known, nor on theow away instructions.

[jennifergraceh]

I never knew this until this case happened and I’m a mom of two. My daughters are 7 and 10 and I let them sleep in their car seats often. I was a VERY paranoid parent (my most common catchphrase was “WATCH THE NECK!”) and I would never have done this had I known. People shaming others saying “it’s widespread info” and “it’s common knowledge!” Is not helpful because, just reading comments, clearly it’s not.

[lilaalaoui]

I do remember that incident and not like that. The parents brought their daughter to the nursery asleep in her car seat and the nursery nurse checked on her later on and she found out that the girl not breathing. After investigating they found that the parents brought their dead and they tried to put the blame on the manufacture, but the manufacture said we made car seat for ride not for sleeping and it is parents/carers… duty to supervise

[NickeyVamp]

Thank you for this PSA.. so important for people to know.

[andreasouthern-otph]

😮 The 1st time my son ever slept longer than 2 hours at a time was in a car seat after a car ride. He slept for 5 hours and finally, so did I. Feel bad now, Considered it a win at the time. and seat on the floor as felt safer.

[robertwolfgan]

I don't wanna meddle where I can't, so I'll just openly say my opinion of how sad it is to just live with the trauma of knowing you're responsible for a BABY'S death. That alone would be haunting me way more than any time in jail...but that's just my personal feelings.

[The-Oneness]

What! I used to let my daughter stay in her car seat because she would cry less. I am so glad nothing bad happened. I never knew about this.

[TheVeggiekat]

My kids fell asleep in the car seat all the time. This is a tragedy but not manslaughter.

[tylerferguson]

The babysitter shouldn't have been charged with manslaughter. Most people don't know this about car seats, I didn't. She didn't mean to cause harm to the baby.

[Elizabeth-nvu]

I graduated first in my class with my degree in early care and education, i passed my health, safety, nutrition class with a 98% average. And i did not know this could happen so easily in a car seat. If i didnt learn it in a degree specific to childcare, i dont think the sitter should be charged with manslaughter.

[Druuna]

I have always known this, i read the entire manual though because i has such a hard time putting it in the car. Then I went to a baby car seat inspector so he could make sure the car seat was installed properly and he talked extensively about this exact danger. This was a free service offered to new parents. I live in Canada. Not sure if this happens in every province... It's very sad to see that this information is not more widely shared.

[greaterthanme]

That happened to my sister's coworker. She had just gone back to work from Maternity leave and the daycare provider left the baby in the car seat. It was absolutely heart wrenching to hear about. I was the lead teacher in the infant department of a preschool for 2 years and I pulled every baby, sleeping or not out of the seat as soon as they got there. Some parents were upset I woke the babies, but it wasn't worth the risk for me.

[redlady]

My child is almost an adult, and I have never heard this before. Seems like info that should be wider spread.