Blog

Putting your baby to sleep in his or her car seat can be a deadly mistake. It can lead to something called “positional asphyxia,” which happens when an infant cannot breathe due to the position of his or her body.

It’s especially problematic in car seats, baby swings, carriers and other situations where babies might fall asleep with their heads down, faces drooping into their chest, which can obstruct and block their airway. In any situation, parents should regularly check their baby’s position to ensure their chin is up, and their nose and mouth free of any type of obstruction – blankets, clothing, covers, swaddling, etc.

Keeping your baby safe is relatively simple. Infants are safest when sleeping, alone, in their own crib or bassinet, with a well-fitting mattress and no extra pillows, quilts, soft toys or anything that might block their breathing.

• Always put your baby on his or her back to sleep.
• Make sure the baby’s face is visible at all times, and never covered.
• Make sure the baby is not hunched over, with its chin touching its chest, while in a car seat, swing or carrier.
• Don’t over-clothe your baby … keep his or her face free of fabric or clothing.

Every year babies die from positional asphyxia, a completely preventable issue. Awareness and attention are all that are needed to safeguard your baby to provide him or her the safest sleeping environment possible.

Here’s a link to a news report about what can happen if you don’t take precautions: http://bit.ly/1Hd1zmT.