My 6-week old sleeps MUCH more soundly if we put her in her car seat instead of flat in a crib or bassinet. We lie the car seat on its back, so while she’s not exactly sitting upright, her body is much more curled up than it would be if she were in a crib.
So…
Is it dangerous to have her sleep in the car seat? I don’t think there are immediate hazards, but could this harm the baby developmentally? (e.g. by curving her spine)
This is baby #2, and this trick worked fine with #1, but it works so well that I can’t help wonder why I haven’t heard this suggestion a thousand times already.
I got some wags here but it sounds like they are your concerns too (so you already thought of them) so I’ll let you have the bump and wait to see the replies.
When my son was a few weeks old I inquired about the same.
Little YEP would not sleep unless he was in a seat. Our physician assured us we should not worry. I know this didn’t help, but it put Mrs. YEP at ease.
I know a few people who used the baby seat due to reflux problems (on the doctor’s advice). The only problem was that when it was time to transition to a flat surface it was harder to do - most found that they had to make a ‘nest’ of folded baby blankets (firm, not fluffy), for baby to rest arms and legs on, so they could stay ‘curled up’ even when flat. No idea if there were any other issues they were trading off against, but usually, SLEEP is a big issue for all concerned, regardless.
This is what they did for my son Brendan when he was recovering from surgery at 5 weeks old, too. The nurses folded up those flannel blankets into slabs about an inch to two inches thick and propped his limbs up (he had to back sleep, incision was on his abdomen). It stopped him from startling himself awake. Might be worth a try for your kiddo, too.
Don’t worry- my pediatrician (former head of pediatrics at my hospital) says there is no danger at all. In fact, if a baby is stuffy and having trouble sleeping flat, he recommends it.
My second son would never back sleep, I don’t know why (the first one had no problem with it). He side slept, which isn’t as good but it’s ok. Now at 6 months, he will fall asleep better on his side, then roll to his tummy at some point.
Parents have enough to worry about, don’t worry about this! Besides, at least she’ll love her car seat! My first hated it!
We did this often with our first son. The head support wasn’t too good, and for a while we wondered whether his head would always lean to his favorite side. Even when not in his car seat, his head would often be leaning that direction.
We were told to have our newborn sleep this way for the first 8 weeks (for a suspected reflux problem). He’s normal now (at three), and never had a problem sleeping on flat surfaces. The only thing we notice is that he seems to like to be crowded and snuggled. You know, burrowed into the closet, or surrounded by stuffed animals. No idea if that’s because he got to extend his womb crampiness for 8 weeks by being snuggled in the carseat, however.
I should add that I recently read that some pediatricians are recommending against sleeping in a carseat for reflux babies. I believe they worry that the slumping either exacerbates the problem or otherwise is harmful. Not sure exactly. I also don’t know if that warning extends to non-reflux babies.
For the first few months, my baby always slept better in the carseat, too. Didn’t have any problems because of it. Actually, I preferred it, because I could carry the carseat around with me as I went to different parts of the house, or outside, etc.
I don’t have a cite for it but when back in 1997 or 1998 I heard a news story about a babysitter who left a baby sleeping in a carseat and the baby moved or tried to get out, whatever, and it strangled on the straps and died. Sorry I don’t have any further information, it’s just something I heard reported on the radio one day and it stuck in my head because I also allowed my baby to sleep in the carseat.
So, although I’d certainly go with what works for you, I’d always make sure the baby is in your line of sight.
