The dangers of keeping babies in car seats too long
Car seats, while a wonderful invention, were not meant to be used for extended periods of time. Parents should use the car seat as a tool to get the baby from one location to another in a vehicle. With the advent of better car seats, I often see people using them as a baby carrier and not just a car seat. Instead of getting the baby out and carrying them in to wherever they go, they just grab the car seat with baby inside and go.
Many parents (or others) also leave the baby in the car seat to sleep or just to be contained for a while. Babies need held, and using your car seat as a carrier to the extreme cuts down on the time you will hold and interact physically with your baby. A friend who went on a mission trip to Africa told me they asked her why we carry our babies around in buckets. For them, the baby is wrapped next to mother’s body as she goes about her day.
This lack of holding is probably the biggest psychological danger of leaving our babies in their car seat for extended periods of time. Physically, the danger is bigger for babies who have not mastered holding their head up or premature babies. The problem here involves breathing and is something a parent should discuss with a doctor or nurse.
Then there’s the possibility of burns from a hot car seat. Most of us have air conditioners, but it still gets very hot when you are strapped into a car seat that is probably made of plastic. Even with cloth covers, babies and children can get very hot sitting for extended periods in a car seat. My grandson is generally covered with sweat when he rides for more than a half an hour in his seat.
If your child is in a rear-facing car seat, make sure you place mirrors in your car so you can check on them or stop frequently. If they get heated, take them out and cool them down before continuing your trip. Carry cooled items such as teethers and water to help them stay cool if necessary.
Just as adults get cramps and even risk clots in the leg from extended periods in a seated position, especially in car-like seats, a baby can become uncomfortable strapped to a car seat for extended periods of time. Everyone needs to take regular breaks to get out of the car, allowing time to stretch and get a change of scenery. As a mother of 3, I certainly understand the temptation to go ahead and keep driving if the kids are asleep in the car, but in the long run, their health is more important and stops should happen regularly.
Keep in mind that older children can go longer than babies, but even adults are told to get out every one to two hours and walk around the car or take a bathroom break. Remember your car seat is a tool you should use appropriately to keep your child safe, not a convenience for mom and dad. Use your car seat wisely and take the baby out regularly.
Don’t carry your child into a restaurant (or elsewhere) and set them on the high chair still in their car seat only to return them to the car still restrained. It may be less convenient for the adults, but it’s so much better for the kids if we hold them, carry them and deal with them outside of their car seats when we are not driving down the road with them. Even then do both of you a favor and take regular breaks and keep an eye on your child.
