Car seats and reducing the risk of SIDS
Follow these tips to help keep your baby safe while travelling in a car seat.
- Avoid driving long distances with pre-term and young babies. Research has found that young babies may be at risk of breathing difficulties if they sleep upright in a seated position for too long, which can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Stop and take regular breaks if you’re driving a long way. This will allow you to check on your baby, take them out of the car seat and let them stretch and move around.
- If possible, have a second adult in the back seat with your baby. If you’re travelling alone, use a mirror to keep an eye on them.
- If your baby changes their position and slumps forward, stop straight away. Then take them out of the car seat and sit them upright before continuing on your journey.
- Choose a rear-facing baby seat. This is essential for safety. They provide better protection for the baby’s head, neck and spine compared to forward-facing seats.
- Make sure you have the right car seat for your baby’s weight and that it’s fitted properly – many shops will help with this.
Babies shouldn’t sleep in car seats for long periods
Car seats are designed to keep babies safe while travelling, but they’re not designed to be a main sleeping place so they’re not suitable for sleeping in for long periods. Use them for transport only, not as an alternative to cots or high chairs.
It’s OK for your baby to fall asleep in a car seat when travelling, but take them out as soon as you get to your destination and place them on a firm, flat surface to sleep.
Avoid overheating in the car
Babies are at a greater risk of SIDS if they get too hot. Follow these tips to help stop them getting too hot while you’re travelling by car.
- Remove any hats or outdoor clothing, such as snowsuits and coats, once your baby is in the car. It’s especially important to remove hats, as your baby maintains their body temperature by releasing heat through their head.
- Check your baby isn’t getting too hot. The best way is to feel their tummy or the back of their neck. If their skin feels clammy or sweaty, they are too hot, so remove a layer of clothing.
Second-hand car seats
It’s best not to buy or use a second-hand car seat as you can’t be certain of its history. It could have been involved in an accident and the damage may not be visible. Even wear and tear over time can affect their safety and how well it can protect your baby.
Make sure the car seat meets safety standards
Car seats must conform to safety standards such as:
- United Nations standard, ECE Regulation 44.04 (or R 44.03)
- The new i-size regulation, R129.
Look for the ‘E’ mark label on the seat, which shows it meets European Union Safety standards.
Frequently asked questions
Travelling in cars with pre-term and young babies for long distances can increase their risk of SIDS. Research published in 2016 by the University of Bristol found pre-term and young babies may be at risk of breathing difficulties if travelling in an upright position in car seats for a long period of time.
It’s OK for your baby to fall asleep in a car seat while you’re driving, but take them out as soon as you get to your destination. Then, place them on a firm, flat surface to sleep.
Car seats are designed to keep babies safe while travelling, but they’re not designed to be a main sleeping place. They’re not suitable for sleeping in for long periods. Use them for transport only, not to replace cots or high chairs.
It’s OK for your baby to fall asleep in a car seat when travelling but take them out as soon as you get to your destination and place them onto a firm, flat surface to sleep.
While it’s OK for your baby to fall asleep in car seat, they shouldn’t stay there for a long time as car seats aren’t designed to be a sleep space. Take your baby out of the car seat as soon as you reach your destination. If you have to drive a long way, stop and take regular breaks to take your baby out of the seat so they can stretch and move around.
Remember
Following these simple guidelines for buying and using a car seat means you can travel in confidence, knowing your baby is as safe as possible. Car seats are designed to protect your baby while you’re on the road, but as they’re not designed for long sleeps, so take regular breaks. Avoid overheating and check that the car seat meets safety standards to keep risks to a minimum.
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