Spotlight on Car Seat Safety
I remember how I felt when I brought my eldest home from hospital just after he was born, that 3-mile car journey was the most terrifying 10 minutes of my life. Hormones definitely played a part, but I just worried about every eventuality. Is Reggie in his car seat properly? Is he breathing? Is he breathing too much? Is he too hot? It is such an exciting time leading up to the birth, but I focused so much on giving birth that I forgot I would be responsible for this tiny human once he was on the outside.
Travel systems are fantastic, offering you several options for your buggy/car seat needs. It is tempting to leave your little bundle in the car seat if they are sleeping soundly – nobody wakes a sleeping baby, right? A small study conducted by researchers from Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Southampton and the University of Bristol recommended that spending long periods in a car seat may lead to babies having breathing difficulties. The study showed that while sat at the 40-degree angle required for traveling in a car seat for 30 minutes (either stationary or when in motion), the baby’s heart and breathing rate increased, and their blood oxygen levels were lower compared with lying flat in a cot.
When babies are born, their airway is the size of a drinking straw. When they are in the car seats, they are really well protected in case of a road traffic accident, but this is not ideal for their tiny airways. There are various recommendations out there, so taking a sensible approach and being aware of the risks help us make decisions as new parents. Ideally, a new-born baby to 6 weeks old should only be in their car seat for 30 minutes at a time. Babies over 6 weeks should only be in their car seats for 2 hours at a time. When you take a break, lie your baby down on their back in their Moses basket or carry cot.
If, like me, you have family that live several hours away these recommended timelines can seem unrealistic. Scheduling regular breaks and letting the baby stretch out is key. Let’s face it, most young babies will need feeding regularly and mum & dad will need coffee to keep them going. The Lullaby Trust confirms that “there is substantial evidence from around the world to show that sleeping your baby on their back at the beginning of every sleep or nap (day and night) significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)”.
It is not nice to think about our children suffering with an illness or being involved in an accident but with some simple training, delivered in a friendly and relaxed environment, it could make all the difference. Our 2-hour Baby & Child First Aid Class covers topics such as CPR, recovery positions, choking, head injuries, meningitis, sepsis, breaks, bleeds, febrile convulsions, burns and poisoning. The class is £25 per person and you receive a CPD accredited certificate at the end of the session. Visit www.daisyfirstaid.comto find your local trainer. For more information on safer sleep advice visit the Lullaby Trust website www.lullabytrust.org.uk
