drooping head while sleeping in carseat

B

Betty

Guest
drooping head while sleeping in carseat

My 6-month-old granddaughter goes to sleep in her car seat and her head hangs at an acute angle on her chest, completely unsupported, and you can see her chest moving as she breathes hard to overcome the airway restriction. This can't be safe. Is there a strong recommendation about seat angle to prevent this?
 
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C

Caviller

Guest
Some answers-

It is the general best practice recommendation that newborns and infants be reclined to the maximum 45 degrees from vertical while in carseats. This is primarily to prevent an airway obstruction as you describe. In fact, in some cases, premature and other at-risk infants are best suited for car beds which allow them to be flat on their back or side. Most infants can tolerate the 45 degree recline, though.

Once the infant has good neck strength and head support, usually sometime around or after 6 months, it is OK to recline them a bit less. Less recline is actually a bit safer in a crash for older children.

I hope that helps answer your question!

Darren
 

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