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Car Seat Safety for Babies
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Babies left to sleep in car seats unattended can suffocate, according to research published in the British Medical Journal. While car safety seats are recommended to reduce the injuries from a car crash, sleeping in a semi-reclined position can cause the baby’s head to fall forward cutting off the airway, possibly leading to death.
When used correctly, rear-facing infant car seats reduce injury by 90-95% compared to not using a restraint.
New Zealand researchers studied 43 reports of babies who had experienced a life threatening event over an 18-month period. Nine of the babies, who were otherwise healthy, had been left to sleep in their car seats. All the infants had turned blue or pale and were thought to have stopped breathing.
The researchers discovered that when babies fall asleep while in a semi-reclining position, their heads tend to bend forward, cutting off the upper airway causing breathing problems. In fact, the researchers were able to recreate respiratory distress in the children by placing them in their car seats.
It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that premature infants should be observed in their car seats to ensure the reclined position does not cause any signs of breathing problems. As well, infants should be accompanied and observed by an adult while riding in the back of the car.
The researchers say that smoking may have contributed to the findings, as second-hand smoke exposure is known to increase the risk of death in infants. Half the mothers in the study were smokers.
The findings of the study will likely raise awareness about this important issue. The simple modifications that were recommended could help save lives.
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