napping in car seats

[momof3gals]

A relative of mine does in home day care. She regulary puts the kids down for naps strapped into their car seats. Her husband, myself and my mother all feel this to be wrong and that these kids need to be in cribs/playpens/beds for their naps. The parents of these kids do not know that she does this. How can we get across to her that this is not a good practice OR is this okay? Please let me know your opinion.

[myboysmom]

I, personally, do not think it is okay. However, some parents do this very regularly. I would say that the parents definitely need to be informed of this at the very least. Why does she do this? No other space? The thing I worry about most is the flat-head thing. I had a friend who had her daughter in the seat a lot as an infant, and at 5 yo still has a definite flat spot on the back of her head.

[kaiya23]

Wouldn't work for my kid. She sleeps on her belly. She naps in her car seat when she falls asleep in the car. They are built to protect a child in the case of a car accident. Not for sleeping.

I'd worry about a flat head with the infants. I'd worry about them moving around in it as they tried to fall asleep, especially the bigger ones that they'd roll the seat over and get trapped. Or that they would get tripped over by an adult.

She needs to have a bed/crib/playpen setup for each child. Or at least cots instead of beds. Think about it...do you want to fall asleep sitting up when you need good sleep? I don't. Why should she make the kids do it?

[cjhott]

This is not ok at all! There was a case about a year ago of a dad putting his daughter in a car seat to sleep. She was frightened when she woke up and ended up strangling her self with the straps trying to get out. This happened because he negligent and was not monitoring her. If your relative is in the same room I'm sure that the children would not strangle themselves, but they could get hurt if she even had to walk away for a minute! We all know how quickly kids get themselves into trouble. If I found out that my day care provider was putting my son in his car seat to sleep, not only would I be furious and take him out of her care, I would inform all of the other parents. This is not OK and in my opinion the parents need to be informed immediately. I don't want to sound like I'm ranting but I'm sure that the Dad who is without his little girl would have liked for someone to inform him of the dangers.

[craftyashley]

Not ok! Bring it to the attention of the other moms. I'm sure they will want to know what is going on with their kids. If they're ok with it, then whatever. But they don't get as good of sleep in carseats. Plus it can be totally dangerous.

[lena241]

I agree. Totally not ok.
I think that this is horrible. If the daycare provider does not have enough porta-cribs for all the infants, she should ask the parents at registration to supply one.

For older children, she can ask that mats be provided.

Some people just dont use thier noodle.

[MommaC]

I guess I would be fine with it if the babies were newborns, but after that HECK NO. How are parents not figuring this out? If there are no cribs around, where do they think their kids are sleeping?

[scrap_junkie]

Let the relative know it's not safe to do that.
Here a couple of months ago a babysitter got home and the baby was asleep in the car seat so she just went and put that baby (still in the car seat) on the parents bed so that baby could sleep longer. She went to check on the baby a couple of hours later and the baby was dead! Her head feel down while she was sleeping and she couldn't get any air.

[my2boyjs]

I would let the parents know. Johnathon slept in his car seat for a while. But this was because he had breathing problems and propping his matress was not enough. He slept in his car seat with the straps covered by a blanket and in his pack and play by my bed.

But I would let the parents know b/c she shouldnt being doing this without the parents okay.

[Cynister]

Sleeping in carseats in not safe, espically for childern under one. Sitting in the car seat with the babies chin on his chest (just about all of them sleep) restricts air flow & can lead to death. There was a news story on this several months ago, it's fine for your child to have a short nap in the car seat. Usually they're not in a deep sleep because of sudden movements of the car & noises.

You should let her know that she is endangering the lives of innocent childern & if she doesn't stop you WILL tell the parents.

[lovin3]

In Michigan, daycare licensing requires that there be a suitable bed/cot for each child, specifically a pack-n-play or crib for infants. It specifically states that children are not to sleep in carseats or other baby equipment and that if they fall asleep there, they need to be moved. I'd definitely mention your concern and if nothing changes, let the parents know.

[ra11en]

So not acceptable. Just one reason I am so thankful I can afford a licensed daycare and refuse to leave my DD with a private sitter/day care. You just don't know how they are really taking care of you child! At least I can watch my DD throughout the day online and there are people watching those that are watching my child.

I would want to be told if I was a parent of one of those kids. So not acceptable.