According to a new study done by New Zealand researchers at the University of Auckland, published in this week’s British Medical Journal, “parents should not leave babies sleeping unattended in standard car safety seats because it may trigger serious breathing problems.”

Links to articles:
– Washington Posts
– CBC News
– BBC News | Health

“Researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand studied 43 reports of babies who suffered a lack of oxygen — nine had been left to sleep in their car seats.”

“Problems arise because reflexes that keep the baby’s head upright and their breathing normal are still developing.”

“They found the babies’ heads tended to loll forwards, pressing the jaw into the chest, which made it harder for them to breathe.”

“Also, the muscles of the throat tend to relax when a person is asleep, narrowing the airway further.”

“The take-home message is that parents should not leave very young babies unattended in car seats.”

“Car seats are not ideal places for safe infant sleep in the home.”

“If a baby is being transported in a car, he or she should be carried in a properly designed and fitted car seat, carried backwards and be observable by a competent adult.”