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Original poster

what are the health implications babies spending long periods of time in carseats....

9 replies

berrybliss · 21/01/2008 15:29

because 10 week old ds will only nap for more than 30 minutes during the day if he's either being held or in his seat. I can't sit holding him for hours on end. I have a ring sling but he's too hevy to hold for long periods of time and it starts to hurt my back.

If he's in his seat he'll sleep for up to 3 hours at a time and is happy. If i try to settle him lying down he wont settle into a deep sleep and will become over tired.

At night he's on his back and settles (because he's in our bed) and he spends lots of time on his back during the day playing on his mat.

But i'm worried if he continues to only settle in his carseat during the day that it may lead to back problems. Is this possible?

OP posts:
LIZS · 21/01/2008 15:32

The higher risk is to his breathing and SIDS than his back tbh. dd spent a lot of time in a bouncy chair/car seat due to reflux but shows no ill effects

Original poster
berrybliss · 21/01/2008 15:40

He's in the same room as me so i constantly keep an eye on him. I don't want to put him in danger but its also important that he sleeps.

OP posts:
HuwEdwards · 21/01/2008 15:46

BB, my DD spent far too long in her car seat as a baby, but (like your ds), this is the only place she would sleep during the day. She's now 7, and a fine physical specimen of health

Chopster · 21/01/2008 15:50

I have no idea about back problems, but my dts spent a lot of time in car seats and I am sure that it caused their flat heads (plagiocephaly). dt1 in particular still has a noticeably flat head. They have no back problems as far as I can see.

MrsBadger · 21/01/2008 15:53

(dd spends barely any time in a carseat and has a flattish head anyway from lying on flat floors / beds / cots etc)

Original poster
berrybliss · 21/01/2008 15:55

I thought all babies had flat heads at the back beacuse they aren't formed properly yet??? Is there more pressure on their heads lying in a seat as apposed to lying flat?

OP posts:
Original poster
berrybliss · 21/01/2008 15:57

mrsb thats what i thought.. phew

OP posts:
Chopster · 21/01/2008 15:58

I think that the main problem was the headhugger bit. With his head nestled in that he ended up always laying on a certain spot on his head and it got flatter and flatter.
Maybe all babies do have slightly flat heads, but plagiocephaly is more extreme - dt1's head had corners!

MrsBadger · 21/01/2008 16:16

yes, I suppose in a carrycot they can turn their head from side to side...

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