9-Month Old Only Sleeps Through the Night in Carseat

My son has asthma and should have his head raised a bit at night, yet pillows in the crib are not recommend. The physician’s assistant at my doctor’s office said her son sleeps in his car seat in her bedroom as a way to keep his head raised since he too has asthma. I ended up getting a wedge that went under the mattress which worked great for me, but the car seat worked for her.

If he sleeps well in the carseat I'd let him sleep in the carseat. This will pass at some point, but you both need the sleep.

My son (now 2) slept in his carseat on the floor next to my bed until he grew out of it! the doctor said he may have had a bit of acid reflux and being tilted head up probably felt good on his tummy. i had a Snuggli (blue outside, fake lambswool inside and it zipped closed around him - snuggled him all up) for him and he was in heaven!~

K.

One of the things that children need is consistency and routines. I'm a pediatric nurse in a hospital, and I see what the change of routine does to chidlren all the time. On the advice of your pediatrician, maybe he/she would recommend a little tylenol before your child goes to bed, and put him to bed. I will tell you now - a pattern/routine you start NOW, is going to have a lasting effect. If he continues to sleep in his car seat, then that's the way it's going to be for a long time! I would highly recommend getting him out of it now! The "harm" with your child sleeping in a car seat for so long for an extended length of time is he won't learn to self-sooth in bed, and to do those normal growth and development things in bed which he will do in his sleep. Anyway - my two cents. Good luck!

I understand that it's hard to get up every hour to pacify a crying baby. Not fun at all. But babies get used to many things once you introduce it to them whether it's schedule, habits etc. I suspect that one of the reason why your son loves the carseat is because it is a bit similar to being in your womb, scrunch position, close proximity to the side of carseat.

However, it can cause them a lot of problems such as problems in breathing & worse case scenario, SIDS. Carseats use for too long also restricts babies movement. This can cause some obstacle in overall development as it curbs the overall freedom of child to move for long.

I think you gotta do what you gotta do. My son is only 4 mos., but at the 3 mo. mark he too would only sleep soundly in his car seat. We, however, did not strap him in as he wasn't very mobile. But, that was a mistake, and learned that the hard way when i found him lying on the floor one night. now he is back in his crib. I hear it is quite common for babies to sleep in their car seats though. i don't see any harm in it and honestly feel if it works for you - go with it.

Both of my children have slept in their carseats.

My now 7 year old slept in hers until she couldn't fit safely anymore... she grew up fine.

My 6 month old now is going through a transition where she wont sleep well with me, or in her crib, so I tried the papasan chair someone gave us, and she loves it. we just put that in her crib, and she sleeps there peacefully most of the night.

Hi! Three of my four kids, now 17, 15, 12 and 8, slept their entire first year in their car seats/swing seats because of breathing problems and it was great! They were safe and comfy; our pediatrician made the recommendation. At 12+ months all three of them easily made the transition to their crib and they didn't have flattened heads or any other problems. Good luck with your little guy!

their natural tossing and turning and stretching is not happening.. that would be my concern. teething isn't going to go away anytime soon. he will be doing this for the next two years... not as severe but will keep getting teeth through two year molars. try tylenol and motrin for teething, or natural teething tablets. they help. but sleep patterns get messed up. having a tooth come in hurts.

When my kids were young the doctors suggested during really bad colds that I put the baby in the car seat in his bed at night, so he would be propped up. And if the car seat is in the crib then they still associate the crib with sleeping. I had a lot of trouble with getting one of my sons out of my bed and into his own, so I understand you frustrations. Good luck, A.

Hi susan,

if he is teething i have heard that laying on their back can put more pressure on their mouths and gums which is uncomfortable. maybe he prefers the sitting up position because of that? who knows! good luck!

Have you ever heard of teething tablets called, Hyland's Teething Tablets? I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and when she's teething, I tried giving her tylenol, teething rings, cold wash cloths etc. I'm telling you these teething tablets are a life saver..it's a safe homeopathic combination of natural substances that relieves the restlessness, peevish whining and irritability. The small 1 grain tablets melt instantly on the tongue and it's better than drugging up your baby with tylenol. You can find them at Walgreens or Target. I've introduced this to many moms and it always works. Hopefully this will make your baby sleep better! Here's the website in you need more info.

http://www.hylands.com/products/teething.php

I say, do whatever makes your baby happy and content to sleep for right now. As long as you are certain he is safe. Once he gets to the stage where he wants to roll around and stretch out a bit, you will know it because he will fuss. And at least you are not up all night actually driving him around town in the car to get him to sleep. People thought I had absolutely lost my mind because my daughter slept in a dresser drawer right next to my bed for quite a while. She only weighed 5 pounds, full term. There was nowhere to put her cradle in my room, and her room was on the other side of the house. I loaded that drawer with pounds of sugar, flour, coffee, bags of cat food....I made sure the drawer wouldn't fall out or the dresser topple. She only ever woke up once in the night to nurse and she was right there by me. I was terrified not to have her close, but also afraid I might squash her in the bed with me. The drawer worked beautifully. Once she got a little longer and became a more active during her sleep time, I moved her into the cradle...then the crib.
She hated the crib at first. But, fortunately, I am small too, so I just climbed right in with her at first. I did it during the day and we read stories or I sang to her. At night, she happily slept in there all by herself. All night long. I have two kids and neither one of them were up every two hours....the nightmare stories of sleep deprivation.....I can't even relate to that. If it's a little unconventional, and safe, but your baby sleeps all night.....I say, go for it.

I even knew a mom that would just set the car seat in the crib if the baby was still out like a light at bed time.

As far as a transition method and thought as to why…My, now 16 mo. old, would sleep very soundly in her car seat and restlessly in her crib. I started swaddling her very tight, which my first baby did not like at all, and she started sleeping perfectly anywhere. Also the teething causes excess secretions in the mouth and it could be disturbing his breathing when he is lying flat. Try putting some books under the mattress to make a nice even incline of the crib mattress. Roll some thick blankets and brace him between them in the crib so he can not roll over. It will take a couple of tries to get it all right and for him to see it is nice and cozy like the car seat, but it just may work. And if all else fails…car seats fit up to six years of age…Good luck!

I remember doing this with my daughter for awhile. It started when she got a cold and was congested. She just slept better in the semi upright position. I put her in our bed and we all slept better. I think you should go with it, you found something that works for now and chances are it will change, they always do.

Your baby knows best. He accumulates salva and probably starts to choke, that's why he can't sleep. It is, in fact, a good idea to protect his airway and provide more comfort, to allow him to sleep in the carseat until the tooth comes through the gum. Then this feeling of choking will subside. Mother of three, been there, done that.
B.

Hi -- I'm a foster mom who has taken care of lots of babies with weird sleeping habits. While I'd try consistently to put him down in the crib, I can honestly say that if I were taking care of him 24/7 and he displayed this behavior I'd probably let him sleep in the carseat, observing the precautions that you've already taken (keep it on the floor, keep him strapped, etc.) One strategy that I've found helpful for kids who continually get up when I put them down in the crib is to play soft music, keep a nightlight on, and sit in the room where they can see me -- sometimes I have to sit there for 15-20 minutes, but they usually settle down.
I'm sure you've talked to your pediatrician so he/she might have other strategies. Remember, this too shall pass, so hang in there.

Had to do the same thing with my son at that age. It kept the running nose from dripping down his throat and waking him up. I ended up propping the car seat IN the crib. I also took extra precaution to have his bottom protected (Desitin)due to some extra pressure down there over night. Slowly I tried to put him down at night in the crib without car seat, and if he woke up, I would put him in the car seat for the remainder of the night. Eventually, he started to sleep through the night again in the crib without the car seat. But keep it handy. If your son is prone to runny noses with teething, you may have to use it again! He will adjust!

Hi there,
I've heard that it is bad to have the baby sleep all night in the carseat because of the spine curvature issue...of course a couple of times is fine, but habitually doing so could be harmful?
We found that when our 8month old was teething that he would also wake up often,(usually from coughing/choking on all the drool pooling in his throat). One reccomendation we got was to put phone books under the legs of the crib on the side where his head is to keep his head slightly raised and let gravity help to prevent the drool/cough/wake-up cycle.
:)-Wendy

I don't think there's anything wrong with sleeping in the car seat. Especially since you make it so secure. I know that it helps to sleep that way when the baby has a cold.

He obviously needs his head elevated in order to sleep. I suspect that he is in pain and this alleviates it. I would suggest you take him to the doctor and have his ears checked for infection. Some children pick up sicknesses when they get teeth - my pediatrician suspects it lowers their immunity somehow. Also ask the ped. what he thinks about the sleeping in the car seat - it is probably ok for a short time (my baby slept in the swing for a few months). Once you are sure he isn't in pain (don't forget the motrin!), you can wean him from this by elevating one side of his crib so his head feels better. Try putting blankets under the mattress on one side and wedging him in so he doesn't slide around (without suffocation hazards ofcourse). Good luck!
K

The Hyland's teething tablets work great! Rule out an ear infection also. Ear infections mimic teething and cause pain when they lay flat. If elevating the head is relieving pressure, it could be his ears.

I know it gets to be desprate when you start to lose a lot of sleep as a mom, however, I know of a woman who was doing day care and the 18 month old fell asleep in the car seat and she didn't want to move her so she just broght in the car seat and left the baby on the floor in the car seat to sleep. When she went back to check on the baby she had wiggled her way down and was strangled by the straps. I know that is probably extreme but when I saw your post I just thought I shouldn't keep quiet. The greif of both families was horrible. I would never want any other mom to go through that.

Hi Susan,
I'm a dental professional of 17+ yrs with a 2 1/2 yr old daughter. She started teething at around 4 months old and didn't stop until all her teeth were in. I ended up giving her a little Tylenol at bedtime with her first tooth and again with her first molar. The discomfort of teething is greatest with those. The trick with sleep training is to teach children to sleep even with minor discomforts such as teething and colds. I think he has gotten into the HABIT of sleeping in the carseat, and children are definitely creatures of habit. Make sure he is getting enough sleep with naps and early bedtime. Put him in his crib after your routine and leave him. If you are putting him to bed early (around 6pm) and he is getting two naps for at least 1 hr each (around 9am & 1pm) he should be able to sleep 11-12 hrs at night. (if not breastfed) My sleep "bible" is Healthy Sleep Habit, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. Using his book, I had my daughter sleeping thru the night very early. Cry it out method is NOT the only method he suggests, it is just the one that usually works the fastest. I found that to be true. I couldn't co-sleep either, my husband was the only one sleeping. Let me know if you want any more info.
Sincerely,
L.

They say its not good for there spine. there growth is when they sleep. My son used to like sleeping in the car seat too!

I see no harm. Both of my kids did a lot of sleeping in their carseats when they were little. Things change constantly and this too shall pass... If you are all getting more sleep that way I say Yay!!

The problem I would see about the car seat is that he's in one position all night... At his age... this can actually cause a flattening of the head and hair loss... so I would at least watch for those....

I can certainly relate to the desperation for your own sleep... I think the tylenol is a good idea... and you can also give a bit more in the middle of the night... talk with your pedi about dosing... it sounds like he might take to swaddeling... maybe he likes that snugness that a carseat offers... There are good swaddle techniques in the happiest baby on the block book...

Good luck!

I don't think that that is good, his might get a stiff neck or hurt his back, I would put him in a stroller instead-that is what I did when my son was young, and roll it back and forth with blankets so he doesn't get cold and either in the hallway near your bedroom or in the bedroom with you so he know that you are there for me when needed!

I understand. I had to do that at times, too. It is not fair to you if you try all the "conventional methods" and do not get sleep. I see nothing wrong with this alternative since I see you taking safety precautions to do this. The important thing is that everyone gets a good night's sleep and is well rested. One concern may be, though, is that he grows too attached to his carseat that he never wants to sleep normal again. You may want to dig deeper for more solutions.

One thing I've learned after 2 kids is, they just go through phases with sleep and you can read every book and try every technique but they just may need to grow out of the phase they're in. I say, as long as your son is safe in the seat, let him sleep there for now (and rejoice at the 9 hrs!). He'll outgrow it soon enough and will enter a new sleep phase. The seat may remind him of the soothing motion of the car which puts almost all babies to sleep. There are worse things.

Sounds like a creative solution to me! Teething BITES! For everyone involved. I'm sure it's a phase and it will change to something else after the teeth come in.

I'm thinking it would probably work well for when babies are congested, too, since it keeps their head elevated.

Ok, first off all, get a few nights of good sleep and then it's time to get into battle mode. Just accept you'll end up getting no sleep for a few days and then just get to the job at hand...which is getting your 9mos old to sleep in his own bed again.

You ask what the harm is...you are setting a pattern for your child that he will carry his entire life. That means at 42 he will still find it ok to sleep in his chair rather than in his bed which is bad for his back, legs, circulation and, at the age of 42 probably not so good for his marriage. Teaching him good sleep patterns, in a bed, for more than 6 hours at a time, is helping to set him up for a better life. He will sleep better, do better in school and in life. So it's important to get that started when they are small and just learning sleeping patterns and habits.

It won't be easy but SO worth it.

C.

Dear Susan,

The choice is up to you, but there have been studies, where babies are not developing their upper back muscles properly because parents leave them in their carseats to sleep. Parents bring the babies in from the car and don't want to wake them up by transfering them to the crib/cradle etc. and let them sleep the night in the carseat on a regular basis. If I find the study I will submit it on this respond but I don't know what it is off hand. Maybe a crib w/ an elevated mattress might work instead??
R.

All 3 of my kids slept in their carseat for a period of time. I say, if they get sleep and you get sleep, go for it. They will eventually get out of that stage and the teething pain will subside and things will settle into a routine.
Good luck!

My concern with the carseat would be that he will not be able to reposition himself like we all do during the night to avoid pressure points. 8 or 9 hours strapped in one position could be dangerous.

Susan, if it works--it works. I would keep him in my room though. This is temporary. You wont damage him for life I promise. A good nights sleep only makes you a BETTER mommy! We still co-sleep with my 3 year old and I wouldn't have it any other way. Sure I get lots of slack for it...but I don't mind. I am the mama and I make the decisions in my home! I know that my baby is sleeping well and secure and safe and most of all happy by my side. The best part of the night is when she rolls over, half asleep, half awake and softly whispers..."love you mommy"...Priceless! :)
Lots of love and support.
-Sher

Maybe nothing? How much other time is spent in one ? Talk to an osteopath.

R.

If he's not in any danger and he's getting a good night's sleep, sounds like a useful workaround to a temporary problem.

Susan,
Why not let your child sleep in the carseat in the crib. Just make sure you secure it so it doesn't tip over.

Just be careful, my son ended up with a flat head in the back, and at 7 years old still has the flat head but you can't tell now with his hair covering it. I didn't let him sleep in the car seat for a very long period of nights, but that was the outcome. I kept him in my bedroom in case he would get tangled in the seatbelt.

I definitely think 9 month old babies should be sleeping in their crib and I don't believe in having your child sleep in your bed with you unless they are sick and you need to monitor them closely. You can't get a good nights sleep and you would be setting up a bad habit for your child. I think giving Motrin (better than tylenol) for teething works great, but teething only last a few days (week max) and then the teeth come in. It sounds like it may be teething pain or separation anxiety starting, but either way you should make him sleep in his crib (try Motrin) and have him cry it out as long as you can handle it.