Here’s Why You Should Never Allow Your Child to Sleep in a Car Seat for an Extended Period of Time
Getting a small child such as a newborn or baby to sleep can be a challenge for many parents. And when they finally do get their child to sleep, whether it is in their car seat or in their swing, they often don’t want to disturb them to transfer them into their crib in fear that they are going to wake up and won’t want to go back to sleep. If you are a parent and this is something you deal with on a day to day basis, there are some important things you should be aware of that could help save your child’s life when it comes to allowing your child to remain sleeping in their car seat or placing them in one for a nap.
While your child might look peaceful sleeping in their car seat after arriving home or they favor it over their crib, the fact is, it isn’t safe to keep them in their car seat for the sake of keeping them asleep or getting them to sleep. One mother learned this the hard way and is now using her tragedy to warn other parents of the dangers associated with allowing a baby to stay asleep in their car seat while at home or anywhere else.
Here is the tragic story involving 17-month-old Mia Smith.
Lisa Smith was enjoying life with her 17-month-old daughter Mia. This was the couple’s first child and while Lisa was aware of the dangers associated with allowing babies to sleep in car seats, apparently, the babysitter who had been taking care of the child wasn’t. It was because of this that Lisa Smith received a call one day, a call no parent ever wants to receive. The person on the other line informed Lisa that her that her daughter hadn’t woken up from her nap, according to AJC. It turns out, the babysitter had put Mia in her car seat for a nap, something the warning label on the seat states not to do, and that resulted in the child dying. The official cause of death was listed as positional asphyxia. AJC highlighted that positional asphyxia is “a condition when a person’s airway is restricted by how they’re positioned.”
Although the babysitter was charged for allowing this heartbreaking incident to occur, that wouldn’t bring back baby Mia.
While Lisa Smith and her husband managed to pull through from that difficult time in their life and now are the parents to two more children, they find themselves sharing their tragic experience with others with the hopes that their story can help prevent a similar type of accident from occurring. Lisa said that she often walks up to couples who have their baby sleeping in a car seat and tells them how she lost her daughter and that “they should be extremely careful.” The couple also hopes that their story reaches many others so they too understand how dangerous it can be to allow a child to sleep in a car seat for an extended period of time.
Not only is it important for parents to be cautious when it comes to where they allow their baby to sleep, but also those for who might be caring for their child. Babysitters, daycare workers, and even other relatives should also be informed on just how dangerous it is to allow a child to sleep in a car seat so that another innocent child’s life isn’t taken. However, if your child suffered an injury recently or passed away as a result of someone else’s negligent behavior, despite the fact that they were informed on how to properly care for your child, it is best you get in touch with Gary, IN personal injury attorney Marshall P. Whalley.
Our firm can help you understand what your legal rights are in the matter and how you can go about exercising them. We will be there to provide you with the support and guidance you need during this difficult time. Losing a child is often the hardest thing for a parent to accept which is why it is best you have all the support you can get right now.
If you would like to schedule a time where you can come into our office to discuss your matter in depth, call us now at 219-769-2900.
You can also visit Marshall P. Whalley & Associates, PC at:
51 W. 112th Avenue
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone-219-769-2900
Toll Free-855-442-7211
Fax- 219-769-2995
