When it comes to deciding whether to use a car seat or a bassinet as your baby’s for the travel or everyday carrier, the choice isn’t an easy one.
You have to take a lot of factors into consideration before making a decision. If you want a quick answer, then my answer is: it totally depends on your current situation and baby need.
I’ll talk on this later, but let’s first see what experts are recommending and saying
When infants are sitting in their car seat, At that time, they are spending time on their tummy.
Tummy Time helps in the development of core muscles, and It also builds the connection between her inner core muscles and outer core postural muscles.
In 2008, a survey was done by the 400 pediatric physical and occupational therapists to figure out the early detection of motor delays in children.
This survey revealed that the babies are having ‘lack of time on their tummy, while they were awake, was the top reason for the increase in delays.
So, Car seats, ironically, have been proven to be hazardous to infants if they are kept sitting in them for long periods.
See, you can’t open a car seat all the way and lay the baby flat. Your baby will have to lie with her back curved, which is not good at all!
An Incidence of Positional Plagiocephaly study shows that 46.6% of infants face incidence of plagiocephaly (otherwise known as a flat head) issues in 7 to 12 weeks of age.
Of the 440 infants assessed, 205 were observed to have some form of plagiocephaly. The incidence of plagiocephaly in infants at 7 to 12 weeks of age was estimated to be 46.6%. Of all infants with plagiocephaly, 63.2% were affected on the right side and 78.3% had a mild form.
This is due to the pressure placed on the back of the baby’s skull.
The longer they sit in the car seat, the more pressure they have on their backs. And we all know what that means: a flat spot on the head!
Now, I don’t know about you, but these statistics are pretty scary to me!
Apart from that, sleep-related deaths are the most common cause of death for infants, not only in baby beds but also in car seats.
In 2015, another case study published on Journal of Pediatrics revealed that two-thirds of the deaths they analyzed involved car seats.
Two-thirds of the cases involved car seats; strangulation from straps accounted for 52% of the car seat deaths. The remainder of deaths occurred in slings, swings, bouncers, and strollers. The study included newborns as well as toddlers.
The study shows that your baby has a higher chance of asphyxiation in a car seat.
Your baby’s neck can flop around in a car seat, giving them a higher chance of suffocating. This is a kind of statistic that keeps me up at night.
So, make sure you adjust their position! Don’t take any chances.
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) incidence also rises when you place your baby in the car seat for even a short nap. Have a look at what APP news said:
The American Academy of Pediatrics urges parents not to use sitting devices, including car safety seats, strollers, swings, infant carriers and infant slings for routine sleep. Infants who are younger than 4 months are especially at risk because they might assume positions that can create a risk of suffocation or airway obstruction.
But, don’t freak out. Car seats are perfectly safe for travel! Keep reading for the do’s and don’ts of car seats!
A car seat is a safety seat specifically designed to contain infants and toddlers when you’re driving. They have a restraining harness and padding and are ergonomically designed to support your baby.
They are also convenient. Most of them come with a handle to make the transition from the car to the house more comfortable.
All you have to do is unclick the seat belt and lift, and you can take your baby with you anywhere.
Car seats do have various settings so you can adjust them so your baby can sit upright or lie down. However, don’t forget what I said above. They don’t lie completely flat, so your baby’s spine will curve.
What Should I Get, a Car Seat or Bassinet?
Unlike a car seat, a bassinet
- They are designed to be sturdy
- They are designed to be comfortable
- They are designed to be safe
- They are also designed with features that car seats don’t have, such as the ability to rock, as well as vibration sound and a nightlight
Check out why I need a bassinet for the newborn baby before moving reading on, to understand why a bassinet is so essential. I have one for my baby, and I love it!
So, you’ve read the above info: A car seat is must-have if you want to travel with your little bundle of joy, while a bassinet provides the perfect bed for her. check out the top 10 bassinets of 2019.
But you may be asking: Can one replace the other? Can parents save money by only buying a car seat or bassinet? No, no and no!
A car seat is an absolute necessity when
But a car seat is safe and can be used as a baby’s permanent bed, right? Again, the answer is NO.
Car seats are great for travel, safety and for carrying your baby for short periods of time, but they are not a substitute for a good bassinet. You want your baby to be safe, so make sure you follow our guidelines.
Have a look at what healthychildren.org said about infant and toddler safety.
If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or sling, you should move him or her to a firm sleep surface on his or her back as soon as possible.
Basically, what we’re saying is to use a car seat and a bassinet according to their proper purpose.
Use a car seat for driving and for just short timespans, and use a bassinet for longer periods of time, whether your baby is asleep or just lying down.
Final Words
So, now you know the answer to the question: “Is a car seat or a bassinet better for newborn?” And you can see from this article that the answer depends on the use.
If you want to take your baby across town to see your parents, then obviously the car seat is the way to go. On the other hand, if you intend to use a car seat instead of a bassinet at home, then you’d better think again.
Yes,
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