Learning About Car Beds for Your Baby

A car bed is a device to safely transport your baby in a car. It allows your baby to lie down. The baby is secured by a harness to help keep them in a safe position during travel. It's not the same as a regular car seat, where babies sit semi-reclined. Your baby's care team may recommend a car bed because lying flat is safer for your baby right now.

In a regular rear-facing car seat, babies sit semi-reclined. For some small, premature, or medically fragile babies, this position can cause the head to fall forward. That could block the baby's airway and make it harder to breathe. It can also lead to drops in oxygen levels or to pauses in breathing (apnea) or a slow heart rate (bradycardia).

Lying flat helps keep the airway open and makes breathing easier. Your baby's care team may suggest a car bed if:

• Your baby was born premature or at a low birth weight.
• Your baby did not pass the car seat test.
• Your baby has low muscle tone. This can make it hard to keep the head and airway in a safe position in a car seat.
• Your baby has a breathing or airway condition. For example, your baby may need to use extra oxygen or may have a tracheostomy.
• Your baby has a condition that requires them to stay flat, such as with some spinal problems.

Here are some tips for using a car bed:

• Follow the manufacturer's directions for using your baby's car bed.
  • Position the car bed as directed. Most car beds are placed in the back seat. Your baby lies across the car, with their head toward the center of the vehicle and feet toward the door.
  • If there's a base, attach it to the car as directed. Make sure that the carrier attaches fully to the base before use.
  • Attach the car bed with the proper seat belt attachment.
  • Lay your baby flat on their back in the car bed.
  • Fit the harness on your baby as directed. The harness usually secures across your baby's body to keep them in place.
• Check the user manual for the car bed's weight and length limits.
• Ask the care team for ways to support your baby in their car bed. Each baby has different needs. The care team is there to help.

Your baby's care team will let you know when your baby is ready to switch to a regular rear-facing car seat. Your baby may need a follow-up screening to see what options are safe for them.

Follow these tips to use a car bed safely:

• Use the car bed only for travel in the car. When you arrive at your destination, take your baby out of the car bed. Place them on a firm, flat surface, such as a crib, to sleep. Car beds are not safe sleep surfaces.
• Never leave your baby alone in a car bed. Always have an adult nearby when your baby is in the car bed, even when the car isn't moving.
• Always buckle the harness. Make sure the harness straps are snug and fully buckled every time your baby is in the car bed.
• Place the car bed in the back seat only. Never place a car bed in the front seat of a car.
• Do not add extra pillows, padding, or blankets inside the car bed unless your baby's care team tells you to. Extra items can block your baby's breathing.
• Remove any thick or bulky coats from your baby before buckling your baby in. Thick clothing can keep the harness from fitting snugly. Instead, buckle in your baby with thin layers of clothing. Then place a blanket over the harness if your baby needs extra warmth.
• Check for recalls. Make sure that your car bed hasn't been recalled. You can check at NHTSA.gov or CPSC.gov, or register your car bed so you get safety updates.
• Limit travel time. Keep car trips as short as possible. Long periods in the car bed may affect your baby's breathing or heart rate. Talk to your baby's doctor about how long your baby can safely ride.