For a family working on crib sleep and establishing regular nap times, having your child fall asleep in the car can throw a real wrench in all of a parent’s diligent planning. This blog is focused on how to avoid an early nap in the car, what to do to recover if this happens, and why sleeping in the car when working towards more independent sleep, is not ideal for your baby or you. Please share with us your experiences in the comments! Do you have something that works extraordinarily well? Let us know!
Why Car Sleep Is Not Good
Every parent has probably been told that an easy way to get your little one to sleep is to take them for a little drive. While it may be tempting to buckle your bundle of joy up and drive until the crying stops, this is not recommended nor considered safe. For babies, safe sleep means laying flat on their back on a flat surface. But with the calming hum of the car and the lack of stimulation, it is hard for little ones not to get a little drowsy. Additionally, when babies are continually sleeping in their car, the hard surface of the actual carseat can cause plagiocephaly (flat head), because it is so firm and baby’s heads are soft.
If your baby is reliant on car sleep and you would like to transition to more independent sleep, learn more about how we support families with sleep learning or sleep training. You can also book a no strings attached free 15-minute consultation call.
Here are some tactics to use if you notice your baby beginning to nod off in the car.
Turn The Music Up
Turning the music on or playing music a little louder can be just disruptive enough to rouse your little one from the start of sleep. Always remember not to turn the music up too loud, babies have sensitive ears, we just want to rouse them, not rock their socks off.
Roll The Windows Down
Adding a little breeze by lowering the windows can provide the change in environment needed to keep your child up and the nap at bay. Of course, this tactic is weather dependent. Always ensure that your car temp is safe for your baby and you.
Talk and Sing to Your Baby
The parent’s voice is familiar to a baby at a young age and can provide some stimulation for them that will keep them up a bit longer. Singing to your baby is also recommended to help keep them active.
Have Someone in the Back Seat
If you have a companion in your car, having them ride in the back seat with your baby is a great way to keep them awake and engaged until you get home.
What To Do When The Baby Falls Asleep In The Car
Notice we said when and not if. It is inevitable that at some point your baby will fall asleep in the car. You have been singing your heart out and let a good breeze in, yet despite your best efforts your little one has started to snooze in the vehicle. If your baby has been asleep for over five minutes you may want to let the nap run its course or do a modified shorter nap. This means letting the baby maintain its position in the car seat and finishing their nap in the car. If this is your chosen remedy, someone must remain in the car with the baby at all times. This is to ensure that your baby’s breathing is consistent and normal. Be aware of any direct sun and ensure that the car can maintain a safe sleeping temperature for the baby.
If finishing the nap in the car is not an option, it is important to realize that your baby is not likely to go straight to sleep once home. Five to ten minutes is just enough to take the edge off of needing sleep for the baby. Parents will need to do a bit of a reset, give the baby some awake time and try again in the crib or bassinet.
Before You Go
We hope you enjoyed learning about why car sleep is not ideal for getting more sleep with a newborn. The only sure way to build up the good sleep your baby needs to be healthy is with training. If you would like to know more about this, our sleep programs, or any of our excellent newborn care services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your little one. We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, or about your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!
Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant | Newborn Care Specialist | Board Certifying Holistic Healthcare Practitioner 
