Stroller Naps for babies: are they safe?
Let's talk strollers & sleep on the go!
If you've followed me for a minute you know I am a big fan of naps on the go. Mostly because they are practical for many busy parents, but also because babies tend to love motion of any kind, and getting some naps in the stroller or car can be helpful (not to mention unavoidable) for a lot of us! So what do we need to know about sleep in strollers?
The official stance of the American Academy of Pediatrics is to limit sleep in things like strollers. They say:
"If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier or sling, you should move them to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible."
But let's break it down further to understand the risks and how to keep our little ones safe when napping in the stroller.
If using an infant carseat attached to a stroller:
Ben Hoffman, M.D., chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention Executive Committee, says: “All the data that we have on car seats indicate that there aren’t risks associated with babies sleeping in the car for short periods of time when they’re properly restrained in a car seat that’s been installed with appropriate positioning.”
So, as long as your baby's carseat is fitted appropriately, attached to the base in the car OR the appropriate stroller attachment and they are strapped in and supervised, naps under 2 hours or so are just fine.
If using a regular stroller:
Be sure they are in the correct seat and position for their age/ weight. Not every stroller is meant to hold young babies without proper attachments. For example, for most of their strollers, UPPAbaby recommends that the stroller seats be used from around 3 months up to 50 pounds. If your child is outside of these limits, especially if they’re a newborn, the seat is not technically designed to keep them properly and safely positioned. You’d need to purchase the company’s appropriate newborn inserts like a bassinet attachment OR use the stroller with the correctly installed car seat.
Safety Info for Stroller Sleep:
Baby is supervised at all times
Baby is clipped in appropriately at all times
Using only properly fitting and attached car seat, infant attachment/ bassinet, or stroller seat based on height and weight requirements from the manufacturer
No blankets covering baby’s seat (overheating risk)
If arriving back home, take baby out and move them to a flat surface or hold them for the remainder of their nap vs. keeping them in the stroller unattended
Avoid hanging heavy bags on handle bars so the stroller can’t tip over
Don’t place anything in baby’s seat with them that could be a suffocation or strangulation hazard, like pacifier clips, blankets, pillows, or soft toys
Be sure you can see baby at all times
Always use the brake when stopped
Limit stroller naps to under 2 hours
Stroller naps can be a great way to calm a fussy baby and to get some exercise and fresh air for you, too! As long as you’re following the safety guidelines and your baby’s stroller is fitted and secured appropriately, there’s nothing wrong with naps on the go, so get out and enjoy!
