The deadly danger of car seat naps, what you need to know

It might seem like the best way to keep your baby sleeping peacefully, but safety experts warn that a car seat nap could be deadly for an infant.

A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found 31 children died while sleeping in car seats over a four year period.  They ranged in age from newborns to two year olds.

The biggest risk is what's called positional asphyxia. That's when a person can't get enough air because of the position of their body. It happens most often in infants, when a baby is in a position where their mouth or nose is blocked or where their chest can't expand enough.

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Experts say when the car seat is installed correctly in the car, it is at a safe angle. It's important to buckle your infant in correctly, too.

"You don't want them to be able to lay their neck or their head on any part of those straps," said Lisa Schwing of Dayton Children's Hospital. "The clip needs to be down at the armpit level so it doesn't have the opportunity to obstruct their airway."

She says parents should always follow the abc's of sleep for infants.

"Alone on your back in a crib," she said.  "If you don't have a crib, a pack and play is great."

It's not just car seats. The study reported on 16 other baby deaths in slings, swings, bouncey seats and strollers.

Cox Media Group