Motion tests suggest car seats not necessarily safe for infants

Newborn infants may be at risk of breathing difficulties if left in car safety seats for long periods, particularly when travelling, new research from the University of Bristol has shown. Most UK hospitals require premature infants to complete a 'car seat challenge' before discharge. Infants are observed for breathing difficulties or changes in heart rate while in a car seat. However, the test does not take into account the more upright position in a car, or the vibration of the seat when the car is moving. This study is the first to assess the effect of motion on infants and to replicate the angle of the rear seat of a small family car. The researchers developed a motion simulator to reproduce vertical vibration, similar to that at the base of a car safety seat in a rear-facing position in the back of a small family car. The simulator was designed, manufactured and tested by the Human Factors Research Unit at the University of Southampton's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research.