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A grieving mother has warned others of the dangers of letting children sleep in a car seat after losing her 18-month-old girl.

Three years ago Lisa Smith, from Aledo in Texas, got the call no parent wants to hear after her babysitter put little Mia to sleep in a car seat, shares Yahoo 7.

“I got a call while I was at work,” Ms Smith told US news outlet WFAA-TV.

“Worst call I’ve ever had in my life, ‘Drop everything. Mia didn’t wake up from her nap’.”

Mia died from positional asphyxia, meaning her breathing was restricted by the position she was in.

“There’s nothing in the car seat that’s designed to sleep,” trauma injury prevention specialist Sharon Evans told WFAA-TV.

“Of course, if the straps aren’t tight, the child can kind of slump down.”

Mia’s mother said she knew the risks of leaving a child to sleep in a car seat and was shocked to discover her babysitter, who ran a licensed daycare centre in Iowa, had allowed it.

We have previously shared the sad story of parents Ali and Derek Dodd from Oklahoma, US, who are suffering the loss of their 11 week old son Shepard, who died at a day care after being put to sleep in an unbuckled car seat and left unsupervised. Read their story here.

When using a car seat or carrier, babies must always be supervised or else they can change positions and block their tiny airways. A good rule of thumb for parents to follow is to never, under any circumstances, use a car seat for anything other than its intended purpose, which is to keep baby safe in the car.

There has also been warnings that infants under four weeks shouldn’t travel in car seats for more than 30 minutes. Read that here.

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  • Im sure this was a very rare and freak thing. If it wasnt then im sure we would have heard of this more often

    Reply

  • I am always concerned about babies who go to sleep while being wheeled in a stroller. Some, not matter what the adults do roll their heads to one side. I constantly moved my baby’s head when I had him in his stroller.

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  • This is just so sad and tragic. A great warning for parents and something that obviously needs to be shared and to make everyone aware.

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  • What a terrible tragedy. I would never have thought such a thing could happen.

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  • how sad and tragic. the baby should have been flat to sleep not in a seat.

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  • So sad.

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  • We do a lot of long distance travel and the little ones do fall asleep in their car seats. It is a case of keeping a close eye on them whilst they are asleep. There is no reason parents cant sit in the back their treasures.
    Very sad – You are in my prayers Lisa.

    Reply

  • So so sad.
    This carseat info isn’t widely known enough.

    Reply

  • Omg wow this is so sad. :(

    Reply

  • This is just terrible, you entrust your kids with “experts” and pay a large sum to do so and end up losing a family member…

    Reply

  • How sad! I some times leave my little one to sleep in her capsule but her straps are always done up tightly and there’s no way for her head to slump down.

    Reply

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