Use of car beds for infant travel: a review of the literature

Abstract

Discharging neonates in a proper car safety seat is standard of care in the United States and many other countries. However, not every neonate can be safely positioned in a standard semi-upright car seat. In these cases, providers may opt for a travel device that allows the infant to lie flat, either supine or prone, known as a car bed. Minimal evidence exists to guide providers on car bed safety and help determine which infants would benefit from discharge in a car bed. In this article, we provide a comprehensive summary of existing literature on the safety of car beds for motor vehicle travel, car bed use in specific patient populations, and car beds vs. car seats for infants at risk of adverse cardiorespiratory events, including preterm infants with Hg-O₂ desaturations in the car seat. We discuss recommendations for the follow-up of infants discharged in a car bed in order to safely transition back to a car seat.