Can You Feed Baby In Car Seat?

If you have ever taken a trip with your baby, you probably know that they don’t get hungry at the most convenient time. Since the eating schedule of an infant is unpredictable, it can be tough to stay in the car with them for a long time.

However, is it possible that instead of pulling over and feeding your baby, you can give them a bottle in the car seat? Is it ok to feed your baby if they’re sitting in the car seat with a car seat base? Typically you should avoid giving the bottle to your baby when they are in the car seat. A moving car can be a dangerous place for a baby, and the bottle can easily become a choking hazard.

However, if the car is parked, it is perfectly normal to feed the baby through the bottle, but their position should be upright.

If you still wish to bottle feed the baby in the car, try to do it as safely as possible. In this article, we have discussed several useful tips that help you out.

Can you give baby bottle in car seat?

There will come a time in your infant’s life when he or she will get hungry, and you won’t be able to pull over or stop your vehicle. While it is possible to bottle feed babies in the car seat, experts don’t recommend it. If your child is hungry, you don’t prioritize how long it will take to get to your desired location.

Depending on how old your baby is and how long it’s been since they’ve had something to eat, if you think it is best to feed them when you reach your destination, then do that. There are also two main issues of bottle-feeding the baby in the car.

The formula or milk in the bottle can choke the baby

This is the biggest concern, as it can put your baby in a life-threatening situation. Babies should not be bottle-fed when they are in a car seat, especially when the vehicle is moving. Babies cannot remove the bottle or hold it in their hands, so when their mouth is full of milk, it can cause choking.

Your best option is to stop the car, feed the baby and then carry on your journey. It is not worth sacrificing the health of the baby to save road time. 

The bottle can become a projectile during an accident

Another issue of feeding your infant in a car, through a cup or a bottle, is that if you were involved in a crash, these objects could become projectiles. Experts regularly tell drivers to be mindful of loose items in the car, as they can be devastating during a crash.

For example, a twenty-pound object, when launched at a speed of approximately 55 mph, would hit you with an impact of more than a thousand pounds. The baby’s bottle is a small object; it would still have a lot of power when launched at a speed of 50 to 55 mph.

Babies eating in the car while it’s moving may develop gas

While there are obvious safety concerns about feeding your infant in the car, feeding the baby in a moving vehicle can also cause painful body gases. Typically, babies are fed in a calm environment. The vibrations of a moving vehicle will cause gases to develop.

Since babies are not used to this gas and cannot deal with it themselves, they will start crying, and you will need to do something about it. In this situation, the best you can do is stop the car for a bit and check on your infant.

Tough to properly feed the baby in a moving vehicle

Even if you were using all the safety precautions while feeding the baby, you would be unable to properly feed the baby. While there are situations where one parent drives and the other one cares for the baby, usually, only one person in the car can feed the baby.

Typically, a baby that relies on a bottle for feeding is not only enough to hold the bottle and can fall victim to choking. If no one in the car can properly feed the baby, you could soon end up in a dangerous situation.

How to travel with a baby that needs bottle feeding?

When you are traveling with an infant, there are many challenges that you will encounter. If your baby relies on bottle-feeding, it is not practical to stop the vehicle and feed them. However, while it may seem practical if stopping the car is the only option you have, then go for it.

Some useful tips:

Stop the vehicle in a place that is safe

If possible, try to stop the car in a place that is safe because you will need to take the infant out of the car seat. You will then properly feed the infant by holding the bottle. Most car seat brands state that the baby should not be in the seat for more than two hours daily. If you have had a long journey, you should stop the car, take a break and feed the baby. 

Do not feed the baby in a moving vehicle

If your car crashes, then every object in the vehicle, including the bottle, becomes a projectile. Although we sincerely hope something like this never happens with anyone, it is important to consider the situation due to safety concerns. In such a situation, the bottle can seriously injure the baby.

Firmly grasp the bottle while feeding

If you end up in a situation where you have to feed the baby in the vehicle, don’t leave the baby unattended and hold the bottle firmly. The CDC states that if the bottle props up while feeding, it can increase the risks of:

• Tooth decay
• Ear infection
• Choking

Ensure you have all the necessary supplies

You probably don’t want to end up in the middle of the road with your baby without proper supplies. There are many supplies that you can take with you on the journey, such as portable bottle warmers and bottle tote bags.

If your infant relies on breastfeeding, don’t forget to bring the cooler and the portable charger for the pump.

How to burb your baby in the car seat?

To burp the baby, you will need to hold them and then make them sit upright or across on your lap. Then, you will need to pat the back gently, and while there is no proper way to burb the baby in the car seat, always remember to burp them once they are well fed.

When people travel, they usually stop for a restroom break, which is the perfect time to feed the baby. At each restroom, stop, feed the baby, burp them and change the diaper. If you burp the baby before continuing on your journey, you won’t have to stop unnecessarily.

When can babies bottles-feed themselves?

Usually, a baby will learn a bottle-feeding skill by the time they are six months old. However, some babies might not learn the skill until eight or nine months old. While babies might learn to bottle feed, parents should still keep an eye on them and ensure their safety.

When people are traveling alone, they are tempted to the idea of letting babies bottle feed on their own. In most cases, things will go smoothly, but allowing your infant to bottle feed can increase the risk of serious injuries.

Why propping the bottle is a bad idea

Parents are always tending to the needs of their children, and propping the bottle seems logical, especially when you have your hands full, and there is stuff that needs to be done. However, propping the bottle can be risky, especially if the baby is not capable of holding the bottle, as they may be unable to push the bottle away when they’re done feeding.

Propping the bottle also has health-related risks and can lead to tooth decay because the milk sits in the infant’s mouth for a while. You should always be close by when your child is bottle feeding. You will also need to burp the baby many times while feeding.

Can the baby eat solid food while in the car seat?

For toddlers, you might have to stop the car every time they ask for a snack. However, you should always avoid foods that cause choking, such as grapes, candy, carrots, popcorns, nuts, and much more.

Since these items can cause choking, you should not feed the baby in the car. If you have to stop the vehicle immediately, these items can be lodged into the baby’s mouth. Also, avoid messy foods, always opt for snacks that are travel-friendly.  You can buy baby pouches; they are great for the car and don’t require clean-up. 

Conclusion

Can you feed your baby in the car seat? We have answered that question in this article. In addition to that, we have also discussed several tips on how you should travel with a baby that needs to be bottle-fed. Try to be as careful as possible; safety always comes first, and always keep an eye on your baby, especially in a moving vehicle.