A mother is warning others about the dangers of napping in car seats after her 17-month-old daughter died that same way.
In June 2015, Lisa Smith received a call while she was at work from the babysitter watching her daughter Mia who said the toddler hadn’t woken up from her nap.
She later learned that Mia had been put to sleep in a car seat inside the house and had slouched forward, which cut off her airway and suffocated her.
Now Lisa, from Aledo, Texas, said she hopes that by spreading awareness, she can educate parents and prevent other children from dying this way.
Mia Smith, 17 months (left and right) was put to nap in car seat by her babysitter in June 2015. After she didn’t wake up, she was rushed to the hospital, where she died two days later
The Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death as mechanical or positional asphyxia. Positional asphyxia when a person cannot get enough air to breathe because of the way his or her body is positioned. Pictured: Mia’s mother, Lisa
Mia’s death was ruled as positional asphyxia, which is when a person cannot get enough air to breathe because of the way his or her body is positioned.
When a car seat is used in a vehicle, the seat is secured to a base at an angle where a child’s airway is open, according to West Bend.
But when that car seat is not in the car and on a flat surface, it is not at the same angle and a child in the seat could slouch forward due to the weakness of their neck muscles, cutting off their air circulation.
If the child is not repositioned soon after being found slouching, a lack of oxygen could result in brain damage and, in some cases, death.
According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers looked at deaths of children under the age of two that occurred in carrying devices between 2004 and 2008.
Of the 47 deaths, 31 occurred while in car seats. The researchers found that 48 percent of the car seat deaths were due to positional asphyxia.
When a car seat is used in a vehicle, the seat is secured to a base at an angle where a child’s airway is open. But on a flat surface, it is not on the same angle and a child in the seat could slouch forward due to the weakness of their neck muscles, cutting off their air circulation. Pictured, left and right: Mia
The babysitter, Valerie Wackerly (pictured), was arrested and, in January 2016, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. She was sentenced to three years’ probation
On June 10, 2015, certified day care provider Valerie Wackerly called 911 after Mia didn’t wake up from her nap.
When officer and EMTs arrived at the Smith’s residence – which was in Pella, Iowa, at the time – they found Mia unresponsive and Wackerly trying to revive her via CPR.
Mia was first taken to Pella Regional Health Center before she was transferred to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.
The toddler passed away on June 12 and the state Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death as mechanical or positional asphyxia.
An examination later discovered that Wackerly had left Mia sleeping in the car seat in a dark room in the house, reported KCCI.
But the lower strap was not buckled and Mia slid down, which cut off her airway.
Lisa said that she had always assumed Mia napped in a crib and had no idea Wackerly was using a car seat.
Wackerly was arrested and, in January 2016, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
That April, she was sentenced to three years’ probation and is unable to provide daycare services during that period.
Wackerly is also required to record a PSA on the dangers of sleeping in a car seat at the request of the Smiths. Pictured: Lisa and Chad with Mia
Lisa and her husband Chad have since moved to Aledo, Texas, where they are raising their two sons. Lisa (pictured) says she tries to educate other mothers to prevent another tragic death from occurring.
She was also ordered to pay a civil penalty of $750, as well as $150,000 of restitution to Mia’s parents and the family’s medical costs.
Wackerly is also required to record a PSA on the dangers of sleeping in a car seat at the request of the Smiths.
‘We can’t change what happened to Mia, but we can try to protect others,’ Lisa told KCCI.
Lisa and her husband Chad have since moved to Aledo, where they are raising their two sons.
She told WFAA that she tries to educate other mothers to prevent another tragic death from occurring.
‘I walk around town and see people using a car seat on the seats at restaurants or putting them on the floor at tables,’ Lisa said.
‘I literally walk up to people and I say: “You know, I had a daughter who was seventeen-and-a-half months who passed away and I just want you to be really careful”.’