3 week old - 3 hour car journey Help!

[Hiphopopotamus]

Looking for some advice - we have to take our (will be) three week old on a three hours car journey next week. How often do we need to stop to get her out of the car seat? I’ve seen everything from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Obviously every 30 minutes would mean a lot of stops! Is there any official guidance o this anywhere? And what have other people done?

Neither is the other option. Depending on the journey the train could be practically empty.

There is a reason for that...

Can I ask where people are seeing official guidance for the 30 minute stopping, as everything official I’ve seen says two hours.

I dont think I ever read it anywhere but it was discussed in detail at the NHS course we attended and then reiterated by both the midwives on the ward before we were discharged and once again when our health visitor came for a home visit post birth. If in doubt I would contact your health visitor to discuss the issue with them.

I do still think a lie flat car seat would be the best option though if you cannot avoid the trip, especially if you have to do the return journey the same day.

It may have been from the research I posted a link to yesterday which stated that:

'The findings suggest spending 30 minutes sat in a car seat while stationary at the lower angle of 30⁰ has minimal effects.

But being placed in a car at the necessary 40⁰ angle, static and in motion, can have significant effects on the newborns' breathing and heart rate.'

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/warning-over-babies-sleeping-in-car-seats/

Had to do a 2.5 hour trip home with newborn 2 days after having an emergency c section
We stopped every 30 mins and I sat in the back
Longest journey ever!

don't overthink it - 20 years ago people had them in car seats all the time slotted onto the pushchair or sat in the house even. Our kids are now adults.

It's not ideal, take a couple of stops of 30 mins but it will be fine

3 weeks old. Has to go on a 3 hour journey. Nope. Baby should be at home in the middle of a pandemic not in a car seat on a 3 hour car journey.

www.madeformums.com/news/newborn-safety-in-car-seats/

Think this is based on a study by the lullaby trust. 30 mins then break at that age. I would, as people above have suggested, look into lay flat car seat or just plan the extra time into the journey. Not worth the risk of damaging those little lungs

I'd take any other option available OP unless i was fleeing for my life, if this is the case my heart goes out to you xx

I’m so glad none of you live really rurally- you’d never go anywhere!
What happens to newborns going home from hospital who have a 2 hour+ drive? It’s done with sensible stops.
OP has already said it’s a necessary journey.

Necessary for whom? The baby?

Yes, if mum has to go and she’s breastfeeding, or if whole family unit has to go.

I wouldn't go. A baby that young should be home. It will be a stressful trip for you all. In whose best interest is doing that?

I'm pretty sure OP isn't doing this trip willy nilly especially with the current situation. There's obviously an important reason for this trip is that really so hard to understand?!

The OP has already said she has to do the trip.

OP didn’t ask for judgement over whether she should make the journey or not. I think as long as you are sitting in the back with baby and you have a couple of stops that will be fine.

Op hasn't actually said the reason for the trio everyone just taking it for granted there must be a good reason for it.
What she deems a good reason may not actually be so it probably is relevant.

But anyway, if I really had to make the trip I'd stop every 30-45muns for at least 15 mins

There is no good reason for taking a 3 week baby in a car for 3 hours during a pandemic ( 13 day old baby died yesterday of Covid) unless it's absolutely essential for the babies medical needs not because you need to go on a 3 hour journey.

I really didn’t ask for judgement over whether we should do the journey - we need to make it and I don’t think I need to go into anymore details about that. I’m really surprised at some of the answers here - surely people travel with small babies all the time? Or does everyone just stay home for weeks after they give birth?

Pandemic pandemic pandemic. Or doesn't 60,000 deaths mean nothing? These are not normal times. But hey up to you. Do as you like everyone else seems to because they have forgotten about Covid. But another couple of weeks when deaths rise as a consequence of mass gatherings and advice not taken and more lockdowns will jog people's short memories.

Also height of summer blistering heat in car despite air conditioning for a baby that has no mechanism to control it's temperature imprisoned in a car seat thus in an unnatural position for babies breathing and backbone for long long period of time and then there's the journey back again. But if it's a matter of life and death for your family to travel I suppose your newborn baby will have to put up with it.

@sostenueto I’m aware there is a pandemic. The close family funeral I have already attended due to Covid really hammered that home. As did the hell of being kept in a post natal ward with no support. I’m two and a half weeks postpartum after a complicated first pregnancy and birth, physically and emotionally all over the place and I’m desperately trying to do what is best for my baby, hence why I’m asking the questions and finding out everything I can in order to do what I have to do as safely as possible. But thank you for kicking down someone in an already vulnerable state - what a helpful input.

Honestly, travelling will be fine, you just need to either get a lie flat seater stop and get your baby out for a bit 1-2 times during the journey. People have to travel, you aren't doing anything wrong by doing so, just take care.

@Hipho Ignore the twats. You don't need to justify yourself to anyone on here.

Sorry to hear about your loss

It sounds like you're a great mum and coping amazingly well in the current circumstances(!)

Hope the trip goes well xx

@Sostenueto you have no idea why OP has to make this journey, for all you know it could be to see a parent for the last time as PP's have said.
There's no need to be so judgemental and rude but hey I hope you feel better for making OP feel even worse about a journey she likely already doesn't want to make!

I’ve done a 2.5 hour journey with a 3 week old by myself, the horror (3 hour with stop)! For a family members birthday party as well, not sure that counts as the life and death reason required on this thread. Actually can’t remember how often I stopped, probably once, maybe twice? Found it easier than later, all my babies turned into absolute car haters once they were past the sleepy stage. With you in the back, I would say every hour should be fine.