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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder about babies in car seats?

60 replies

Starryskiesinthesky · 17/03/2018 19:55

Reading on another thread that a baby shouldn't be in a car seat more than 30 minutes. What are you meant to do then? Am i being thick?!

OP posts:
toolonglurking · 17/03/2018 19:58

I think take them out for a stretch, but given that where I live you travel 2.5 hours to the hospital to have a baby, it's a pretty long drive home! We took DC out of their seat about every hour, otherwise it would have taken days to get home!

xyzandabc · 17/03/2018 19:59

Do you do lots of journeys that are over 30 mins? Unless you live very rurally most journeys will be less than 45 mins surely?

If it was a long journey I'd put someone in the back with them to watch them and stop ever 2hrs or so.

Eeeeek2 · 17/03/2018 20:01

Limit driving, stop for breaks. I believe it's for the youngest of babies not for 4 month plus.

In practicality I live 1 hour away from the hospital but I sat in the back gazing in wonder at my newborn so I'd would of noticed if his breathing became troubled.

Original poster
Starryskiesinthesky · 17/03/2018 20:03

Mine are older now so it doesnt affect me but we drove long distances visiting family, holidays etc while they were new borns / babies. Not sure what age they are allowed in for longer.

OP posts:
Amanduh · 17/03/2018 20:04

I took dc for two hours but sat in the back with him

Original poster
Starryskiesinthesky · 17/03/2018 20:06

Doh! I totally didnt realise that watching themor a was ok. Was thinking you couldnt do long journeys without stopping for a set time. I am being thick!

OP posts:
slowsloth · 17/03/2018 20:20

It's fairly new advice. You should stop the car and get the baby out of the car seat for a period of time, I can't remember how long exactly. I'm sure i read something about the worry being the babies breathing being restricted in the car seat position, not necessarily stopping breathing. If the breathing is restricted then it reduces oxygen to the brain.

I don't know how to link but if you google 'bbc baby car seat 30 minutes' then you'll find the article and also an nhs one.

megletthesecond · 17/03/2018 20:23

I didn't have to drive long distances when mine were little, family were all local. But I wouldn't use the car seat on the buggy for that reason. Mine always laid flat.

Bear2014 · 17/03/2018 20:23

You can get car seats that they lie flat in if you do a lot of journeys. But they're quite expensive and we don't do much driving so just went with a standard one.

Chienrouge · 17/03/2018 20:25

I drove 2.5 hours fairly regularly when mine were tiny, I just had regular stops and got them out for a walk around.

April229 · 17/03/2018 20:35

You take breaks obviously and stop every 30 mins minimum or don’t do long journeys before they are 4 months plus. They don’t need to actually stop breathing to cause damage.

I see people ignore this all the time - drive to a supermarket then take the baby round in the car seat.

MuncheysMummy · 17/03/2018 20:38

It’s a real pet hate of mine seeing babies in car seats on prams it’s so lazy! Take them out and put them in a lie flat carrycot or if you really can’t be arsed buy a lie flat car seat at least Angry

deaddeadgood · 17/03/2018 20:43

Yeah it was a pet hate of mine til I had a disabled baby. Don't fucking judge

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 17/03/2018 20:47

A lie flat car seat or pram is also a total nightmare with a refluxy baby. You can't win sometimes...

4strikes · 17/03/2018 20:47

I understand that they shouldn’t be in there for long, but I don’t know why people get so annoyed about it! It is so much easier to get dc2 in and out of the car asleep while doing the school run which takes no longer than 30 mins.

She is a screamy baby and it means she stays asleep and I stay less stressed.

I assume that people who judge have never had to deal with a screaming baby while doing a school run and suffering from pnd. You never know what other mothers are going through and if it makes that journey a little easier for them then that’s great.

Steeley113 · 17/03/2018 21:28

30 minutes?! That’s barely any time. I often do School drop off then drive into town which can take an hour in the traffic. I’m not bloody stopping for a break for that journey Hmm my other 2 kids have survived and I’m sure this one will to.

52FestiveRoad · 17/03/2018 21:39

We had a travel system and the car seat clipped in and turned into a pram. It was many years ago now but I don't remember any warnings about time spent in it. I used to take my baby for really long walks in that pram. She seems to have survived ok.

twistedlolly · 17/03/2018 21:42

We use the train for long journeys. Easier for them to move around, or I can hold them lying down. We tend to take the bus or tube in town although journeys are rarely longer than 30 mins, but it's better for them as they can lie flat in the pushchair or sit on my knee.

Aworldofmyown · 17/03/2018 21:47

Most babies are fine. But the advice stands - in the same way they advise to lay babies on their backs to reduce the risk of cot death.

Some people do use infant carriers far too much. Bringing a baby in asleep etc etc its just not advisable

angelikacpickles · 17/03/2018 21:55

Since when is is 30 minutes? It used to be 2 hours and even then the evidence was sketchy.

It’s a real pet hate of mine seeing babies in car seats on prams it’s so lazy! Take them out and put them in a lie flat carrycot or if you really can’t be arsed buy a lie flat car seat at least

Piss off. Would you seriously wake a baby who had just fallen asleep? And yes, some babies wake up when transferred and do not go back to sleep.

Notso · 17/03/2018 22:01

No doubt this thread will be full of posters saying but my baby lived in their car seat until they were 18 and now they are a seven foot strapping rugby player.
I've never sat in a child seat in my life, I don't think well it never did me any harm and shun them for my kids.
Most will be fine but some babies have died, it is important that parents know the risks to make informed, sensible choices.

Aworldofmyown · 17/03/2018 22:04

angel with my 2nd and 3rd child I didn't buy an infant carrier type car seat. So yes, they were always taken out of the car seat or pram regardless of whether they had fallen asleep.

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 17/03/2018 22:13

Thanks op! Glad I read this, as I didn’t realise the advice had changed from 2 hours to 30 mins for young babies. I’ve just read the bbc article and another one on ‘made for mums’. Both talk about babies under four weeks, not four months. Just wondering where people on this thread got the four month limit from? I ask as I have a two month old, so it’s quite relevant for me.

bostonkremekrazy · 17/03/2018 22:24

@MuncheysMummy @Aworldofmyown some babies cannot lie flat.
My baby is tube fed and MUST be sat 10% upright so baby doesn't choke. Its fairly obviously due to the tube coming out of my baby's nose - but once its in the tummy under clothing it won't be obvious. Please don't judge. I'm far from a lazy mother - i'm an exhausted loving mother of a disabled baby.

sleepymummy1 · 17/03/2018 22:27

@MuncheysMummy I'm pretty sure you'd hate the sound of my DS screaming bloody murder because he absolutely loathes his incredibly expensive carrycot more.

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