Car seats/travel systems

[lemonnmeringuepie]

When my lb was discharged from the neonatal unit, I was told to to avoid having him in his car seat for more than 30 mins (general advice - he was a well baby, just very small). I was told about the impact on the baby's breathing and growth if stuck in one for consistent long periods of time. I bought a travel system but never used the car seat out and about due to this.

Where I live, I see a lot more mums clipping the car seat onto the pram rather than using a carrycot (walking around parks/residential areas/along the coast etc)

Yes I know it's none of my business - I can definitely see the benefit of using the car seat clips when popping in the shops etc, but I wondered if this ever bothers anybody else when seeing them used for long periods of time?

30mins is just when they are newborn.
I have one. And rarely use the car seat on the chassis. But there are times when I need to pop to local shops. So drop DS to sch. If baby asleep I just clip the seat on. Run in the couple of shops and back in car.. She's not in it for long at all. Maybe 45-60min.
Some people live 30plus min from leaving the hospital or could get stuck in traffic

@MarmiteAndCheeseRolls oh, I didn't actually realise it was just newborn! And maybe because my lb was very premature it felt like he was newborn for months, and that's where I've gotten confused. Thanks!

The 30 minutes is when they are smaller, after the newborn stage I think they recommend not longer than 2 hours. However sometimes you need to do long journeys and as pp mentioned some people live more than 30 minutes from the hospital. When he was smaller I would use the travel system if DS was asleep but now he has a bigger car seat.

We bought the Jane Matrix for this very reason, as it can lie flat or stay upright. When in the lie flat position it is the same as a carry cot so there are no time limits. We also have to do a fair few longer journeys and having to stop every half hour would be interesting! I'm sure it's not the worst thing ever, many babies must end up in it for longer if stuck in traffic, just not all the time and not for too long.

I'm just impressed by the mums of bigger babies who still manage to carry around those "baby bucket" handled car seats. I started leaving mine in the car after about 2 months of bruised shins and lugging the bastard thing around.

DD1 was also premature (DD2 was as well but just on the borderline so I tend to forget it) and the only advice I got from neonatal was "got yer car seat - ok see ya... any problems don't ring us - just go to A+E" which was fucking appalling.

I was never told about the 30 minute rule with my 1st, the only time he would sleep (for more than 5 minutes) was in his car seat so I left him for a few hours at a time.

If I had know about it I would have made sure not to, buy it didn’t do him any harm.

Thanks for the replies, I hadn't realised it was just newborns! Makes me wish I made more use of mine now!

Like others have said that's just advice for newborns. Obviously any baby shouldn't spend hours and hours of their waking day sitting in a seat as they have to learn to move; carriers are better for head control etc. but really a walk into town and a stroll around the park in a buggy is absolutely fine and nothing at all to be concerned about.