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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Carseats on pram frame

140 replies

GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 10:17

I've seen a lot of people using a car seat on the pram frame instead of a carry cot. Now obviously if you drive baby will have been in seat then taken from car and onto frame. But I've also seen someone describe it as barbaric to use a car seat attached if they don't drive and should only use carry cot.

Is it barbaric? Should people only use car seat part if they drive? Would you ask everyone that has a car seat on a frame if they drive?

OP posts:

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/10/2021 10:57

I used to wheel DD on her car seat on her pram, as she had terrible reflux and would be screaming in pain when lying flat. I kept the time to a minimum and as we hardly went in the car (live in inner London) I expect she was in the seat for far less time than many babies who live in places where they have to be driven everywhere.

^^
This! I was going to say, there might be lots of reasons why it’s sometimes necessary.

TurnUpTurnip · 22/10/2021 10:58

I use to use mine on the bus so I guess that’s how people would know with me but no one ever said anything, people aren’t anywhere near as vocal in real life as they are online.

Original poster

GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 11:01

@Bambam2019

Barbaric? Oh, please!!!

Honestly that's what she said, I asked her to clarify if she meant that and yes she did. When I pointed out the 2hr thing she said that's for a car not on the pram. I didn't think there was a difference really.

OP posts:

Beefmeupscotty · 22/10/2021 11:02

I don't think your acquaintance understands the meaning of barbaric OP.

It's generally not advised to keep them in car seats for too long, 2hrs max. But if you've just popped to the shops quickly or something, not a problem and a lot easier in the early days.

Original poster

GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 11:04

It's also a lot easier to get to the basket underneath with the carseat part on it. She's probably in the carseat longer going to my parents in their car than she is going to the shops with me

OP posts:

BrumBirth · 22/10/2021 11:05

Our pushchair doesn’t have a carry cot attachment. It doesn’t exist. DS is under 6 months old and I have only ever used it with the car seat.

The newborn insert kept DS’s spine flat, the connection to the base holds the car seat at an angle that is flat, not upright as in the car.

MindyStClaire · 22/10/2021 11:06

If she's happy in the buggy seat I'd just switch to that. It's a rare baby still using the pram at 5 or 6 months IME! If you look on the US websites, they usually say the carry cot is for 3 months and the seat from that point, whereas in the UK they say 6 months for the same buggy. Must be different regs.

Brieandcamembert · 22/10/2021 11:10

Not barbaric but really poor for the baby's development. They need to lie flat initially and then develop core strength (tummy muscles) through sitting and moving and not being cocooned.

By cradling them in a car seat you a minimising the opportunity for normal movement patterns. The same way people don't realise how awful jumperoos are for babies motor development and at worst actually think they are helping by putting them in one

Original poster

GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 11:16

She was always in the pram part when she was newborn (apart from coming home from hospital) its only last few weeks I've started using car seat more. She's currently rolling about her play mat trying to eat the toys on it lol.

Shes also not been in a jumperoo and I doubt I'll get her one now

OP posts:

FartnissEverbeans · 22/10/2021 11:18

I had to use it a lot with DS because I can’t drive, so I relied a lot on taxis (I’m not living in a country with wide access to public transport and it’s very hot here so walking any distance is rarely an option).

What was I supposed to do?

For what it’s worth, DS - and his spine - are absolutely fine now at 5yo.

firstimemamma · 22/10/2021 11:22

I think it's ridiculous to describe it as 'barbaric' but I do disagree with it and think that it's wrong.

TheShades · 22/10/2021 11:22

Calling it barbaric is extreme - and rude! But they are definitley overused. They aren't safe to be used for long periods but I suspect an awful lot of parents aren't aware of that

Original poster

GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 11:22

@MindyStClaire we've only tilted it slightly and she seems to like it. I find she wobbles about in it a lot. Hopefully when we change it fully to the seat she won't be as wobbly.

With my older dd she was in the pram part tull 4 months and then we bought a stroller and had it tilted almost flat for her. So having a pram that converts is a new one. She's not sitting unaided yet so unsure when to covert fully.

P.S love the name!

OP posts:

coffeepleeease · 22/10/2021 11:23

Not barbaric but there are safer options

wonkylegs · 22/10/2021 11:25

Anyone who uses the language and hyperbole of "it's barbaric" immediately would get this and possibly depending on my mood 🖕
It might be less than ideal and there may be other options but frankly they should butt out. For some situations it's absolutely fine, others there are probably better options - it is definitely not barbaric though.

Greenhand · 22/10/2021 11:26

One of mine slept in a car seat with hospital blessing for a period time due to severe reflux. They suggested it. As soon as possible baby was moved to tilted cot but the angle the car seat provided really helped.

Redredwiney · 22/10/2021 11:35

My baby refused to go in the bassinet from around 2 months old. Once he realised he can’t see much when in it, he cried the second he went down, every single time. I therefore used a carrier until he was old enough to use the push chair, but there were times I had to use the car seat, as it was the only way I could push him around.

Totallydefeated · 22/10/2021 11:39

By cradling them in a car seat you a minimising the opportunity for normal movement patterns.

Well you would only be minimising their opportunity for normal development if you had them in the car seat for several hours a day, such that it significantly cut down the amount of time they would be free of it.

If you were talking about a normal amount of time in a pram, say an hour or so a day, I think it would be more accurate to say it might reduce opportunity for development. And that it would be good to ensure they have plenty of eg floor time, the rest of the day, as a counterbalance.

It may not be perfectly ideal, but it’s ok to keep it in proportion.

MindyStClaire · 22/10/2021 11:42

@Greenhand

Mine slept overnight in a bouncer for a couple of weeks for the same reason. I never would have dreamt of doing that before I had DC, or even with DC2 who was a dream baby. Reality intervenes sometimes.

Still got bloody little sleep anyway.

Original poster

GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 11:44

Like I say she's only in it about 40 mins a day.

Has plenty of floor time, sleeps in a moses basket downstairs (just!) And cot at night.

I also find pushing her in the pram part is like pushing a tank. Hopefully when she goes in the converted seat it'll be a bit better otherwise I'll get a cheap stroller for her.

OP posts:

Thefaceofboe · 22/10/2021 11:48

I wouldn’t spent £200 on our car seat if it wasn’t going to be used in the car. And personality I try and use the carry cot as much as possible as my baby looks so hunched up in her car seat.

GrapesAreMyJam · 22/10/2021 11:50

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

rainyskylight · 22/10/2021 11:50

I used to use it for small trips because DD had terrible reflux. If she had a flare up, she'd cry with paid if she lay flat. In the car seat for 30mins whilst I run a chore, fine... We don't drive much though (live in London) so it's not like this was on top of multiple and frequent car journeys.

rainyskylight · 22/10/2021 11:51

ah did not see your post @Totallydefeated. We had the same solution

Original poster

GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 11:54

Ours was less than 200 for the whole thing lol. I remember when pregnant with dd we were looking at car seats and thinking why did we need one, obviously midwife said we need for taking her home but I didn't want to pay 100s for it to be used once. Completely forgetting my dad had a car and would be taking her to their house etc.

OP posts:

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