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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
SleepingStandingUp · 22/10/2021 13:46

There's also the issue of what you'd do in an emergency if you've only got baby in the flat cot bit and you need to get a taxi. Legally you don't need a car seat but from a safety perspective, I wouldn't want a newborn or young baby in my arms in a taxi

SylvanasWindrunner · 22/10/2021 13:50

We had a lie-flat car seat and used it all the time on the pram. We didn't bother buying the carrycot attachment. Will do the same when DC2 is born. We found it extremely convenient.

MaryShelley1818 · 22/10/2021 13:50

Well I wouldn't do it personally. I hate seeing car seats clipped into frames, car seats are to keep your baby safe in the car, they're a necessary item if you drive.
I specifically went out of my way to buy a pram which didn't have that option as I didn't want to be tempted into being lazy and just clipping it on instead of putting the baby in a safer more comfortable seat such as the pram or pushchair seat.
Barbaric is a bit over the top but unless you're doing it for a specific reason (e.g. Hospital advised due to reflux like some posters) then I wouldn't.

takenforgrantednana · 22/10/2021 13:51

[quote Heronwatcher]@takenforgrantednana perhaps you could share the studies since we are all such novices, especially since I have had 4 kids in the last 10 years! Do you know what we’re talking about when we say travel system- we don’t mean a seat bunged into a pram? And on your “angle theory”surely this will depend on the brand of seat and chassis anyway- I must remember to take my compass and protector next time I go out in the car. And nothing you’ve said makes me think that there is anything barbaric about a trip of 40 mins in a travel system for a 5 month old baby.
Did you mean to refer to a “pillow” for a 6 month old baby above BTW?[/quote]
@Heronwatcher of course i know what a travel system is! and i have owned8 of them! along with 10 vintage prams! you know proper silvercross ones that you cant get in a car! along with the fact my daughter works for a major retailer worldwide!

the angle theory" no apart from the cheapie rubbish gracos they all can move, some better than others but you can alter the angle on them nontheless.

and yes to the pillow support

the best car seats in a car tend to be the ones in the basic cars, the ones with the very hard seats, any that have nice soft close fitting seats are bloody awful when it comes to supporting babies car seats that sink into them even if you use the car seat base with the leg at the front, they still end up tilting the baby seat so the back is raised at a more straighter angle

and not once have i agreed the term of barbaric was suitable in this post, although it does highlight that their are problems in the use of the seats if they arent used correctly for short amounts of times

takenforgrantednana · 22/10/2021 13:53

@FortniteBoysMum

Babies especially new born should not be in carseats for long periods of time. It can damage their spine and potentially cause breathing issues. If your taking baby in the car and running in the shops it's fine, if your going for a long walk then use the carrycot that's what it's designed for.
thankyou! this is what i have said from when i started commenting on this post!
DeepaBeesKit · 22/10/2021 13:55

I did this because DD was really really tiny due to growth restriction. When she got to the age where they want to be a bit more upright and able to see out, she was just swamped in the seat part of my pushchair. The car seat was a really good compromise, she was able to be a bit more upright and could be safely strapped in (not possible in the carry cot).

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 13:57

I do use carry cot for longer walks etc. I have already said that.

I also posted the comments from the person who judged me. Funnily enough on the thread there was another mum who used a carseat on a frame and nothing was said, I wonder if it's because I said I don't drive and use it.

OP posts:
DeepaBeesKit · 22/10/2021 14:01

Oh and I probably got judged to high heaven because at 6m old she was the size of a 2m old.

I continued to get judged now based on people assuming she is a good year younger than she is until she opens her mouth and never stops talking.

It's like no, I have not potty trained a 12m old, she is just really fucking tiny and yes, people like her are why knickers are sold in tiny sizes in h&m and they are a godsend.

People have a lot of reasons to do things and yabvu to expect they are all bad.

sleepingrabbits · 22/10/2021 14:06

@EatYourVegetables

Yes it is. Tiny kids should not be in car seats for long, a flat surface is much better for them (for breathing etc).
Well if your baby has reflux, bad wind or just screams at being laid flat then the car seat is a better option. Both my DC preferred the car seat as they were incredibly nosey even early on and liked looking out. They weren't in it for longer than an hour or so on a walk, I often used a carrier instead.

You can judge away but it's the parents choice.

RobinPenguins · 22/10/2021 14:07

It’s not barbaric but tbh it’s not great, unless it’s necessary.

confuseddotcom1234 · 22/10/2021 14:12

I would think a lot moving her to the seat to be honest. Neither of my boys stayed in the carrycot after about 4 and a half months because they wanted to be able to see. Car seats have a use on a pram frame but actually not something I have done much with either of mine and not when not driving somewhere but everyone does things different and that's fine.

Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 14:24

She can't sit unaided yet which is why I've put it off a bit. I may try it over the weekend and see how we get on. She is very nosy now lol

OP posts:
Original poster
GrandTheftWalrus · 22/10/2021 14:25

Thing is I had her big sister in a stroller at 4 months. But her pram didn't have a car seat adapter etc and the pram was a tank Grin

OP posts:
CornishGem1975 · 22/10/2021 15:03

Ignore them. It's nobody's business but your own.

And by the way, I used car seats on the frame with my children who are now perfectly healthy teenagers, not a deformed spine between them.

Kollamoolitumarellipawkyrollo · 23/10/2021 06:56

@CornishGem1975

Ignore them. It's nobody's business but your own.

And by the way, I used car seats on the frame with my children who are now perfectly healthy teenagers, not a deformed spine between them.

These sort of comments aren’t really helpful. ‘Mine are fine’ isn’t a suitable counter argument to research.

Barbaric was too much but lots of people do not know why car seats shouldn’t be used (where possible) in place of laying flat.

londonrach · 23/10/2021 07:27

Always think the babies look vulnerable in those seats. They heavy. I choose to not use one and very glad I didn't. I get a solid 360 spin back ward facing car seat that lasted four years..love it as so easy to put DD in. Yanbu but not for the reasons you state...

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 23/10/2021 07:35

Barbaric is a dramatic way of putting it but you should only use the car seat due as long as necessary (and be careful about long journeys) and it's not necessary if you're not in the car. Carrycot pram is much safer.

To have a car seat that you only use on the pram frame is a bit weird IMHO

BunnytheFriendlyDragon · 23/10/2021 07:39

Well if your baby has reflux, bad wind or just screams at being laid flat then the car seat is a better option. Both my DC preferred the car seat as they were incredibly nosey even early on and liked looking out. They weren't in it for longer than an hour or so on a walk, I often used a carrier instead.

You can judge away but it's the parents choice.

Having reflux or being nosey doesn't mean it's unsafe to be in a car seat for long periods.

Parents do decide but there is research abs advice on the topic this thread shows many parents make them a choice based on what is convenient for them rather than their child's safety.

PurpleFlower1983 · 23/10/2021 07:41

Barbaric is far too strong a word but I would never use the car seat if I wasn’t going out in the car. I wouldn’t see the point. Just we easy to use the carrycot/seat and obviously much safer.

PurpleFlower1983 · 23/10/2021 07:48

Just to add, I do use the car seat on the frame if I’m going somewhere in the car but only if I know I’ll be no more than 10-15 minutes in a shop or something. Any longer and I would use the main pram.

Each to their own though!

Wineandroses3 · 23/10/2021 07:52

A distant family member brought a newborn to a wedding (2 week old) they say near the front of the room near the DJ during the evening party where his massive speakers were blasting. I couldn’t believe they had the news born their in the car seat on the pram right next to the noise. I did say something, they didn’t listen.

AutumnLeafy · 23/10/2021 08:06

Barbaric is a bit strong!

drspouse · 23/10/2021 08:09

We didn't take our DCs out of the car in the car seat because we used a lie flat stroller or a sling but I used to see parents carrying a car seat, knackering their backs and saying "ooh, slings, so bad for your back".
I got very good at quick transfer in both directions. A ring sling was good for new DD on the nursery dropoff.

WTF475878237NC · 23/10/2021 08:10

I don't agree with keeping babies in car seats outside unless it's very briefly. So I think it should only be for journeys in the car and transfers to and from the destination yes.

rosechocolate · 23/10/2021 08:17

@Otherpeoplesteens

I seem to recall the advice was that a baby should only be in an infant carrier a maximum of two hours at a time.

If a baby is asleep in one when you stop at Lidl on the 15 minute journey home, then an extra 20 minutes asleep in one while you pick up some wine and courgettes won't matter. If they have a two hour nap in one while you lunch, then put them in the car awake for an hour long drive, that's quite a different prospect.

It's even less than two hours now apparently. Recent HV said 15 minutes!
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