Page 5 | Can a newborn travel in a car?

northerngirly · 2025-01-31T10:55:22+00:00

For various reasons it looks like I will be giving birth in a hospital 2.5 hours from my home. It looks as though that will be the best option for my pregnancy. What I’m confused about is can a newborn travel in a car for that long home? Obviously we will stop a lot but is it dangerous? What happens if I have no choice but to do that? Can anyone give any advice?

Tiredalwaystired · 31/01/2025 12:31

northerngirly · 31/01/2025 11:15

This is definitely an option we’ve considered too, maybe 3 or 4 nights to take baby to a week old possibly. But cost and comfort - I wonder if I’d just rather be at home.

Also I don’t think I’m going to breastfeed so that would be easier at home.

Show quote history

Oh gosh I’d far prefer getting out of the car for a five minute stretch a couple of times than not have all my own things around me!

Chances are you may have to stop for a feed part way through the journey anyway, so that will be a stretch out of the seat.

OP it’s not optimum, but it’s what you have to do. You have to get used to everyone having an opinion. It’s advice, not instruction.

if you think logically, how many kids do you know with mobility issues due to a single long drive?(back when I was a baby we didn’t even have car seats!).

A couple of short breaks en route (a chance for a coffee and to show baby a bit of the world) and you’ll be back in your cosy home in no time!

NerrSnerr · 31/01/2025 12:33

@MinnieBalloon of course it is. The discussion usually goes better when people actually engage their brain. Why put that emoji about the OP being in hospital for 3 days? You surely must be aware that there are many, many reasons why someone may need to be in slightly longer after birth, even if you didn't experience that?

LadyVioletCrawley · 31/01/2025 12:33

20 years ago we did 5hr drive, with 1 short stop, for a family wedding with 6week old. Never thought a thing about it. DS slept whole time. Don’t remember any guidance back then!

Katiesaidthat · 31/01/2025 12:35

MIne did, an hour away actually, just stop halfway and perhaps another time for rest.

Babyboomtastic · 31/01/2025 12:36

Mel2023 · 31/01/2025 12:30

Sorry I should have said every 30 mins or so for 15 mins, not 20 - typo! But yes we didn’t stick to 30 mins max per day guidance we were told as we needed to stay with my family, so we made sure we stopped every 30 mins (journey did take most of the afternoon, we just took it slow) and as I said to OP she has to get home so it’s just a case of stopping as much as she can. In this situation there is no way she can stick to the guidance when they need to get home. It’s a case of doing what you can with the situation you have. We stuck to not in a car seat for longer than 30 mins for each stretch of the journey. So we did stop a lot but I actually found it was more or less in line with baby getting fussy/ feeding/changing/ us needing to stop for one reason or another. Tbh 3 days post c-section she’ll need to stop herself to get out and stretch. I needed it at 2 weeks pp.

Show quote history

I don't think it's necessarily an issue after a section. I think it depends on recovery. At least I had zero pain or discomfort in doing a stretch of an hour at 5 days postpartum. But I was fortunate in my section recovery and was back to normal within a few days. There is a huge spectrum of recovery though and she won't know until she's there.

More importantly though, what is the evidence for the 30-minute rule? On average, how many lives does it save a year? A safety rule should have measurable outcomes. Everything I've read indicates the problem is with positional asphyxiation, and if you start in the back with them, you can keep an eye on where their head is.

Okdaisy · 31/01/2025 12:36

Tiredalwaystired · 31/01/2025 12:31

Oh gosh I’d far prefer getting out of the car for a five minute stretch a couple of times than not have all my own things around me!

Chances are you may have to stop for a feed part way through the journey anyway, so that will be a stretch out of the seat.

OP it’s not optimum, but it’s what you have to do. You have to get used to everyone having an opinion. It’s advice, not instruction.

if you think logically, how many kids do you know with mobility issues due to a single long drive?(back when I was a baby we didn’t even have car seats!).

A couple of short breaks en route (a chance for a coffee and to show baby a bit of the world) and you’ll be back in your cosy home in no time!

Show quote history

The risk is asphyxiation, which can be fatal, not mobility issues..

rainydays03 · 31/01/2025 12:37

Bloody hell all this scaremongering - nobody and i mean nobody stops every 20 minutes to get their baby out the car seat. Honestly baby will be fine to get out once an hour. As long as you get a decent car seat where baby’s head has enough tilt back for airways to be open, honestly you’ll both be fine. Don’t overthink it xx

Maray1967 · 31/01/2025 12:37

toastofthetown · 31/01/2025 11:06

Personally, I’d be happier on the train with the baby than in the car. You can move the baby around and attend to them when they need instead of needing to wait until the next services. I’d probably look at booking first class too - fewer people around and more comfortable for you.

Show quote history

I wouldn’t. Having to change nappies on the train will not be great. Walking up and down carriages to find a vacant toilet - not ideal. The back seat of your car would be better if you can’t get to a services on time.

I didn’t know there were lie flat car seats but that sounds the best option.

Maray1967 · 31/01/2025 12:38

And yes, you should be in the back with baby.

littleblackcat247 · 31/01/2025 12:39

LostittoBostik · 31/01/2025 11:08

You need to take breaks every 20-30 mins

Why is that?

Zone2NorthLondon · 31/01/2025 12:40

You can buy premix formula in cartons,easy to use , no faff
lay flat car seats are great for babies when you’re on a journey

JustAskingThisQ · 31/01/2025 12:42

Maray1967 · 31/01/2025 12:37

I wouldn’t. Having to change nappies on the train will not be great. Walking up and down carriages to find a vacant toilet - not ideal. The back seat of your car would be better if you can’t get to a services on time.

I didn’t know there were lie flat car seats but that sounds the best option.

Show quote history

Can you imagine all the business men who have done everything to avoid their own crying babies dealing with your brand new baby in 1st class?!

SharpOpalNewt · 31/01/2025 12:43

rainydays03 · 31/01/2025 12:37

Bloody hell all this scaremongering - nobody and i mean nobody stops every 20 minutes to get their baby out the car seat. Honestly baby will be fine to get out once an hour. As long as you get a decent car seat where baby’s head has enough tilt back for airways to be open, honestly you’ll both be fine. Don’t overthink it xx

Indeed and one of them can sit in the back with the baby. That's what we always did for longer journeys.

Ceecee2422 · 31/01/2025 12:43

The problem is you’re scrunching up their windpipe in a usual car seat so that’s why they now say only 30 mins………if you can find one of those lay flat seats someone was on about or keep doing regular stops and take the baby out you will be fine but I wouldn’t just leave a day old baby scrunched up for 2.5 hours……..

Bromptotoo · 31/01/2025 12:44

Completelyjo · 31/01/2025 11:00

Whole heartedly disagree with the previous poster. A newborn should not be in a carseat for more than around 30 minute, certainly not on day one when they are so scrunched and it’s hard to have them comfortably in the car seat full stop.
If you’re going to do this you need to stop regularly and take the baby out.

Really consider your choice to use a hospital 2.5hrs away imo.
You could have an emergency c section and a car journey will be agony, or stitches which could be just as bad, you could have a longer stay and it’s a 5 hour return journey for someone to bring you more things.

How the hell do you know there was a choice or, if it was the choice was a real one.

Catapultaway · 31/01/2025 12:44

We had a lie flat car seat, was great as often had to do long journeys. Think the recommended time was fine for 2 hours... so 2.5 would be no issue.

PemberleynotWemberley · 31/01/2025 12:45

Twins born at KC London, home in North Yorkshire so several hours drive to get them home after three weeks in SCBU but still three weeks before their due date.
We stopped for a couple of hours at Leicester Forest and the lovely people in Days Inn gave us a room where they could feed and kick on the floor.
You wouldn't plan this given lots of better options but no harm was done. They did have good lie-back carriers and slept pretty much the whole way. To my mind the benefits of the obstetric care given at KCL far outweighed the issues of the journey and tye hospital staff didn't quibble.

FindusMakesPancakes · 31/01/2025 12:45

rainydays03 · 31/01/2025 12:37

Bloody hell all this scaremongering - nobody and i mean nobody stops every 20 minutes to get their baby out the car seat. Honestly baby will be fine to get out once an hour. As long as you get a decent car seat where baby’s head has enough tilt back for airways to be open, honestly you’ll both be fine. Don’t overthink it xx

This.
I cannot imagine having a baby these days with all this terror and 'rules' about every aspect of daily life.
Recommendations are only that, not absolutes. And even then, they are about infinitesimally small increments of health improvement.

Yet more ways to pile guilt onto parents.
This whole thread is full of contradictory advice and recommendations. What happened to common sense?

Original poster

northerngirly · 31/01/2025 12:46

MinnieBalloon · 31/01/2025 12:20

Why will you be in there for 3 days after?

I’ve had both an emergency csection and a planned csection, and was out 24 hours after both.

Show quote history

Because I know the amount of time I’ll be in the hospital, due to the reasons why I’m travelling further to be at the hospital!

OP posts:

SharpOpalNewt · 31/01/2025 12:46

FindusMakesPancakes · 31/01/2025 12:45

This.
I cannot imagine having a baby these days with all this terror and 'rules' about every aspect of daily life.
Recommendations are only that, not absolutes. And even then, they are about infinitesimally small increments of health improvement.

Yet more ways to pile guilt onto parents.
This whole thread is full of contradictory advice and recommendations. What happened to common sense?

Show quote history

Common sense seems to have escaped the posters suggesting that going on the train is better with a newborn.

Original poster

northerngirly · 31/01/2025 12:47

Guys I honestly can’t thank you enough for all the advice, I was feeling really anxious when I posted but feel so much calmer now. I’m so grateful.

OP posts:

Original poster

northerngirly · 31/01/2025 12:48

PemberleynotWemberley · 31/01/2025 12:45

Twins born at KC London, home in North Yorkshire so several hours drive to get them home after three weeks in SCBU but still three weeks before their due date.
We stopped for a couple of hours at Leicester Forest and the lovely people in Days Inn gave us a room where they could feed and kick on the floor.
You wouldn't plan this given lots of better options but no harm was done. They did have good lie-back carriers and slept pretty much the whole way. To my mind the benefits of the obstetric care given at KCL far outweighed the issues of the journey and tye hospital staff didn't quibble.

This is hardcore! Thank you for sharing; this made our journey feel manageable.

OP posts:

Ceecee2422 · 31/01/2025 12:49

They changed the advice to 30 mins because they did research that showed that 348 babies died during the study due to being in sitting devices for too long, thats why they now say 30 mins to new parents, it’s up to the parents judgement what they do about that……..

Unrelated38 · 31/01/2025 12:52

You would need a very good lie absolutely flat seat.

Hoolahoophop · 31/01/2025 12:54

Our baby was born in a hospital 2 hours away from us, then had open heart surgery in another hospital 2.5 hours away two weeks after. Another two weeks after the surgery they were transferred to our local hospital. A 2 hour drive, we expected ambulance transfer (as they had before the OHS). They put us all in a taxi with a very ropey looking car seat. As with @PemberleynotWemberley not ideal but the benefits outweighed the negatives.

Leaving your baby in a car seat for long periods on a regular basis is definitely a no no. But I suspect a one off journey home will not cause any issues. The train I would not risk with a newborn who has not yet had any vaccinations. Especially if any of the reasons for the 3 day stay in a specialist hospital are due to baby.

All the best for a simple and safe delivery and a happy healthy baby.