More than 30 mins in car seat?

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I've been looking online for info but can't find it anywhere. I know the recommendation is that babies are not in a car seat longer than 30 minutes (I think the manufacturers say 2 hours) but I want to know at what stage my daughter can safely be in the car seat longer than this?

Looking to make a 4 hour round trip to visit family. My daughter was born slightly premature at 36 weeks if that makes any difference.

I think it's from a few months old when their head isn't so wobbly. Our DD was doing a 2.5 hour trip down to in laws with no break from about 3 months old. Before that we stopped every 45 mins to 1hr.

We did a 250 mile trip when DD was 6 weeks, stopping every 30 mins for 10-20 mins (I was pumping every 2 hours at that point).

If you have the funds, could you get one of those carry cot car seats that lie flat? I am unsure about the rules on resale after but it might be an investment.

How old is she?

Personally I'd stop 3 times if under a couple of months; twice if she's a bit older. Obviously more if you feel you need it!

As far as I understand, the study you've read about recommended 30mins max for newborns but didn't state what that meant. The recommendations haven't become official guidelines yet though.

@teaandbiscuitsforme she's only 3 weeks right now so I know we won't make the trip for another few weeks at least.

A consultant paediatrician once told me that the car seat time limit was nonsense considering how squashed up babies are prior to birth.

I had to make a 4 hour trip when my DD was 3 weeks and we had two stops. I sat in the back with her and we made sure she had a good break from the car seat.

It's obviously your call and it would be reckless for anybody to tell you that 2 hours will be absolutely fine because there is a risk, but I found this quite a good read: erfmission.com/90-min-rule/

@thumbcat

Yes but the difference is they don't have to breathe for themselves in utero do they.... STUPID remark frankly

OP- I read the original study this sprang from. But it was a very small sample, didn't separate preemies from full term and only said that after 30 min, there might be breathing problems, having used a simulator

BUT, DS couldn't do a 90 minute journey in one chunk anyway for months- we didn't go straight after feeding as he tended to projectile vomit if we did so he'd be screaming hungry by half way and it was intolerable

I was about to say the same thing as you brighton - before birth oxygen is supplied through the placenta! From what I understand the oxygen supply drops after 30 min in a car seat from babies being in a slightly slumped / head forward position.

If you are going to travel, certainly have one of you stay in the back of the car so you can check their head positioning.