Travelling in car with 3 week old newborn

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Hi all

Looking for some advice on travelling with a newborn.

My daughter is 3 weeks +2 days old.

I've checked online websites say no longer than 30 mins should a baby be in the car seat, my HV said 45 mins max.

I'm travelling to the Lake District which is 2 hour drive for me. My partner will be driving, I will be sat in the back of course. If we was to stop every 30-40 mins at the services and take baby out of the car seat and hold her upright/ lay her down in the back of the car for a stretch for 10 mins each stop would that be ok?

Any advice would be fab!

Thanks

It’s fine. I would personally just drive the whole way if baby is asleep, otherwise plan to drive 1 hr, stop to feed and drive again. It’s because oxygen levels can drop at angle they are sat at in seat, but if your in the back watching her, you would see if she’s having problems breathing.

It’s mainly to stop people using car seat on pram instead of lay flat part. As many might use all day with small newborns out and about.

Personally would drive the whole way, we un-knowingly did this with having a travel system would drive to shops snap baby on pram and he would remain in the pram for 3 hours+. It was only until we came to driving a long journey that I said he cannot be in the car seat for a long period of time and my partner pointed out that he is often. As long as you’re with LO and they are all fine then shouldn’t be a problem. But if you’re worried, take them out for your own peace of mind

My baby was premature and at 6 weeks old she was newborn size and the hospital nurse told us that with a two hour drive stop once half way and stretch her out for at least half an hour or so as it’s being scrunched up at that age which isn’t good.
Also dress her in less layers with the idea that you can add and remove a blanket if needed as car seats are very hot for them and weather is fairly warm at the moment

The Lullaby Trust says two hours max, info here.

I always heard it was 2 hours unless it’s changed in the last 2 years. MIL is 2.5 hours from us so we used to just make a point of stopping halfway for a change and a feed.

It will be fine, especially if you are sat in the back watching her. We drove a 3 and a half hour drive with one stop when DD was about 5 weeks old.

Why sit in the back?
And the advice is 2 hours, although happy to be corrected.

The advice I was given was 45 minutes but that was 13 years ago. We did more or less what you described in the op.

We were told 20 mins for the first month & then 2 hours from a month old. Our LO is 5 and half weeks, we will be going to see his grandad tomorrow which is 3.5 hours drive. We plan to stop once on the way there & once on the way back for 15-20 mins so he can stretch out.

See if any of your friends have a lie flat car seat you can borrow for the trip there is no time limit as they are flat like they would be in a cot.

We drove 4 hours when my littlest was 2 weeks old. My midwife and health visitor both said it would be fine. We just stopped when we needed to. Little one let us know when he wanted feeding and then toddler needed food / toilet etc. I think we stopped twice on the four hour journey (meaning it took nearer 6 hours!).

Just stop if she wakes up. No need to sit in the back! Don't get into bad habits early on.

The official advice is 2 hours do to position of the spine. However research conducted into oxygen deprivation in car seat for new borns was halted early because the results were alarming and it would have been unethical for them to continue the research. It is from this study that the 30 min suggestion comes from.