How bad is it really to use the car seat on the pram for walks?

[Honeyhoney2]

I live in a tiny top floor flat with no lift. Because of this, we have to leave the base of the pram in the car downstairs and when I’m on my own with my baby I just use the car seat which clips onto it for walks. This is because the carry cot attachment can’t be carried up and down the stairs with the baby in it, and our car is a tiny 3 door so the carry cot doesn’t fit in there, so of I were to use it I would have to carry my baby in one hand and the huge carry cot in the other down four flights of stairs, never mind what else I might be carrying, which is just a disaster waiting to happen imo. When DH is home we use the carry cot as we have enough hands for it, but he works in the office all week and I need to go out everyday or I’ll go stir crazy.

I am aware of the 2 hour guidelines for the car seat and I do a walk of anywhere between 30 mins to an hour everyday. Today in the park another mum decided to come up to me and tell me that it was bad for my baby to be in the car seat when I’m just on a walk. She didn’t really say why, just said it in an accusing manner and walked off. I had half a mind to tell her where to put her unsolicited advise considering she doesn’t know my situation, but now it’s made me worry that I’m doing something that’s unsafe for my DD. In my head it’s no different to a car journey everyday, but maybe that’s not advised either?

was the comment unnecessary or is there truth to it? Is it really bad for my baby for me to have my daily walk with her sitting in the car seat rather than a carry cot? We’re hoping to get a bigger car soon which will solve this issue as I can just leave the carry cot in there and carry my baby up and down the stairs, but for now the car seat seems like the overall safest option as opposed to stumbling down the stairs holding a baby and a carry cot whilst not being able to see my feet! Are there risks associated with using the car seat daily that I don’t know about?

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor you'd leave the baby alone in the flat while sorting the car? (Not saying that's wrong btw - I was a massively anxious ftm and did everything by the book but looking back now I wish I'd been more chilled)

@eurochick there was definitely a warning on ours

All of mine hated lying flat on their backs and we moved straight into the next level seat. This might be better as you can adjust the recline and it’s more roomy? So of your baby falls asleep you could possibly make it flat or almost flat depending on the buggy?

I live in a top floor flat with no lift, so I can empathise!

What you're doing sounds fine to me. It doesn't matter if the car seat is in the car or on a pram, so long as the guidelines are being followed about positioning and timings. Don't let that woman's rudeness knock your confidence!

I leave the pram frame downstairs and carry the carrycot and baby down if we're using it. A good baby carrier or sling is a sanity (and back!) saver though, so I'd definitely recommend getting one.

I think it's the length of time that matters and you sound well aware already.

Some babies do spend way too long in a car seat. Yours isn't one of them. I don't think you say exactly how old your baby is but I know once I started to settle in to the mum thing I used to take mine on the bus so I'd use the car seat on base mode to do that. Maybe less than an hour all told to get to my mum's out of the car seat for the visit and then an hour in the car seat to get home.

Personally I would be using a sling a lot more. Either sling and go for a walk, or baby in sling, and walk with baby in sling to the car.

leave carrycot and pram in car. It can go on back or front seat if needed.

I think car seat is ok for the car. For on prams it’s ok for the odd day longer if your travelling via taxi and easier, or trip to doctor and it’s convenient. But not on a daily every day basis

Its not great for breathing. It also means baby is in a forced curved position. A carrycot or flat pram allows them to stretch out.