Can a newborn use car seat on travel system

[OctMama]

Hi
I’d appreciate some advice, I have a 5 week old baby boy and am going to register his birth on Monday. As I don’t drive and no one is available for childcare I am bringing baby with me but will need to take either a taxi or bus which im not confident with to the city centre.
My travel system comes with car seat adapters and I am wondering if he can use this attached to his pram when I’m out and about. As far as I’m aware the advice is two hours at a time for a car seat but I’m worried it’s not safe and can’t find any advice on using it when he’s not in a moving car!

It will be ok as long as you take him out regularly, which you probably will need to for feeds and nappy changes. Do you have a sling or carrier that you could use instead and just use the car seat for the taxi ride?

Do you have black cabs as you can have baby in his pram rather than in a carseat in them.

I would take the bus option rather than cab and keep him in the proper pram.

I think the advice has been half an hour for a few years. I followed this religiously with my first born in 2017 however with my second I realised that when the car set is in the car, it's quite tilted forwards compared to if its on the pram or on the floor. So I would leave second child in it longer eg for naps when not in the car.

As far as a know there are two risks, one being that the baby being slumped forwards restricts their breathing. The other that they can overheat. So make sure they don't have too many layers on. As a one off your plan is fine. If the baby gets uncomfortable I'm sure there will be opportunities to get them out the seat and hold them for a while. And I'm sure you will be watching them the whole time to see how they're doing.

Thanks for the advice everyone, I did take him in his car seat as a one off as we went by taxi however I got him out as soon as we got to the registration office to feed and regularly after that to feed and change him. He definitely wasn’t in it for more than an hour and a half and he had a sleep suit on and a cardi as we had stormy weather. I definitely would not do it regularly though but I’m sure the older he gets the easier it will be to take him out and about I’m thinking about getting a nice baby carrier for the future!

Aww lovely glad the journey went well. As they get older they can tolerate more time in the car seat, you just have to be careful when they're so tiny. Hope it was a pleasant day and not too stressful 🙂

I would think it’s actually safer for him to be in the car seat attached to the pram than being in the car seat in the car personally, because you’re watching him continuously as you push the pram.

As long as he’s not in it for long periods it’s fine to use it attached to the pram.

Oh dear I’m clearly a terrible mother. I always use the car seat attachments - have done with both dc since birth. Both are fine!

I mean not for hours I should add, but if popping around the supermarket then baby stays in car seat.

Can I ask a stupid question? How do you take a baby in a car seat in a taxi? I’m worried about getting home after giving birth as the parking by our hospital is horrendous and you can easily queue for the hospital car park for half an hour. So I thought maybe a taxi home would be the answer (with husband) but I don’t know how you would secure the car seat!

You secure it with the seatbelt if its a seat you can do that with. Look in your instructions

I would have thought the same way you put it in your own car? Or maybe I’m missing something!

Perfect, thank you. We haven’t bought the seat yet so it’s certainly something to factor in

Please don't worry yourselves unduly ... 20 years ago people kept babies in car seats (in the house) for hours on end, that is what they want to discourage rather than necessary journeys. We drove 3 hours at 12 days old with one stop and it was fine. Always take care not to overdress, babies overheat as well as get cold

@AluckyEllie

Can I ask a stupid question? How do you take a baby in a car seat in a taxi? I’m worried about getting home after giving birth as the parking by our hospital is horrendous and you can easily queue for the hospital car park for half an hour. So I thought maybe a taxi home would be the answer (with husband) but I don’t know how you would secure the car seat!

Hi it’s not a stupid question! I literally worried about this as I don’t drive and didn’t have much practise putting the car seat in and the taxi driver was rushing me when I was trying to get the seatbelt on. I use a venicci car seat and recommend watching video guides on how to get them in securely rather than the manuals they come with there are YouTube videos from most manufacturers and practise with your car so you’ll be confident on the day!

There is always something to worry about as a new mum 😂 and yes the overheating thing and long periods of time is really important, car seats are a necessity though

@Afreshstart2021

I mean not for hours I should add, but if popping around the supermarket then baby stays in car seat.

I think most people do! For short periods of time nipping into the shops/doing school run etc as long as it’s not for hours on end everyday. I think that’s why they come with adapters there’s just not much guidance about taking them out and about and exactly how long for.

I used to bring the carseat in with them still asleep and leave it in the living room until they woke up.

Guidance applies in or out of the car as it's about how the position affects baby's airways

I didn't buy adaptors as I didn't wa t to rely o this abs instead take pram

Our car seat has a lie flat position