Out and about with newborn

[manyaslip]

Is it safe to take a newborn out and about after 1-2 weeks? Just wondering if we can take our new DC to the airport to greet incoming family at arrivals. The drive is about 30 mins each way. Or is that not advisable / overly ambitious??

If you feel up to it absolutely fine.

Remember they should only be in the car seat for up to 30 mins at a time at that stage - fine if you are going to then have them flat (eg in a carry cot) for a while between the journeys each way.

It's fine but agree about limiting time in car seat when they're so small. Allow time for breaks if need to.

Your bundle has been scrunched up in a bag of water for months. . A cosy drive to meet loving relatives will be lovely!

Fine for newborn just remember you may feel up to it. Took me 6 weeks to be completely pain free after an episiotomy.

Yes it will be fine.

We took DC3 to costa at about 18 hours old

Absolutely fine!
I was out day 3! Needed the fresh air and change of scenery and to give my toddler and run around. Took them both to sainsburys I the car that day to.

Don't worry, absolutely fine

Too

That's fine; just try and straighten them out in a flat pram while at the airport and probably leave extra time for last minute feeds/feed at the airport

Just curious but why the 30 min limit in a car seat ? I'm old so no idea about recommendations nowadays.

The position that many car seats put newborns in can partially obstruct their airway. Extended periods in car seats have strong link to SIDS.

Sorry that should have said *some link, not strong.

I think it's particular issue when babies are still unable to move their own heads.

I had no idea @BluePheasant thanks for filling me in. Thankfully I shall never be responsible for a baby again but it's interesting to know these things.

Is it safe to take a newborn out and about after 1-2 weeks?

It's safe to take them out after 1-2 hours!

The position that many car seats put newborns in can partially obstruct their airway. Extended periods in car seats have strong link to SIDS

This is both correct and entirely incorrect. Deaths can and have occured from airway obstruction due to incorrect use of car seats and other carrying equipment. This however has nothing at all to do with SIDS (if you know the cause of death eg strangulation from the car seat strap, it is by definition not SIDS)

There are concerns about very small babies and breathing issues in car seats. If you do need to make journeys try to have someone sititing next to the baby, and/or make frequent checks on their positioning and breathing.

Thanks for the advice everyone! I guess we should how we feel on the day and follow the advice for safe car travel if we decide to go

You'll be fine. We took ds out at 4 days old to get his passport pictures done and stopped of in a cafe for a bacon sandwich after.

We took DS to a photo shoot & then shopping & lunch when he was 7 days old, to a christening when he was 9 days old, register his birth & Costa at 10 days old, garden centre cafe at 14 days old & a 40th birthday party at 15 days old. He was absolutely fine. At that age all they do is eat & sleep so it really didn't matter where he was. On the other hand I'd had an emcs & the shopping trip on day 7 was definitely a step too far so I took it very easy at the christening & was fine.

As pp have said just factor in some extra time for feeds & changing.

Yes it's fine. We took DD1 for lunch in the local pub at less than 48 hours! DD2 stopped off in Tesco for supplies on the way home from hospital, and we were discharged 5 hours after she was born.

Should be fine, I took my baby shopping 8 hours after he was born. See how you feel. But if all goes well no reason why not!

It's not so much them suffocating from straps etc whilst in car seat when tiny newborns, it's that the position they are in restricts deep breathing and affects their oxygen sats.

NHS link here

Just worth bearing in mind.

Might also be me being a worry wart, but I think with a newborn I'd be a little apprehensive about the sheer volume of people from all over the world and all the coughs and colds and bugs in an airport. I know plenty of other busy places with lots of people, but sheer overwhelmingness of it all on a newborn immune system. Not wanting to put a dampener on anything but just putting a thought up for consideration.

Good luck with the birth OP, and meeting your lovely squishy new baby, I have 12wks to go until DC2 arrives and it can't come round quick enough!

I'm all for going out with newborns but airports are full of germs. It's the place you are most like to get sick and I say this as someone who used to work in a tropical diseases clinic.

I've flown frequently with ds since he was 6 weeks old - to some not very nice places... just make sure your baby doesn't lick the toilet floor in the arrivals hall OP and you'll be fine.

taking baby out at 1-2 weeks definitely but travelling to an airport 30 mins away I wouldn't personally. newborns aren't very comfy in a car seat - DD2 was really scrunched up on drive home from hospital and we waited a good few weeks for car journeys after that. also if you have an stiches then travelling for that long can be uncomfortable.

OP, your baby will.also be fine in a car seat for half an hour. Just make sure the seat is reclined as far as possible and sit in the back with the baby if you're not driving. You can check they're breathing .

The hospital I gave birth in was over half hour from home. Somehow we got back in one piece.

Only firstborns are ever this precious. My number six stopped on way home from hospital to do a Tesco shop. She also accompanied us from Suffolk to Malvern at 5 days for my husband to attend a job interview where wife was also required. Second one was taken into a school assembly at 3 days and passed around lots of children.
Being out and about is good for you both. Why wouldn't you take them out?