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Original poster

Doona Car Seat

18 replies

essexanon · 22/01/2020 10:28

Hello everyone,

I am thinking about purchasing the Doona as it will be extremely handy for quick trips to the doctors/corner shops, putting into DH car or Grandads car occasionally.
I also cant park near my house usually so will help with carrying the baby from the car to the house without killing my back (I suffer with back problems)
I have a family member that has one for their 2nd child and wishes they had it for their 1st, they said its the best thing since sliced bread.

My question is- ive read that new borns shouldn't be in a car seat for longer than 30 mins, but it takes me 45mins to get to my mums and an hour to my nans in traffic and I visit them regularly, does this mean I literally need to stop every half hour to get baby out?

my mum said me and my siblings went on long trips as newborns and although they stopped for breaks, they didn't stop every 30mins.

id hate to not visit my family because they live more than 30mins away.

is this accurate? or is this just a very over cautious, scare mongering bit of research?

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PrayingandHoping · 22/01/2020 10:34

It is based on research and having had an 8 week old in intensive care I have seen how positions make oxygen saturation levels drop

But that doesn't mean to say you can't stop half way for a quick break. It's not for long, just until they can control their neck enough not to slump. There were some articles that said it was just the first 6 weeks but that timing was not based on any research at all. The research doesn't give a time it's ok for longer journeys

Mol5 · 22/01/2020 10:35

Hey, i'm pregnant expecting my first so obviously I'm no expert - but in my antenatal class a couple of weeks ago they specifically said "newborns should not be in a car seat for more than 30 mins at a time without being taken out due to squishing their windpipes/suffocation". E.g pull over after 30 min driving and get them out for a few minutes.
So all I am able to follow in terms of experience/advice is that really... I don't think i'll panic if 30 mins of traffic becomes 45 min but I wouldn't invest in a Doona carseat for this very reason because I kind of feel like whats the point of being able to push the baby around the shops "quickly" in the carseat if they have to come out anyway?

Mol5 · 22/01/2020 10:37

I asked about longer journeys and they simply explained it as driving 30 min - pulling over - getting baby out and laying them flat for 5-10 minutes - and putting them back in again to continue the journey in 30 min intervals.

PrayingandHoping · 22/01/2020 10:38

Just had look at a Doona car seat and going on the recommendations I can't see it being useful! I have a cybex iCloud. You can clip it onto many pram bases and then lay it flat. That sounds more useful to you!

Also you'll get many "in my day" comments. I had the same about this exact subject from my MiL! Just refer them to the nhs website it has the research on it.

Annafs · 22/01/2020 10:51

The research for 30 mins is solid and is based on evidence that the airways have a risk of being obstructed in a sitting position for young babies as they often slump over until they have a bit more head control. There is also info out there about not being in a car seat for more than 2 hours at a time and that’s based on spine safety to prevent any bends or breakages as a young babies bones are very soft.

I would just stop at 30 mins on the side if you can, sit beside baby and take him/her out to lay flat on your lap for 5-10 mins. You could also feed/comfort them if needed at this time.

shutupsteph · 22/01/2020 11:31

Does anyone know where I can find info about baby's being in the car seat for 30 minutes? I can only find official advice that says 2 hours. My family all live over an hour away and are already asking when we will take DC to see them (only just hit 40 weeks and showing no signs of exiting!) and I'd rather not give unrealistic expectations.

MrsEG · 22/01/2020 11:46

We were actually told at our NCT class recently that the advice has very recently changed from 30 mins to 20 mins but just for newborns (up to about 8 weeks). After that it goes up to 2 hours but again you should still stop to take them out frequently when they are still small babies. I haven’t looked properly yet but understand there is info car seat travel on the Lullaby Trust website.

PrayingandHoping · 22/01/2020 12:10

@MrsEG there is no research as to what age it's ok to go more than 30 mins. Anything being told is pure speculation.

Snowbear20 · 22/01/2020 12:13

What about getting a Joie i level and a pram frame it can clip too?

jadelouiselaird · 22/01/2020 13:42

I always thought it was 2 hours not 30 min but theres new research being done all the time.

Original poster
essexanon · 22/01/2020 13:57

@Snowbear20 @PrayingandHoping thanks for the suggestions, I will look at these options, although I was trying to avoid having to take the chair off the buggy frame to pop the car seat on and vice versa.
space is limited also in my boot as well as home, so didn't want too much "stuff" if that makes sense.

I will still have a full sized buggy with chair attached in the boot, for days out and long shopping trips, but I cant carry the baby in the car seat from the car to home, with the above suggestions, id be constantly swapping the chair and the car seat over on the buggy frame to suit, whilst in the rain with and with a bad back, and knowing my luck, a constantly screaming child too, would be more stress than I need.

At least with the Donna I can simply pop it out and off we go.

ive noted about the 30min-2hrs thing in the car seat and will stop where necessary for a break.

xx

OP posts:
Snowbear20 · 22/01/2020 14:01

@Essexanon to be honest i found carrying the car seat a major hassle. I used to get DC out of the seat into a carrier everytime, basically lived with a carrier on at all times when he was small. Meant hands free and he was out of the car seat. Would that work for you? Far far far nicer on your back than anything else

LittleTiger007 · 05/04/2021 13:17

@snowbear20 the point with the Doona is that you don’t have to carry it, it has wheels and converts instantly into a buggy.

LittleTiger007 · 05/04/2021 13:18

@essexanon how did you find the doona? We are thinking of getting one

Original poster
essexanon · 05/04/2021 13:31

@LittleTiger007 I didn’t go for it in the end. I just went with my normal travel system (Cybex Priam) glad I didn’t too as my boy is quite long for his age and so he wouldn’t of fit in it for long anyway.
He’s 8 months now and growing out of 9-12 months clothes.
I used our car seat on the buggy chassis for a while and still do sometimes, his car seat goes until at least 15 months so hes still got a way yet until he grows out of it.
Otherwise I just put him in the normal buggy if out or I just carry him to and from
The house now. Xx

OP posts:
purplepoppet92 · 06/04/2021 07:53

I know I'm not really answering the question (sorry!) But I always imagine a doona being a nightmare - if it's raining out you are then wiping muddy wheels on your car seat 🙈

Skymum82 · 06/04/2021 08:13

Sadly my third had to be in the car seat far to long as a new born, I had the maxi coding pebble with new born insert so she laid more.
I also had her in the front with air bags off.
I would have to drop my daughter off at school (5 mins in car 5 min walk). But Emmy son attended a sen pre school other side of town, which would take about 30 mins-40. Then I would drop him of and try and feed her in car and then drive back home. It was awful and twice a day 🤦🏼‍♀️. I have seen someone with the Doona and it looks quite tricky to get in and out the car. I had no issues clipping the maxi cosi on to our pram frame x

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