Car rides - how long?

[Miltonj]

Hello,

I am due to give birth on the 4th sep. around 6 weeks after my due date my Bil and sil are getting married in a different town.

We do the journey very often and usually takes us 1 hour and 20.

Does anyone know how long I can have the baby in the car before taking a break at approx 6 weeks old? My mother in law says she used to take her to in the car for hours and it was fine but that was over 30 years ago!!

Any advice?

You will get different advice. But I believe that many now advise 30 minutes due to the seat compromising the lungs if in a seat too long - whether in car or on pram.

The ‘rule’ is 2 hours, this is guidance also recommended by the Lullaby Trust etc. Also there have been other studies suggesting smaller amounts but lots of differing variables to those studies and conflicting evidence. Guidance says two hours maximum, and regular breaks in any long journey.

1hr 20 you will be fine

Lullaby trust recommends 2 hrs maximum

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/car-seats-and-sids/

Maybe allow enough time for at least one break each way - not least, nappy changes and feeding for the baby, and loo and coffee for you.

I travelled 6 hours away with my 6 week old, but stopped about every hour.

So I was told it's now a 30 minute recommendation however up to 2 hours should be fine although you might find you have to stop and feed baby at 6 weeks baby is likely to be cluster feeding so may not go that long without a feed my first would my second wouldn't 🤦🏻‍♀️

If just do it in one go

I lived further than that from the hospital DD1 was born in.

But you'll just have to play it by ear... Babies are good at needing nappy changes and feeds at awkward times.

I think the guidance is now 30 minutes until they can hold their head up and then two hours after that.

1hr 20 you should be fine but I would break half way just for peace of mind. When my newborn was 6 weeks we drove 6 hours to Scotland, we stopped every 2 hours and got him out, changed nappy, let him have a stretch and fed him. He was brilliant and slept most of the time. We also had a car seat which laid flat and that helped a lot.

Brill! Thank you all for the advice, looks like we'd probs be okay doing in one but will take one break anyway!

Was thinking a 80 min journey was gunna turn into a road trip so that's a relief! ☺️