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Original poster

Car seats on prams question

28 replies

westlondongirl · 13/12/2009 05:59

I am thinking of buying a car seat that will fit on my pram chassis but am confused about the 2 hours car seat rule. My (newbie) understanding is that babies shouldn't be in car seats for more than two hours (?). So if you were to take your baby out and use the car seat on the pram does that mean they can't be in it for more than two hours from the start of the journey. After the two hours do they have to lie flat for a bit? and how long before you could put them back in again? Have just realised how neurotic this question is but can't work out if its worthwhile having one that attaches or not! Thanks

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lillychristmaspuddingandpie · 13/12/2009 07:41

It's two hours from the start of journey.Use your pram it's so much nicer for the baby and get professional advice about the best carseat for your car.Not all carseats fit safely in all cars.

EldonAve · 13/12/2009 08:14

they are useful if you are doing short trips eg quick drive to the shops as you can then avoid disturbing a sleeping baby

TipsyFairydifferentID · 13/12/2009 08:33

It's 2 hours per day preferably at newborn stage until about 3-4 months.

If it's longer journeys then you need to take a break every 2 hours for at least 20 minutes and baby should be lying flat for some of that as well as feeding/ nappy change etc

RockBird · 13/12/2009 08:39

I used it for tips to Tesco etc when the whole thing was well under 2hrs IYSWIM and I found it absolutely invaluable. As long as you're not driving for hours then walking round the shops for hours then driving back then it should be fine.

AmIreallysayingthis · 13/12/2009 10:15

Not nice to see babies being pushed around in car seats. You see it everywhere though so some people must think it's a good idea. Definitely don't have them in it for long - unless they are VERY difficult to get back to sleep, I would always move them into their pram once you arrive somewhere.

heth1980 · 13/12/2009 14:07

Personally I didn't do it, but with a 2nd baby due in March I'm thinking it might make life a bit easier! I would only ever do it if I was just popping out to the shops etc for an hour or so and not regularly.

bigpreggybelly · 13/12/2009 14:33

Yeah, I think if you're gonna be out for more than 2 hours, you'll need to use a carry cot for the pram when you're not in the car.

decafgirl · 13/12/2009 14:50

I would thoroughly recommend the 'Jane' pram/buggy. We love our 3 wheeler and still use it (DS is 2.5).

The part that is the pram is actually a car seat that lies completely flat so you can move baby from car to buggy/pram and don't have to worry about the 2hour rule.

It was definately worth the money but do test it in your car as it takes 2 seatbelts in the back to keep it secure. Oh, and it then sits upright as a normal car seat so it grows with baby (a 0+) and works as a rear facing pushchair too. Awesome!

Hope it helps xx

EldonAve · 13/12/2009 16:08

decafgirl - are you talking about the Jane Matrix? I thought it got bad reviews from Which

carrielou2007 · 13/12/2009 17:05

It's on of my pet hates that gets me tutting to myself when I see it. Babies need to lie flat. Several friends did this so they could have their babies facing them (so buy a rear facing pram then was my observation)

I used to see lots of mums on school run do it, baby in car seat not disturbed onto the bugy so from a prctical point of view is a great idea for short trips. I used to walk to get my sister's children (a 35ish min walk) and lots of other mums would walk with the car seat on the buggy. Ok when you add up the time it's fine but why not have the baby lie flat??

I personally would go for the safest car seat that is suitable for your car rather than just choosing one that will clip onto your buggy. Several car seats will be compatable like Maxi cosi cabrio fix - one of the best car seats around and you can get adaptors for los of diff buggies for you to clip it on.

SmacOnTheLipsUnderTheMistletoe · 13/12/2009 19:59

first time round I didn't use the carseat on the buggy frame very much but I chose a maxi cosi cabriofix so that it would be compatible and was very happy with that choice. I can imagine that I might do it a bit more when number 2 comes. It's a short walk from the carpark to the family centre where I go a few mornings a week and rather than get the P&T out for 2 I think it will be easier to put the cabriofix on the zapp frame and get DD to walk.
I agree it's only suitable for short trips but if you can imagine nipping down to the shops carrying a baby car seat is hard work, especially if you end up having a c-section.

MumNWLondon · 13/12/2009 20:25

I have a jane matrix, with carrera buggy so can use car seat in and out of car, onto car seat and all the time baby is totally flat.

I have had it for 6 years, haven't seen which reviews although am sure newer version is better than the version we bought in 2003.

Does use 2 seatseats in the car but you can use it rear facing with one car if you are short of space or once baby is 4-5 months old.

dontrunwithscissors · 13/12/2009 21:13

My DD HATED being in a pram from around 6 weeks - she'd scream if we tried putting her in it. Using our car seat on the pram base was a lifesaver, and it appeared to be the only place when out and about that she was happy....

kalo12 · 13/12/2009 21:18

total watse of time in my opinion. i had this but never once used it, never found a need to.

get the pram you want and the car seat you want and forget about them fitting each other

GoldenSnitch · 13/12/2009 21:32

I had heard also that for tiny babies, spending too mach time in a car seat can be a cot death risk. Something to do with thier little lungs being compressed by being curled up in the car seat.

I'm due to have DC2 on Thursday and just like DC1, baby will only be in the car seat when we're in the car - will be lie flat the rest of the time - I just don't want to risk it.

butterscotch · 13/12/2009 22:09

I think they look really chavvy (sorry) I hate seeing babies in them especially places like lakeside! Parents walking around all day in them!

Pram/pushchair that lays falt is better imho.

The reason they recommend no more than 2hrs becuase the baby isn't flat and the crunched up bit of the in the seat can mean they can develop breathing difficulties i.e. Asthma (more so if in the family!)

I had a fixed carseat whilst it can be a pain in someways to be honest I knew putting baby in she was always safe as sit was fixed and secure 100% and if a baby is used to being moved when asleep its easier anyway! they settle quicker as they are used to!! I will be using same seat for baby number 2!

Sorry didn't mean to offend anyone with the chavs comment but it does do my head in when you see babies in them who have been in them for ages....

Meglet · 13/12/2009 22:14

I don't like seeing them squashed up either. I let mine lie flat (even though it meant they were facing away from me). Those things are pretty hefty when clipped to a 3-wheeler, and I had cs's so did not want any extra weight to push around.

decafgirl · 13/12/2009 22:59

hi, the jane we have is the slalom pro. It's a 3 wheeler that turns from the car seat/pram I talked about into a forward facing buggy when your little one is older. We paid just shy of £500 for it with the raincovers but have found it invaluable. Will definately use it for number two. We got ours from john lewis but mothercare sold them at the time too xx

Original poster

westlondongirl · 14/12/2009 09:36

Thanks for all the advice, really interesting. I am now thinking maybe it's not such a big deal. By the time I factor in driving eg to the park and back it wouldn't leave much time for a walk anyway in order to get it all in 2 hours. Plus I want to make sure the little one is comfy.

OP posts:

threeplusone · 14/12/2009 12:13

my car seat was and will only ever be used if I am just nipping into a shop for a few bits..(obviously other than in the car!!) other wise it was always into the pram.. but I am a big fan of babies being laid flat and in prams.. whilst out and about

memoo · 14/12/2009 12:46

This may seem like a daft question but why do babies need to lie flat when they've been quite happy doubled up in side our tummys for 9 months?

GoldenSnitch · 14/12/2009 12:54

They didn't need to breathe in your tummy. They do when they get out and when laid flat there is a lot more space for their lungs to expand.

carrielou2007 · 14/12/2009 12:54

They have not felt very much pressure of gravity as they have been cushioned in their fluid filled amniotic sac.

memoo · 14/12/2009 13:34

Ah right I see.

I have a carrycot for DD who is 12 weeks old that fits onto the pram. It has a dial on the base which if you turn the base rises, its perfect because when we're out and she is awake I can tilt the base for a little while so she can have a good look around.

I do have a carseat that fits on to the pram too. I find it useful for times when I am just nipping to school to pick the kids up because I can just whizz it in and out of the car easily. The maximum time DD is in this though is only about half an hour

weaselbudge · 14/12/2009 14:23

My DS hated being in a carrycot and loved his maxi cosi car seat - i think you just won't know until your particular baby is born whether it would be useful or not. Personally I would get a maxi cosi seat as they are great anyway even if you don't end up using it on a pram - at least you would have the option.
I found it absolutely invaluable.

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