Car seats

[bigbee]

When does the "maximum of two hours in a car seat" rule no longer apply?

We are planning a trip from Scotland to East Anglia when baby will be just over two months old. It's a 10 hour trip. There is an option of breaking the journey up and staying in a hotel, but it will still be two 5 hour drives.

We are concerned that baby can't be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours at a time.

Does anyone know, at what age can you leave a child in a car seat for longer than 2 hours?

 

[El1en]

I asked a similar question when I was pregnant as we are thinking of having a couple of nights away and a 4/5 hour drive. The ladies on here advised it would be okay as it's not an every day occurrence and just to take plenty of rest stops for a stretch/nappy change/feed/cuppa

Not official advise or anything but that's what I was told

 

[Orion]

It's about the development of their spines etc so the advice is (written on a sheet given by my midwife) that they can have longer journeys once they've developed to the point of being able to sit up unsupported. I think that's around 6 months old on average.

 

[OMGbabyno3]

I think the guideline is there so you don't sit them in car seat all day every day.

I have taken mine on. Long trip (4.5 hours) and stopped for a quick wee and nappy change,

We're about to drive through spain too which is 9.5 hours, we'll stop overnight once and break when Gabriella needs feeding. May go over 2 hour rule but it's a one off.

 

[beckyboo1]

There's no hard and fast rules- like most things it just a guidance.
Tbh even if you split the journey up, you'd still have to stop to feed baby so that would be a break for them

It's not something that you do every day/week so to me it wouldn't be an issue xx

 

[littlemonkey]

There's no hard and fast rules- like most things it just a guidance.
Tbh even if you split the journey up, you'd still have to stop to feed baby so that would be a break for them

It's not something that you do every day/week so to me it wouldn't be an issue xx

WSS^^^

You're going to have to stop to feed baby a few times, so by the time you do that, get them changed and have a brew yourself they will have had a decent break from the car seat.

 

[mrswoody]

I live in Somerset and travel a lot to visit our family back home in Scotland, a 8 hour drive. I've done this trip with both my girls when newborn and now a toddler.
We stop every 3 hours or so anyway for a leg stretch, toilet, coffee etc
I never usually do more than 4 hours as we get bored too and also baby/toddler want feeding too.

I am on the line of thinking that we don't do it everyday so therefore the odd trip where they are in the seats for more than 2 hours won't harm them. x