how long can baby safely be in a car seat for a long drive?

[tenar]

We are considering driving with DD from Melbourne to Newcastle, rather than flying. Partly because we'd like to do the drive (DH has not seen it), and partly because I'm worried about the flu and the risk of being in a plane for a couple of hours with 200 other people.

But I wonder how long it is safe for a baby to be in a car seat for at a time. This drive usually takes me about 10-12 hours with breaks. We'd have to take longer breaks than usual because I'd have to feed DD. But it still means about 8-10 hours sitting in that seat in one day. Is that safe or are there health concerns for DD?

She'll be about 2 months at the time we plan to travel (to visit my elderly grandparents).

[Lolli]

Hun if it's a one off trip I wouldn't worry about it at all. I think it would only be if you were doing it on a frequent basis it would be a problem, ykwim? And even then, car seats these days are very ergonomically designed. probably not optimal, but I doubt it would cause any serious damage.

[~Saram~]

Depending on her she travels. Both my kids have done long drives when they are little and did really well. I actually find it easier before they start crawling and walking as they tend to get more restless at that age.

Have some differet things you can put up on the window or the back of the rear seat that will jiggle, rattles, soft bools etc for her awake time - our best investment was a mirror that went on the rear seat so when I looked in the rear view mirror I could see her and she could see me. Plan to have lots more stops and you might even want to have a back up overnight stay option. A couple of times we have done a 10-15hr day without problems but other times we have struggled to get through 8 hrs.

Good luck on the trip

[tenar]

I really don't know how she travels, actually. We don't have a car and rarely use one, so she's only taken a couple of car trips so far, all short ones,and she's just fallen asleep. I guess she'd mostly sleep on a long trip, but maybe I'm horribly wrong about that.

In any case, she'll be twice as old then as now, and no doubt really different. I don't think we can plan her behaviour, just roll with it if she's upset about the car.

What I am concerned about is the impact on her of sitting in a rearward-facing convertible seat for that length of time in one day. I'd hate to hurt her back by making her sit like that for hours and hours.

Are they in a very different position in a capsule, does anyone know? Maybe I can hire or borrow one of those to use for the trip, if it would be comfier for her.

I don't actually even really know what DD's posture etc will be like in a month. Right now she spends a lot more time lying flat on her back than she spends in any other position, so it bothers me that the car trip would involve her being more upright in a near-sitting position for a long time.

Hmm, maybe I'm being paranoid, too. It's always possible, and I'm sure lack of sleep is skewing my judgement at the moment.

[~Raven~]

I think it's possible but I think you have to plan to be prepared to take regular breaks and possibly longer ones to let her stretch out and have some interaction with you. Instead of a 2 day drive then maybe 3. I guess you could do the over night cannonball run but then you have to consider how you'd cope being tired at your destination with a lively bub too.

We've been from Melb to Merimbula with a 5 month old and he did well but had enough at times and let us know about it.

[Oorki Galoorki]

im cocerned about how you might think a rearward facing seat should go?? they dont sit upright looking at the back.. they recline

[tenar]

They kind of recline, but with the one we have, DD is certainly not fully reclined, more like lying at a 45 degree angle.

Unless we have installed it terribly wrongly, that is...

[MantaRay]

I think it would be fine too Tenar. We did Brissy to Melbourne when DS1 was quite young - I can't remember exactly LOL! I think the main thing to note is that the trip could take longer than you plan. As well as stopping for feeds, you might have periods where she is unsettled. As long as you are prepared for that, I think you will be fine.

[PinkPalace]

i dont know if there are health concerns but i have done a 1300km drive a number of times with DD.
The early times we would feed her a bottle as we drove.

so would do most of it 600km in one go, stop stretch etc then get back in and go.

Now a 400lkm trip will take us about 6hrs lol as DD is older and the attention span is less !

[~Saram~]

We have only ever used a convertable seat and IMO I think they look much more comfy than a capsule - I wouldn't bothering hiring one for the trip when you already have a seat.

[ubba82]

I think it is recommended that adults stretch their legs every 2 hours, I guess the same would go for little ones?? Maybe just get her out of the carseat for a cuddle every now and again so she can have a stretch too.

Enjoy your trip!