Many car seat manufacturers recommend that a baby should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours, within a 24 hour time period. This is because when a baby is in a semi-upright position for a prolonged period of time it can result in: 1. A strain on the baby's still-developing spine.
However, infant healthcare professionals, safety experts and most car manufacturers recommend that babies should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours at a time and they should be taken out frequently. If your trip involves driving for long periods of time, you should stop for regular breaks.
Parents know what's best for their children – so there is no specific age to grow out of the 2-hour car seat rule. Once your baby gains better control of their neck/head and can safely sit upright without support, you can relax the rule a bit – but stay alert as long as they are in a rear-facing car seat.
Don't let your baby sleep too long in their car seat
The advice is not to use car seats for longer than 30 minutes for babies younger than four weeks and not using car seats for more than two hours in one go for babies of all ages (The Lullaby Trust, 2016).
To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer's height and weight requirements. Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
How soon can a newborn travel long distances by car? If you are taking a long-distance trip, again, it's advised to wait until baby's immune system has fully developed at around two to three months old.
There is no official time limit for carrying your baby in a carrier, however, there are safety and developmental risks that need to be considered when using a carrier for prolonged periods. Such risks include suffocation, positional asphyxiation, overheating, hip dysplasia and container syndrome.
Your baby should not be in a car seat for longer than two hours at a time. Research has shown a link between travelling in car seats for long periods and breathing difficulties in young babies. If you are driving for a long period of time, it is important that you take regular breaks (at least every two hours).
At the end of the day, even if you have to make extra stops or change a blow out diaper on the front seat of your car, a road trip with 6 month old baby is doable! It will be different than a trip by yourself, but can still be a fun experience for you and your baby.
WHEN CAN A BABY SAFELY TRAVEL BY CAR? Your newborn probably arrived home by car, so there are no real restrictions on road trips, other than the general reminder about immune-system development. However, everyone will probably need a break every hour or so for feedings, changings, and cuddling.
Car seats and SIDS FAQs
Research published in 2016 by the University of Bristol looked at the health effects on babies of travelling in car seats. The study found pre-term and young babies may be at risk of breathing difficulties if travelling in an upright position in car seats for a long period of time.
A child has outgrown their infant seat when either of the following happens: They've reached the maximum height or weight limit, which is typically 30 to 32 inches or 30 to 35 pounds. The top of their head is less than an inch from the top of the seat when buckled in.
But infants aren't as fragile as parents sometimes fear. And by age 3 months or so, babies are pretty good candidates for travel, as long as the trip is low-key.
Travelling with a baby by car will take longer than travelling with adults. Plan for regular breaks (about 1 break for every 2 hours travel) and expect unscheduled stops, such as for nappy changes. Babies are not meant to spend long periods of time in their car seat.
American Academy of Pediatrics spokeswoman Dina DiMaggio, a doctor at Pediatric Associates of NYC and at NYU Langone Health, recommends stopping every two to three hours for feeding, diaper changing and taking a break from the car seat. Dirty diapers or meltdowns might require more frequent stops, so patience is key.
And, after the 4 month mark, most babies are able to tolerate car trip discomfort with more finesse; but if your baby seems to freak out as if they are left alone in a cold wet dungeon everytime their trapped in their backseat container, here are some tips to get you by when you want to be brave and venture out with ...
Can baby sleep in Doona? It's okay for your little one to snooze in the Doona. It's important, however, that you always leave baby buckled into place and never leave baby unattended. Per the user's manual, the Doona “is not safe for unsupervised use or unattended sleep”.
A car seat is not a safe sleep space, so your child should never sleep for long stretches in a car seat, especially when it's disconnected from the base or stroller.
While most parents won't need to consider wearing their babies in direct skin contact, or 24/7, this should offer some reassurance that wearing a baby can be safe and beneficial, even during a long daytime nap.
As long as you both want. If baby is in a carrier that supports healthy positioning, you can continue to wear her for as long during the day as you are both comfortable, and up until baby hits the weight limit (which is often around 40 lb!).
Your baby carrier should allow your baby's hips to spread so their legs are straddling your body. Your baby's knees should be spread apart, the thighs should be supported, and the hips should be bent. Here's how to carry your baby for healthy hip positioning, plus what not to do.