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How long can a baby lie in a car seat?
Your little bundle of joy has arrived and you and your family are over the moon. Everyone wants to see your baby. However, it’s often the case that beloved relatives don’t always live just around the corner. This means that you’re facing a long car journey with your baby. Or perhaps you’re planning to go on holiday. In the baby car seat, your little one is safe and travels well in the car. But how long can a baby stay in a car seat at a stretch? Our my junior physiotherapist Jacky reveals the answer and shares tips for long car journeys.
How long should a baby stay in a car seat at most?
There is no fixed rule according to our my junior physiotherapist Jacky. However, she recommends leaving the child in the car seat for a maximum of one to two hours. Babies want to move. If a walk or journey happens to last 2 ½ hours, you don’t need to worry that this will cause permanent harm. Ultimately, duration and frequency are what matter. A longer journey for a holiday is acceptable. Babies should never spend hours in the car seat every day.
Are you pregnant and looking for the perfect pram for you and your little one? From modern all-rounders to retro prams, our pram overview gives you all the important information at a glance.
Why is it not good for your baby's development to lie in the infant car seat for long periods?
In the infant car seat, your little one is always in the same curved position. They cannot move. This keeps them as safe as possible during a car journey. However, humans have a natural urge to move from birth. The curved position causes your baby's spine to be held in a certain bend the entire time. Nerve pathways can become irritated as a result. The signals to the brain are also affected, since there is no movement. Quickly popping to the shops or similar is not a problem; as mentioned, it depends on the duration and frequency.
Tips for long car journeys with a baby.
Sometimes it is unavoidable that your baby will have to stay in the car seat for a longer period. Perhaps your relatives don’t live nearby, or you want to go on holiday. First of all: you won’t harm your baby if, on rare occasions, they have to stay in the car seat for a bit longer. However, it shouldn’t happen too often. It’s important that you make plenty of stops. You’ll probably have to anyway, as your little one may need feeding or changing. And we adults also need breaks and don’t like sitting in the same position for too long. During the breaks, your little one should definitely get moving, advises our my junior physiotherapist Jacky. Pick your baby up in your arms. If possible, spread out a blanket for your baby to lie on. Or take your pushchair with you and put the baby in the carrycot during the breaks. There, they can stretch and move around.
