Michelle
Hi there, My question is regarding safe travel. We have a four week old and were going to complete a 10 hour trip over 2 days. I have just been reading though about the 2 hour rule. Could you clarify weather this rule is 2 hours and then say have an hour break and then another 2 hours in the car or I it only 2 hours per day? If only 2 hours per day what age is suitable for babies to complete long distance trips? Many thanks for your help
Red Nose Education
Baby car seats are designed as a safety device not as a safe sleeping product.
It is important that you have purchased a device that meets & is installed as a per mandatory safety & manufacturer’s instructions, which is also a legal requirement.
Yes, of course baby’s will go to sleep in their car seat, but baby should not be left for long periods sleeping in a car seat.
Red Nose has no specific recommendations for time frames when travelling with baby in a car safety device but has the following information.
Once the car journey is over it is very important that you remove baby from the car seat or capsule, even if this means waking baby, because it is not safe for baby to spend long periods in car seats, capsules or infant seats.
Research has shown that:
babies left in a sitting position for a long period of time may be placed at increased risk for sudden infant death.
car or baby seats may cause baby’s neck to flex forward which may block baby’s airway not allowing airflow
falls from car seats used outside of the car as infant carriers are common, often involve children unbuckled in their car seats and represent a significant source of head injury for baby. Never leave baby in carriers on shopping carts, counters, or other high locations
https://rednose.org.au/article/are-there-recommendations-for-car-seat-or-baby-seat-use
Most safety organizations would follow travelling advice for all when driving long distances - take a break every 2 hours (or less)....... so, this would be applicable for baby also.
When you stop for a break, get baby out of car seat/capsule even if baby is sleeping.
Remember, newborn babies still need regular feeding, so this “break period” may be a good opportunity to also feed baby.
If you are going shopping with baby, do not carry baby in a capsule, instead use a pram when baby is lying flat.