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Includes Buffet Highchair, Mealtime set, Silicone tray
Includes Clic 2 stroller, Clic stroller bag and rain cover
For the best night’s sleep in every trimester
Is lie-flat car travel better for my baby? It’s a question many new parents ask as they begin to delve into newborn travel advice.
To help you navigate the information out there, our Car Safety Specialist, Kat Gemmell, returns to The Edit to share her expertise on lie-flat car seats – what they are, how they work and the benefits. Plus, discover our brand-new lie-flat infant carrier, Glide Plus 360.
What does it mean for a car seat to be lie-flat?
A lie-flat car seat generally refers to an infant car seat that can be adjusted to a reclined position. Traditionally, infant car seats are a fixed position and cannot be adjusted, however, a lie-flat reclining car seat allows baby to stretch out and lay back for increased comfort.
A rear-facing car seat will never be completely flat in the car – this would not be safe. Glide Plus 360 has been expertly engineered to provide the optimum position for baby’s comfort, with no compromise on safety.
What are the benefits to a lie-flat car seat?
Lie-flat reclining infant car seats allow you to adjust the position for your little one – some babies prefer to be more upright (especially babies with reflux), and others are happier reclined back. Having an infant car seat that can recline allows you to choose the perfect position for your baby.
Another benefit is being able to offset the angle of your vehicle seat. Some vehicle seats are extremely sloped – this sits a non-adjustable infant car seat more upright. While this is ideal for crash protection, it will cause some babies' heads to roll forward when they sleep – this is known as ‘head flop’.
A lie-flat reclining infant car seat allows you to adjust the angle of the backrest, counteracting the steep vehicle seat angle. Glide Plus 360 has three recline positions – upright, mid recline and full lie-flat recline – allowing the perfect position for your baby and car.
How long can my baby be in a lie-flat car seat?
As a general guide, your baby should have a break from their car seat every two hours. This is only a guide, not a rule. Newborn babies don’t tend to stay in one place for very long before they need you – where that’s a feed, a change or a cuddle. In those early days, two hours in the car may feel very unlikely!
A long journey is the last thing you may want to do with your newborn, but sometimes they are unavoidable. A detour due to roadworks or long tailback can unexpectedly extend your journey before a planned stop. Baby should always be secured in their car seat when in the car, even if it means exceeding the two hours.
Monitor baby while they’re in the car, ideally with an adult in the back – ensure they’re not becoming too hot and try to avoid the temptation of stretching their feed to leave them napping. The vibration of the car can keep baby sleeping past their hunger cues, as can being too warm. It’s essential for newborns to feed regularly to keep their blood sugar stable – newborns need to feed every 2-3 hours, and the clock resets from the start of the feed!
Always follow the Highway Code and don’t drive for longer than two hours, especially amid sleep deprivation! Swap driving duties if possible or pull over for the driver to have a break.
When using the car seat on the pushchair chassis, the two-hour guide is still relevant – this includes travel time. Baby must always be firmly secured with the car seat harness, which prevents them from wiggling around. It’s best to transfer baby to the pushchair carrycot for longer trips in the pram so they can stretch out, wiggle around and (hopefully) have a nice, long nap!
Tell us about Silver Cross’ lie-flat infant carrier, Glide Plus 360.
Glide Plus 360 – a 2025 Red Dot award winner – has been developed to provide your newborn with lie-flat comfort from the day they leave the hospital, through to approximately 18 months old. Our infant carrier’s lie-flat position can be activated whether it’s attached to the Base Plus 360, secured into your vehicle using a seatbelt, or connected to your pushchair.
Crafted with naturally soft bamboo, breathable waffle jersey, and inbuilt seat ventilation for added airflow, Glide Plus 360 will help to regulate your baby’s temperature on every ride – which is especially important for new babies. The padded inserts provide extra security to support your little one’s developing posture and can be removed gradually as they grow.
For peace of mind and complete protection on every journey, Glide Plus 360 features triple layer side impact protection designed with intelligent shock-absorbing technology. Fastening your little one into their seat can be difficult – especially when they’re tired and fussing, but with Glide Plus 360’s EasyFit sprung harness system and adjustable headrest, it’s easy to fit your little one in comfortably.
Kat Gemmell joined our car safety team with over a decade of experience supporting parents to choose, fit and use their child car seats safely. She has worked for a national child seat campaign, provided product training for child seat manufacturers, and ran online information websites to support parents in making a truly informed choice. As well as her background in car safety, Kat also spent many years as a breastfeeding peer supporter, having worked for a local feeding charity as well as the maternity ward her children were born in.
