Travelling with Your Baby: How to Ensure Car Seat Safety on the Road
Travelling with babies is fun and parents can make some core memories with their babies. However, there are always many questions and doubts that take place in our minds whenever we are travelling with our babies and the biggest responsibility of safety comes when we are travelling by car. It is dangerous to make babies sit on the passenger seat and the same goes for the backseat. Car accidents become the biggest fear when parents are travelling with their babies but car seats have brought ease and a sense of security.
1. Choose the Right Car Seat for Your Baby’s Age and Size
The size and age of the baby matter a lot when we are out buying a car seat and there are mainly three types of car seats.
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Rear-facing seats (infant or convertible) : These seats are long-lasting because they can be used from infancy to toddler age, at least to 2 or maybe even more. Basically the child has to reach the maximum height or weight limit to stop using the car seat.
- Forward-facing seats (convertible or combination) : These forward-facing seats are for those children who have grown out of the age of rear-facing seats and are now toddlers and preschoolers.
- Booster seats : You can use these booster seats for your young ones who are not so little anymore until seat belts fit properly.
2. Always Use a Rear-Facing Seat for Infants
Sometimes new parents wonder why they have to use rear-facing seats for their infants or toddlers. Well, it is because the researches have revealed that these seats keep our baby's head, neck, and spine safe and protected during a car crash. It is one of the most effective car seats in car crashes that can be used until the baby reaches the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer.
3. Install the Car Seat Correctly
Car seats for children are safe yet sometimes we end up hearing news about car accidents where babies are injured despite the car seat. Well, it happens because parents don’t install the car seat properly, which can be ineffective in a crash. That’s why following installation steps is very important for safety.
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People often ignore reading manuals, but they should and parents have to read both the car seat manual and their vehicle’s manual.
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To protect the baby, parents have to either use the LATCH system or the seat belt but both cannot be used until it’s mentioned in the manual.
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Parents have to look to see if the seat is installed tightly after the installation because it cannot move an inch in any direction.
4. Use the Harness Correctly
Just like car seat belts, the harness straps of kids' car seats should also be snug against your baby’s body; otherwise, the baby could get severely injured in a car accident and we don’t want that!
Make a checklist and check off the following for correct harness use:
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Straps have to be at or below the baby’s shoulders for rear-facing seats.
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There is a chest clip that should be at the armpit level and
5. Know When to Transition
Sometimes parents are too eager or excited to move their babies to a new car seat, like a forward-facing seat or booster and they end up moving too soon. One thing you should know is that your child will be safe as long as they are at one stage possible and change the car seat once they have crossed the maximum height and weight limit of the car seat.
6. Never Leave Baby in the Car Seat Outside the Car
We don’t dare to wake our babies when they fall asleep but even though babies are calm and cute when sleeping, parents have to take them out of the car seats. Car seats are made for travelling not for sleeping and if the baby is left for too long in the car seat while it's not in the car, they can lean forward in a way that makes it hard for them to breathe. That’s why if you are not driving, then move your baby to the crib or flat surface as soon as possible.
7. Replace Car Seats After an Accident
If, God forbid, your car is involved in an accident, remember to replace the car seat following a moderate or severe crash. Sometimes you cannot see the damage and think there is no need to replace them, but not replacing car seats might risk your baby's life. So, check the car seat manual and replacement guidelines to understand the caution side.
8. Register Your Car Seat
Registration with the car seat manufacturer helps in resolving any issues with the car, and they often offer help during safety recalls or product issues.
Conclusion
Car seats are perfect for safety in children because they protect kids from getting injured during a car accident. Following a few guidelines mentioned in the manual and keeping a check on the car seat makes sure that your kid won’t get hurt even if the car meets with an accident. So, car seats prioritise kids' safety and make sure they don’t end up with injuries.
