Welcoming a new baby into the world is one of the most exciting and joyful times in a parents life. However, it can also be very overwhelming. You’ve suddenly got this tiny human who is totally dependent on you.
It’s your job to keep this little bundle of joy safe and that can be quite a daunting task. Among one of the main aspects of looking after your baby properly is infant car seat safety. In fact, it’s one of the very first tasks you’ll undertake- securing your baby in a car seat for the drive home from the hospital.
So, here are some important tips on car seat safety for new parents.
Rear Facing Car Seat
When you’re getting out of the house with a child under the age of two in a car, the seat used should be a rear-facing child safety seat. Babies are still developing their spines and their heads tend to be the weightiest part of their body. If a baby is put in a front facing seat and has an accident, the injuries sustained could be a lot worse than if the baby was in a rear-facing seat.
Many parents make the mistake of switching their young children to front-facing seats when their feet start to touch the back of the car. If your baby’s knees are bent or they look like they haven’t got much room, it won’t harm your baby if there’s an accident. Keep your baby safe by sticking to a rear-facing seat for as long as possible.
Always Put Children in the Back Seat
It may be tempting to put your baby in the front seat so you can keep a closer eye while driving but if an accident happens, your baby will be in much greater danger. A baby in the front seat could suffer fatal injuries if the airbag is set off during a crash.
Some parents choose to disable the airbag but that leaves anyone else who travels in the front seat at risk when involved in an accident. If you find it difficult to get your child in and out of seats in the back, browse this page for the latest swivel seats and make life a bit easier for yourself.
Be Mindful of Clothes
During bouts of cold weather, it’s only natural to dress your child in warm clothing. Did you know that big coats and blankets can get in the way of harnesses working properly during a crash? When you put your child in a car seat, don’t put a blanket underneath him or wrap a blanket around him before putting the harness on.
Take thick coats off before putting your child in a car seat and wrap a blanket over your child and the harness. The closer the harness is to your child, the safer he will be.
The Do’s and Dont’s of Infant Car Seat Safety
There are so many do’s and don’ts of infant car seat safety that it’s hard to keep up with but if you need a few more tips on becoming a new parent, visit When Parent Texts.
