6 Car Safety Tips When Bringing Your New Baby Home From the Hospital
Proper baby safety while driving with a newborn is crucial for preventing accidental injuries, so let’s take a look at a few car safety tips that you should keep in mind when bringing your new baby home from the hospital.
1. Make Sure Your Car Seat Is Installed Correctly
As you may assume, the first step to driving safely with a newborn is to make sure that their car seat is installed correctly. If you’re not sure how to install a car seat, many hospitals and fire stations have experts who will help you do so. This can go a long way when it comes to ensuring that you achieve the correct installation.
It’s also worth noting that you should never drive with your infant in the front passenger seat unless they are in a properly secured car seat.
2. Buckle Your Baby in Properly
Once you have the car seat installed, it’s important to make sure that your baby is buckled in properly.
Make sure that the shoulder straps are snug with no slack (you shouldn’t be able to pinch excess harness webbing together). Position the harness in the middle of your child’s chest, at armpit level
3. Have a Designated Spot For All of Your Baby’s Essentials
Another car safety tip to keep in mind when driving with a newborn is to have a designated place for all of your baby’s essentials such as diapers, wipes, pacifiers, medications, etc.
Whether you choose to store these items in your glove compartment or in a separate bag, it’s important to pull your car over to a safe location before searching for any baby items. This will minimize the chance of any accidents.
4. Drive Extra Carefully When You First Bring Your Baby Home
If possible, you should take a slower route that avoids roads with higher speed limits. Most serious accidents occur within busy intersections or on the highway. So, if you can take an alternative path, it will help make sure you get your baby home safely.
5. Keep an Eye on Your Baby When They’re in the Car
It’s important to keep an eye on your baby when they’re in the car, so occasionally check on them by using your rearview mirror.
If you’re worried that checking your rearview mirror will become a dangerous distraction while on the road, consider having another adult ride in the backseat to keep an eye on baby and help you out.
6. Never Leave Your Baby Alone in the Car
The inside of a parked car can heat up very quickly, which can lead to infant dehydration, heatstroke, and even death. This can occur in mere minutes during the summer months, especially in warmer areas like Southern Nevada.
If you have errands to run, take your baby inside with you or wait until you have another adult to help you keep baby safe.
New Parent Classes
Are you expecting a new baby soon? Would you like more information on how to properly care for your new arrival? We offer many different parenting and budgeting classes for new and seasoned parents alike; we are proud to offer these classes FREE of charge so please reach out to us today to see how we can help you with all your parenting needs.