Baby's First Car Ride: 10 Newborn Car Seat Safety Tips

June 22, 2020

A baby is the most precious gift on Earth, and like all treasures, they deserve to be protected. While safety precautions should be taken for everyone in a vehicle, they’re vital for newborns.

Keeping an infant secure is a hard task in any setting, but in a car, they’re more vulnerable. By following specific instructions, you can ensure that your child is as well-guarded as possible.

To learn more about how to protect your newborn, check out these 10 newborn car seat safety tips below:

1. Find the Right Car Seat and Practice Setting It Up

There are three different types of car seats your baby will use throughout their early years.

Infant-Only Car Seat

This small car seat is designed for infants weighing up to around 30 pounds. It is meant to only be used in a rear-facing position, which is better for protecting a newborn’s fragile head and neck from too much strain.

Convertible Car Seat

These car seats have a higher weight limit, usually around 40 to 60 pounds. They can be used as rear-facing seats for a longer amount of time and later as a front-facing car seat. They’ll usually be bigger than an infant-only car seat, so if you choose to use this model for a newborn, make sure it fits snugly. There are head support and strap sets that can be used to help the seat fit your newborn’s better.

All-in-One Car Seat

All-in-one car seats can work as both rear-facing and front-facing seats. They can also convert into booster seats, which are used for children who don’t fit properly under a seat belt. This is a worthwhile investment if you don’t want to buy three separate car seats for your baby.

For the best newborn car seat safety, you never want to wait until the last minute to install your newborn's car seat. Before your baby comes home from the hospital, make sure the seat is properly assembled and you understand the steps for fastening the child in. Make sure you've read all manual instructions so you're confident with the procedures.

2. Put The Car Seat in the Back

To ensure baby safety while driving, the car seat must always go in the back of the vehicle. When it comes to newborn car seat safety, this is always the safest spot. The back of the car is furthest away from all points of impact and side airbags. Even minor collisions may trigger the airbags, which can cause serious harm to your baby. If possible, place the car seat in the center of the backseat, where they will be safe from side-airbags and any collision points.

You never want to put infant car seats in the front seatThis puts them in more danger in the event of a crash. For example, broken glass can fly from the front windshield and the passenger-side airbag can get deployed.

3. Use the Rear-Facing Position for Newborns

Another vital tip for newborn car seat safety is to place the car seat in a rear-facing position. Your infant should be kept in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the weight and height limit for the car seat. This usually means they’ll be in a rear-facing position from birth until they are around the age of two to four years old.

Placing the seat backward is the safest for newborns because their necks and spines are so fragile. It limits the motion of your baby’s head, which reduces the risk of any potential neck injuries. By changing the angle of the car seat, it puts the infant in more of a backward motion, keeping them from falling forward. This position also spreads the crash force more evenly across the back of the car seat.

Taking this precaution can make your child almost 75% less likely to be seriously injured in a car crash. You should never put a rear-facing car seat in front of an active airbag. If it deploys in an accident, the impact could break the car seat and severely injure your baby.

4. Ensure Your Baby Is Properly Strapped In

It’s important that you properly adjust your baby’s safety harness. This will help guarantee their safety and comfort throughout your drive.

When putting your baby in the seat, make sure the straps are loose—this makes it easier to get them in. Then verify all the straps are in their proper places and tighten them securely. For a rear-facing seat, the harness straps should be just below your baby’s shoulders. Ensure the chest clip is at armpit level to keep the straps from sliding off your baby’s shoulders.

If the clip is positioned too low, your little one could tilt too far forward. If the car has to stop abruptly or there's an impact, it could cause the child to jolt forward. Additionally, you don't want the chest clip too high because that positioning could cause issues with breathing.

Make sure the straps are untwisted before you tighten them. They should be pretty tight—you shouldn’t be able to fit more than one finger between the harness and your baby’s collarbone.

5. Don't Strap Them In with Padded Clothing or Blankets

Some parents make the mistake of putting babies in cars while they are wrapped in multiple layers. However, bulky jackets and blankets are a safety hazard. When you put your infant in the seat while they are wearing puffy clothing, you might think the buckle is fastened tightly when it isn't.

If you have to pull the straps further for them to completely wrap around your child, chances are the buckle isn't fastened securely. Therefore, if the driver has to stop abruptly or if there is an accident, the buckle may unfasten, leaving the baby without proper protection.

You can properly dress your baby by dressing them in pants and a comfortable shirt. Pants make for a more comfortable option since the harness straps will go between the baby’s legs.

If your baby slouches to one side of the car seat, place a rolled-up hand towel or blanket on each side of your baby’s shoulder. Never place these towels or blankets under your baby, as that will affect the fit of the harness.

And if you’re worried about your precious bundle of joy getting too cold in the car, put a blanket over their car seat instead of putting them in a jacket.

6. Cut Down on Drive Time

Newborns shouldn't spend a lot of time in a baby car seat. Many car seat manufacturers recommend a two-hour rule. This means you should not keep your baby in a car seat for longer than two hours within a 24-hour timeframe. Why? Smaller infants have lower oxygen levels when they are buckled in. Plus, prolonged periods in a car seat puts strain on a baby’s still-developing back.

Furthermore, newborns' skulls are still developing. Thus, extended time positioned in one spot can cause flat areas on your baby's head.

If you’re on a long road trip with your baby, you should take frequent breaks to get them out of their seat. You should follow the two-hour rule as closely as possible, even if that means waking up your baby. And if they’re asleep when you arrive at your destination, you should still wake them up to get them out of their seat.

7. Limit Distractions in the Car

It’s perfectly fine and normal to want to check on your newborn while you’re driving. This may mean periodically looking behind your shoulder to make sure they’re comfortable. But keep in mind, doing this too often can take your attention away from the road, which can put you and your baby in more danger.

Don’t use extra mirrors to check on your baby. While some mirrors are marketed as a way to keep your baby safe, it may pull your eyes away from the road. Also, resist the urge to adjust your rearview mirror to check on your baby.

If your baby is overly fussy and won’t calm down, pull over to take care of their needs. This is a much safer option than turning around or even taking your hands off the wheel to try and calm them. If possible, it's an even better idea for one parent to sit in the backseat with them; that way, someone can keep an eye on them at all times.

8. Use a Car Seat Cover

A car seat cover is a great investment for use in and outside of the car. When your infant is along on a drive, they may get fussy when the sun is hitting their eyes or if a bug is flying around their head. Car seat covers will keep the sun out of their eyes and keep other distractions, like a bug or an overenthusiastic sibling, at bay.

Covers also help babies sleep better in the car. They help block any distractions that may keep your child from falling asleep normally. You can even use car seat covers outside of the car, as they help protect your sweet babe from the rain and keep them warm in colder weather.

9. Feed Your Baby Outside of the Car

Wait to feed your infant until you are out of the car. Giving them their bottle to suck on during the drive can actually be a choking hazard since you can’t see what they’re doing.

If you’re taking a long road trip, take breaks to pull over and feed your baby. If you’re switching them to bottle feeding, or are still looking for a bottle they will latch on to, look for silicone-based baby bottles. Because of their similar feel to a nipple, your baby will feel much more comfortable with it.

10. Get a Car Seat Check-Up

You should use a federally-approved car seat and follow the instructions when installing it into the back seat of your car. But sometimes that’s easier said than done. Fortunately, trained experts are more than happy to help check the seat installation for first-time parents and educate you on car seat safety. To learn more about locating a newborn car seat safety technician or for a free infant car seat inspection, visit NHTSA.gov or SafeKids.org.

Keeping Your Newborn Protected

Hopefully, these newborn car seat safety tips will help you safeguard your baby while driving. Taking care of your precious little human is a big undertaking, but you're not in this alone. There are numerous resources available to assist you with techniques on how to best protect your baby.

To learn about more products that keep your baby feeling safe and comfortable, visit the Perry Mackin website. We offer all kinds of products that will make traveling with your baby a comfortable experience for both of you.

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