PREPARING THE CAR FOR A BABY

Written by Caroline Meyer

There are so many things to do to get ready for having a baby around the house. Some things dads can get involved in and some we can’t. We may help with putting together the crib, paint the baby room and so on but one place that we sometimes forget is out cars. Having a baby means making sure the car is comfortable and safe for baby on trips out and ensuring you can have peace of mind when travelling with your precious bundle. 

There are many regulations and standards when it comes to securing your little one in your vehicle and this changes as your baby grows up. At different ages and weights the restraints and seating arrangements change.  Your baby needs to be a good quality seat in a rearward facing position for as long as possible. Some seats are adjustable and can be used for longer periods of time. Small kids that outgrow the rearward facing seat should be moves to a booster seat until they are at least 7 years or older and could be in the seat until the age of 12. The recommendation is not to move to an ordinary seat belt until the height of 145cm is reached. So, for shorter children, a booster seat would be a good bet until they are older. 

Some baby chairs can be moved from car to pram without having to pick baby up or move them out of the car chair. This is often a good choice for small ones, especially those that are a little niggly and fall asleep better in the car. 

Make sure that the seat you purchase is installed correctly. Check that the brand purchased meets the legal requirements as well as having adequate quality and safety needs checked off. Cars manufactured after 1976 should have child safe anchor points fitted to allow for safe installation. Cars manufactured before that year may need to be retrofitted to meet the safety guidelines. It is also recommended that you place a seat protector before installing the chair. This will help protect the car seat and prevent damage from the chair over a long period of time. You can look at installing a car seat with a canopy to protect your little one from the sun when travelling. Alternatively, you can put up window sunshades that protect from harmful exposure to the sun. 

A further recommendation is a baby travelling mirror. When installed, this allows you to check up on your baby while they are safe in their rearward facing chair. They may also be able to spot you in the mirror when they get a bit older and feel more secure. 

Once your car is secure, you need to also ensure that any other vehicle your child may be in is fitted with a good quality car seat. This will include friends, grandparents and any care givers that may travel with your child in the car. If they do not have adequate measures in place to travel your baby safely, you may want to discuss it with them or even offer to install a safe chair in their vehicle if they are travelling with baby often. It is not recommended that baby is carried on a lap or in any way that is not safe and secure. It contravenes a number of laws and is simply not in the best interest of your little one.  Do the right thing and make sure you are set with a safe and secure car seat for your baby before they are brought home.