Essential Steps to Prepare for a Baby on Board Your Vehicle
Planning for a baby includes so many decisions to consider. The house must be baby-proof, schedules adjusted, and more. New parents must also take steps to ensure the family car is safe and comfortable for a baby on board. Here are a few precautions to help ensure your baby is comfortable and safe for every trip, short or long.
Vehicle Inspection
The first step is to determine where your vehicle currently stands based on Highway Safety standards of your vehicle. You can look into ratings to see just how safe your vehicle is.
From there, you will need to look into regular maintenance and vehicle inspections. Maintenance will be essential to ensure the vehicle is in the best possible condition. It reduces the risk of an accident and the likelihood of a car breakdown while your baby is on board.
Research the Car Seat
Perhaps one of the most important decisions is the car seat. Your child will spend a lot of time in a car seat. Both are important to the safety of your child in a vehicle.
Car seats and booster car seats are created by safety experts under state laws. In the event of a collision, an improperly secured car seat can result in fatal impacts. Shop for booster car seats that are comfortable and protective.
A car seat should be easy to install and fit correctly in your car. It is best to purchase a new car seat as opposed to a used one. Car seat models are constantly evolving, upgrading their safety measures. You want the latest one, because it’s going to be the most protective.
There are also certain laws to keep in mind. For example, babies must in a rear-facing baby seat until they are at least two.
Correct Installation
As mentioned, car seats have to be installed correctly for maximum safety. Manufacturers create specific installation manuals. This should definitely be consulted before installing the new seat. As your child grows, the size and direction of the seat will change. A newborn should be rear-facing and switched to front-facing based on height and weight.
Correct installation involves adjusting the harness strap to create a snug fit. The harness clip has to clipped and snug right at armpit level. Besides car seats, there are other steps to take to keep the car safe for your newborn.
Try Window Tinting
A child should never be left unattended in a vehicle. However, some geographic locations make for a very hot vehicle in a short amount of time. Infants can be quickly affected by high temperatures. Window tinting can help reduce temperatures. Tinting is safer than window coverings since they cannot fly around in the event of a crash.
Keep it Clean
Once the baby has arrived, keeping the car clean is important. Clutter presents hazardous projectiles in the event of an accident. Keeping upholstery clean is also important to mitigate germs. Babies are also messy. This means keeping wipes on hand for the car. You can also use seat coverings to make cleaning easier. When you have a baby on board, finding time to clean can be difficult.
Create a Baby Care Kit
The last step to preparing for a baby on board is to build a baby care kit. This is different from the daily diaper bag. A baby care kit will have extra wet wipes, sippy cups, changing pads, extra diapers, infant clothing, and cleaning cloths. If you have these items on hand, you will be prepared for anything your baby throws at you.
By keeping these precautions in mind, you can ensure safe and comfortable travel. It makes having a baby on board that much easier!
