Each year thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes worldwide. The relatively large weight of their makes them particularly vulnerable heads as they are thrown forward upon impact. As a parent one of the most important jobs you have is to keep your child safe when riding in a vehicle. Beginning with the first ride your baby takes in the car, it is important that she is placed in a car seat that is proper for her size and weight and that is secured in the back seat. This is the safest location in the car for travel. Your baby depends on you. Give her the gift of safety.
What you should know?
- Before your baby is born, purchase a car safety seat. Your baby needs to be well-protected right from the start.
- There are different brands and types of baby car seats. Make sure you buy one that fits securely in your car and is convenient to operate.
- It is critical that the restraint be not only well-secured with a seat belt, but that your child is securely buckled in.
- Whether in the front or back seat, your child seat must be fastened with the car’s three-point seat belt.
- Some child seats can be placed facing backwards in the front passenger seat. But this only applies if the car has no passenger-side airbag or if the airbag is switched off when the child is placed in this seat.
- If your car has a passenger-side airbag that cannot be switched off, your child MUST be placed in a child seat in the back of the car.
- Remember if you place your baby’s seat in the front you must move the car seat as far back as possible. A distance of at least 20cm (10 inches) must be left between the dashboard and the child seat, so your child won’t get hurt in a head-on collision.
- If your child’s head sticks out over the top of the child seat, the child seat is too small.
- A newborn baby may also be placed in a fastened carrycot (with hard sides). Fasten the carrycot with a special belt that is fitted in the car, or with the car’s three-point seat belts. A safety net should also be placed over the top of the carrycot to prevent the child from being thrown out of the carrycot in a collision. The carrycot must be placed with the child’s head facing the centre of the car, to reduce the risk of injury if the car is in a side collision. Be aware that carry cots do not provide the same degree of impact protection as child seats and that you can use them just for a few months.
- From the very first trip, use a child seat every time.
- Remember to choose a seat according to the weight of your child, not her age.
- Don’t buy a second-hand car seat unless you know, for certain, that it has never been in any sort of accident – there may be defects and cracks on the frame and/or bodywork which you just can’t see.
- It is very dangerous to place a baby in the front seat of a car without a suitable car restraint.
- As much as you might be tempted to hold your new little one in your arms while riding in the car, it just isn’t the time or place for cuddling. Make it a rule, right from the start, to have everyone in the car securely belted-in for each and every trip.
More useful information
In the early weeks, when your baby might not have good head control, it is helpful to use a head support intended for car seat use, or roll up a baby blanket to place around your baby’s head to steady it. Otherwise, her head has a tendency to flop from side to side.
- If your baby is sick or needs constant attention, it is important to have an adult sit in the back to help care for her. It can be very distracting (and dangerous) for the driver to keep turning around to care for the baby.
- The rear-facing position is the most protective. It is important not to move your child into a full-size safety seat too soon. Your baby should weigh at least 9 kg (20 pounds) and be one-year-old. If your child is quite big, but still well under one year of age, it is still very important for her to be placed in a rear-facing seat while riding in the car. Some rear-facing car seats have an upper weight limit from 10-11 kg (22 to 25 pounds). Some of the newer seats accommodate children up to 13.6 kg (30 pounds) or even more.
- Remember that a baby should not sit in a child seat for more than 20 to 30 minutes a day, as the muscles in their back are not fully developed. If the baby is not carried by car every day, they may be able to manage an occasional longer trip with regular breaks.
Other questions you may have?
How to install an infant car seat
Why are airbags dangerous for children?
Will a second-hand child seat be secure enough?
13 safety precautions you should follow in the car when driving with children?
