4 Critical Vehicle Preparations For Your Newborn
How do I baby-proof my car before the baby is here?
Expectant parents lose sleep over this question. Baby-proofing your vehicle for a newborn can be nerve-wracking, and understandably so.
Here are some of the most crucial tips to remember before you bring that bundle of joy home:
Get A High Safety-Rated Car Seat
Definitely NOT something you want to skimp on. A rear-facing car seat with a base and ample plushness that attaches to your car’s LATCH system is where you’ll need to start for your home-bound infant right out of the gate.
Ensuring that your car seat is tightly-secured and that there isn’t more than an inch of “give” when you rock it back and forth is the next important step.
Get Familiar With Your Car’s LATCH System
Seatbelts are great for securing car seats, but the LATCH system is specifically for making baby car seat installation seamless and secure.
Cars made after 2002 are required to have these crucial anchors standard, and newer car models will have them more prominently placed. Ensuring your car seat’s connection to these tethers are one of the MOST important steps in vehicle baby-preparedness.
Assemble An Emergency Baby-Care Kit
It’s something you’ll probably get used to doing as a parent. A backup baby bag permanently housed in your vehicle (with non-perishable products) will save the day if you ever forget some essentials before hitting the road.
Diapers, ointment, formula in an airtight container, first-aid kits, a spare changing pad, spare wipes (these usually come in airtight containers), a spare bottle, and even a sealed bottle of water (kept away from sun) will surely come in handy at some point.
Vehicle Safety Systems
Yes, most cars come with a backup camera and parking sensors these days, but an extra set of sensors can’t hurt, especially when it comes to adding extra protection to your vehicle’s sides—right where your baby seat might be attached (some LATCH systems are only located on the sides).
Larger vehicles benefit from an extra set of sensors to expose dangerous blind spots and get alerts when turning or changing lanes, so you can increase safety when on the road with your precious cargo.
