Newborn Car Seat Safety
One of the most important parenting decisions you will make for your baby is their car seat. From daily rides to long trips, your child must be safe for every drive.
Many car seats on the market vary in type and price points and come with various features. Since my field of focus is newborns, this blog will focus on car seat use as it applies to newborns. As a disclaimer, I am not a medical professional or CPST. The information is pulled from sources and is as up-to-date as possible at the time of writing. This information does not discount doing your research and referring to professionals and manufacturers regarding car seat use and installation. The information in this post is meant to inform and educate.
Safety Standards
In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sets guidelines that car seat manufacturers must meet. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure their product meets these standards and certifies their car seat. Standards may be different outside of the US, but your baby’s car seat should meet the standards of where you live.
“The Federal Motor Vehicle Standard governs the performance and some design criteria for child restraint systems for children who weigh up to 80 pounds. The standard includes requirements for restraint crashworthiness, labeling and instructions, flammability, and buckle and release pressure. Child safety seat manufacturers must self-certify that their products meet or exceed performance criteria established by the FMVSS 213 and have labels that document this compliance attached to their restraints.”
Car Seats being sold in stores must meet these requirements. Some may have additional safety features, but any car seat you choose must meet the minimum standards. For additional information, Consumer Reports evaluates car seats based on their crash protection, ease of use, and fit to vehicle, which families can use when making a car seat purchase.
The Best Car Seat for Your Newborn
“When choosing a car seat for your baby, the best car seat is ‘the one that fits your child’s size, is correctly installed, fits well in your vehicle, and is used properly every time you drive.’”
One of the best ways you can ensure the car seat is installed correctly and used correctly is to read your vehicle owner’s manual as well as the car seat instruction manual. Read the entire car seat manual and the entire section in your vehicle owner’s manual regarding car safety seats. This is the first place to start and should also be referred to as your baby grows. Refer to the car seat’s manual for care instructions such as how to clean your car seat. This is especially important as some recommend against washing the straps and seat with soaps!
Newborns must be rear-facing, and ideally, your child will be rear-facing as long as possible (until they meet the max height or weight limit recommended by the manufacturer). The car seat must be designed for the size of your newborn. If your baby is a preemie, ensure the car seat's minimum weight requirement is low enough for your baby.
Car seats may be infant-only seats, convertible, and all-in-one options. Infant-only seats are intended for newborns and infants. Convertible and all-in-one options will have higher weight and height limits that allow for longer use, but it’s important to ensure they will fit your newborn. The type of car seat you choose will depend on your lifestyle, your vehicle, and the specific features you are looking for. Some infant car seats may be designed and tested to attach to specific strollers and allow you to carry the infant seat with you for outings or easily transfer the seat between family vehicles with car seat bases. But they can be heavy and bulky which may not be ideal for everyone. Convertible and All-in-one options allow for extended use through multiple stages but tend to be pricier upfront. Some car seats swivel or can be adjusted, while others may come with additional safety features or comfort features.
Car Seat Use and Best Practices
For every ride, ensure your baby is buckled in correctly. Ensure your baby is at the correct level and the seat is adjusted according to the instructions. For rear-facing, the straps should start just below the shoulders. The chest clip should be at the armpit level. The straps should not be twisted. After buckling and tightening, the straps should be snug. To check, pinch the straps at the shoulder; if your fingers slide off easily, they are snug enough. If you can pinch the straps, it is too loose. I always recommend double-checking before you begin driving.
No matter how cold it is outside, don't buckle your child in with thick or heavy clothing. Lightweight clothing is best to allow for snug buckling, thick clothing could make the buckles too loose, impacting the safety effectiveness. Cool or heat the car to a comfortable temperature, and ensure your child is safely buckled. If needed, a blanket can be draped over your baby for warmth (keep it away from their face and the harness) (Pratt, How to Keep Baby Warm in Car Seat?, 2023).
Assess items for risk and remove or secure anything that can become a projectile (Pratt, Baby's First Car Ride Home, 2024). Hard and sharp objects could become dangerous in the event of a crash, secure or remove these objects. Consider the toys (even devices) your child may have. Even if just hanging for your child to look at, in a car crash it can become a projectile.
The car seat is tested with everything it comes with. For this reason, it is not recommended to use aftermarket car seat inserts or products as they can affect or even compromise the seat’s safety and warranty.
It goes without saying, always limit your distractions and follow all traffic laws while driving (Pratt, Baby's First Car Ride Home, 2024). When possible, have an adult sit next to the child so the driver can focus on the road. If you must attend to your baby during a trip, pull over in a safe area when possible. If you are looking at your baby in the mirrors, or messing with the radio, accidents can happen. The best thing you can do for your baby when driving is to focus on the road or find a safe place to pull over.
Follow the 2-hour rule when using a car seat. Car seats place your baby in a semi-upright position, and when correctly installed and buckled, keep them safe for travel but prolonged use is not recommended. This prolonged position may put a strain on their spine and restrict their airflow (Pratt, Baby's First Car Ride Home, 2024). Limit the use of the car seat to a couple of hours or less. If traveling far or using the car seat attached to a stroller, allow your baby breaks to lie flat and stretch. Even as your child grows, it is recommended to follow this rule.
Once you’ve reached your destination, remove your baby from the car seat as soon as possible (Pratt, Baby's First Car Ride Home, 2024). For the same reasons as the 2-hour rule, we want the baby out of the car seat ASAP. Also, if the car seat is not properly installed into the car or attached to an approved product like a stroller, it may not be at a safe incline for your baby, putting them at risk for positional asphyxiation. Whether awake or asleep, take them out of the seat!
Proper Car Seat use and installation are important for the safety of your baby. I always recommend reaching out to a Child Passenger Safety Technician in your area to ensure proper installation and use or to answer any specific questions you may have. While this blog touches on the main components, below are some resources that can help you in your search and car seat use. Drive safe!
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024, February 26). Car Seats: Information for Families. Retrieved from Healthy Children: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx
Indiana University School of Medicine. (n.d.). NHTSA and Federal Safety Standards. Retrieved from Prevent Injury : https://preventinjury.medicine.iu.edu/laws-and-regulations/nhtsa-and-federal-safety-standards
Pratt, M. (2023, February 23). How to Keep Baby Warm in Car Seat? Retrieved from Safe in the Seat: https://safeintheseat.com/how-to-keep-baby-warm-in-car-seat/
Pratt, M. (2024, August 13). Baby's First Car Ride Home. Retrieved from Safe in the Seat: https://safeintheseat.com/babys-first-car-ride-home/
