Having a baby is both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time, especially if you are a first time parent. There are a few precautions you can take to ensure the safety of your newborn baby during the drive home. Furthermore, if you are planning a road trip, it is important to have the baby cleared by the doctor to travel first.
When traveling with your newborn baby, here are some things to consider:
The most important part of driving with a newborn baby is to have the proper car seat. Most hospitals, police stations, or fire stations have car seat inspections to ensure you have the right car seat for your newborn child. If you have questions about what kind of car seat your newborn should have, or how to buckle them in properly, these are places you can stop to have your seat inspected. This is a good thing to do, especially if you are going on a long road trip.
Along with the proper car seat, the newborn needs to be buckled up properly. The car seat straps should be at the child’s nipple line and the bottom secured between their legs. The baby should be both comfortable and secure for the ride.
There are a few things that can make the drive go smoother. These include: a window shade, a bottle warmer, toys, baby-friendly music, a rear-view mirror that easily allows you to check on your child.
There are also a few things to keep in mind while driving. The child should stay in their car seat at all times. So if the baby starts crying because they are hungry, need a diaper change, or are bored, you will need to find somewhere to stop. Scheduling stops along the way can help, but chances are the baby will have their own schedule. Try to schedule the drive during nap time. Make sure the baby is fed and has a clean diaper before you leave the house. This way, you will not have to stop 20 minutes down the road.
It is safe to drive with a newborn baby as long as you take the proper precautions. The baby should be in a newborn car seat, which you can have inspected if need be. Furthermore, the child needs to be buckled properly and stay in their car seat at all times. Schedule stops for feeding, diaper changes, and sightseeing so you and the baby do not get too bored.
