Baby On Board? 5 Driving Safety Tips To Know

There are several ways you can keep your baby safe when driving. You can check out our best driving safety tips right here.

Have you recently had a baby, or thinking about having children soon?

If you're a parent, you'll know that you would do anything to protect your child. This is especially true when it comes to driving, where new parents might feel nervous about making sure they're keeping their little one safe.

Read on to learn some driving safety tips when you're carrying a child onboard.

Choose a Good Car Seat

The costs of everything you need to buy for your baby can seem overwhelming, but one area you really won't want to scrimp on is the car seat.

A good car seat will need to meet NHTSA standards, and in most states, it will need to be rear-facing until your child is one year old. 

If you were to unfortunately crash, a rear-facing seat provides better protection for your child's head and neck because they will not be flung forward in the event of a collision.

Remember to buy the car seat before your baby is born - you'll need it to take your child home from the hospital! It can be hard to know how to choose a car seat for a newborn, but there are some excellent and affordable options.

Be a Defensive Driver

If you're used to getting from A to B as quickly as you can, it may be time to reconsider how you're driving. Defensive driving might sound like a strange term, but it's very important to have this attitude when you have a baby on board.

Defensive driving is driving in such a way that protects you from the mistakes or carelessness of other road users. If these techniques are employed, you will be less likely to be involved in an accident.

Use a Rear Seat Mirror

One of the worries while driving with a baby in the back is that you can't see the baby's face, which can cause you to worry that they might be choking, or positioned uncomfortably. 

Every parent spends most of the initial months checking on the baby every few minutes, so getting a rear seat mirror allows you to do this without having to stop and get out several times on a journey.

Try not to use it too much, however as this could become a distraction from your driving.

Don't Rush

This may be easier said than done, but make sure you give yourself plenty of time to make your journey.

Change and feed your little one before you set off - this will ensure that they are as comfortable as possible. It'll also hopefully prevent you from having to stop on your way.

Attach a Pacifier and Toys

There's nothing more frustrating and distracting than having a baby moan and cry because they've thrown their pacifier or toy out of the car seat. Car seat toys tend to have clips attached so that you can hook them onto the car seat, removing this problem.

A Few Driving Safety Tips

These are a few things that can help relieve any anxiety you might have about driving with your baby in the car. 

The most important thing you can do is be safe - the days of careless or hurried driving are over now that you are responsible for another life in addition to your own.

Take care on those roads, using these driving safety tips, and check out more articles on the blog for information and advice on a range of topics.