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Although I am a healthcare provider, I am not your provider. The information provided here is strictly informational and for reference and should never be used in place of you or your child’s health care providers’ diagnoses or personalized advice.

Newborns can be so difficult to understand! Your first visit at the pediatrician (see post on this exact topic!) can be overwhelming so we are going to talk about the “Need to Knows” that I discuss with every newborn visit. The next several posts will dive into each topic in more detail.

Carseat Safety

There are thousands of carseats out there. Which one is the best? Which one can I afford? Newborn carseats range from the basic to MacDaddy that would suffice in the next spaceX trip to the moon. Setting a budget for yourself and doing your research is the most important thing you can do. See the “need to knows” below.

• What is your budget? Carseats can range from $20 to hundreds or more.
• Do not buy used. Carseats should not be re-used if they have been in an accident and standards change frequently due to safety studies. Rule of thumb is that carseats expire after 6 years from their manufacturing. This is due to the wearing out of the materials used. If finances inhibit you from buying new or if you are gifted a used seat, check for recalls (https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/childseat.cfm) before using. Also, many communities will have carseat programs where you can be given a new carseat at little to no cost to you.
• What will it be used for? You can get a seat that stays in the car and is not used for anything else or they make travel systems where you remove the carrier and use it to carry the baby in and out or transfer to a stroller for easier mobility
• Check weight and length guidelines. Every seat has it’s own tested weight and length standards. They should be listed both on the box and on the carseat itself. Know these for when your baby gets bigger so you safely upgrade as they grow.

Set up

• All newborns should be rear-facing. In fact, they should be rear-facing until they turn 2. You might think they will be scrunched up into a ball, but safety studies show that survival rate in high impact crashes is higher when they remain rear facing until 2 years of age.
• You do not need any extra, after-market trinkets such as strap protectors or padding. In fact, this stuff can inhibit the safety mechanisms studied with your particular carseat and void the safety features already in place.
• Installation of carseats can be tricky. Each will have manufacturer recommendations on how best to install. The base will be very tight and should barely move if secured correctly.
• ***Once the carseat is installed, swing by your local fire department or police station where there are AAA trained certified carseat technicians.  Or, check out this website to find a station near you… http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm. 
• Inspection stations also can be found by calling 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or visiting http://www.seatcheck.org/

Baby Safety

• The safest place for the carseat is the middle of the seat and in the back (or middle row if you have a third row) This keeps the baby away from passenger side airbags
• Remove outer clothing such as blankets or coats prior to placing baby in the seat. These will not allow the straps to get tight enough. You can cover them once they are securely placed in the seat.
• The baby should be placed and the shoulder straps moved to a position where they rest comfortably across each shoulder. Most infant seats have straps that can be moved up or down as the baby grows.
• Once the baby is placed and the straps are buckled, pull the cord to tighten. The straps should be tightened so you can fit 2 fingers between the baby’s chest or shoulders and the straps but not move you fingers. This will feel tight but it keeps the baby secure should you have an accident.
• Never put the baby in the seat and not strap them in.
• Make sure the carseat is secured in the base before you take off.
• Do not prop a bottle and allow them to feed if you are not directly observing them

After weeks of staying home and caring for your new baby, you are likely ready to venture out somewhere other than your pediatrician’s office (no offense taken!). Here are a few things to keep in mind and a few products to make the trip a little easier.

• Keep the time in the carseat to a maximum of 2 hrs without a stretch break. Their spine needs a break and they likely need fed and changed.
• If you are just running errands, set a reminder or timer on your phone. This will help you remember the baby is in the car. No Judgement, but sleeping babies can be forgotten. Remember this is new to you. Also remember, it is not our place to judge, just take this advise.

My daughter was able to come to the office with me and she was a wonderful traveler. She still is! One of the first times I took her, I forgot she was in the car because it was early and she didn’t make a peep until I turned the music up way too loud to jam to my favorite song. I was so freaked out that I forgot she was back there. I was not used to taking my baby to work with me and I would jam to the radio to get myself pumped for the day. I felt absolutely sick and had to pull over and pray to calm down. See…It happens!

Here are some tools to help you with your first travels, both for your comfort and the babies comfort and safety:

First of all, sign up for an Amazon baby registry here. It’s free and friends and family will know what you would like.

Be able to watch your baby safely via your rearview mirror. This is a shatterproof, non-distorted mirror that attaches to the back seat headrest.

This shade allows you to have open or closed windows while protecting them from harmful UV rays

Protect your baby from wind, sun and germs with this carseat cover. It also comes off to use as a blanket or cover for nursing moms (I am all about functionality)