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Newborn Safety While Driving

2020 Jun 1st

Newborn Safety While Driving

Posted by David Jones

Infants, particularly newborns, are the most fragile passengers that drivers can have in their car. While it is always important to drive with safety in mind, newborns have special needs that parents or guardian must take care of before and during any road trip. When a newborn comes home from the hospital, its size and slight body weight place it at risk of severe and life-threatening injury in the event of an accident. Parents must be prepared to shuttle newborns in their vehicles by first properly installing the right type of car seat. For newborns, the correct type of car seat is one that is rear-facing. As the name suggests, a rear-facing car seat is one that is designed so that the infant faces the rear of the vehicle. Infant seats are most popular for newborns, as they can be taken out of the car and carried without waking a sleeping baby, but convertible car seats, which remain in the vehicle and can be positioned rear-facing, can also be used with infants. In addition to having the right seat, drivers must also install it in the correct location. Infants, like other children, must travel in the back seat of the vehicle, preferably in the center position. The seat must be securely strapped into place in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The baby must be strapped in securely, too, as newborns do not have the muscle control or strength to prevent them from being jostled about or to hold their heads and bodies upright.

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Visit the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's website for tips about choosing the right car to maximize a child's safety in the event of an accident.

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Click this link for an article about what nursing mothers should bring when traveling, what to wear, what to do when flying, and more.

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