Car seat safety: the checks to make before every journey
How to choose and fit a rear-facing car seat, the harness checks to make every time, why a baby should never travel on a lap, and how to keep long journeys safe.
By PreggieLover 3 min read
From the drive home from hospital to market runs and long road trips to see family, every car journey with your baby starts with the same question: are they properly strapped in? A correctly fitted, correctly used car seat is one of the most important safety steps you will ever take for your child.
Every journey, every time
Babies should travel in a car seat suitable for their weight and size on every journey, however short, including in taxis and ride-hailing cars (take your own seat). It can feel normal in some places to hold a baby on your lap, especially in a crowded car. Please do not. In a crash or sudden stop, even a strong adult cannot hold on to a baby, and an adult's body can crush a child. Never share a seatbelt with your baby either.
Choosing the right seat
- Rear-facing is safest for babies. A rear-facing seat spreads the force of a crash across a baby's back and protects their fragile head and neck. Keep your baby rear-facing for as long as their seat allows. In the UK, seats approved under the i-Size standard must be rear-facing until at least 15 months.
- Check it fits your car. Not every seat fits every car. Many retailers will help you check, and some offer fitting checks.
- Be cautious with second-hand seats. Only use one if you know its full history from someone you trust. A seat that has been in a crash may be damaged in ways you cannot see. Check it has all its parts and instructions.
- Use only the padding and inserts that came with the seat. Extra cushions, head supports or strap covers bought separately may affect how the seat protects your baby.
Where the seat goes
The back seat is the safest place for a baby. Never put a rear-facing seat in the front passenger seat if there is an active airbag. If an airbag goes off, it can seriously injure or kill a baby.
The harness check
Do this before every journey, even when you are in a hurry:
- Your baby's back and bottom are flat against the back of the seat, not slumped forward.
- The shoulder straps sit at the right height for a rear-facing seat, usually at or just below the shoulders. Check your seat's instructions.
- The harness is buckled and tightened so it is snug. You should not be able to pinch a fold of strap at your baby's shoulder.
- Straps are flat, not twisted.
- The seat itself is fitted firmly and does not move much when you push it at the base.
Coats and blankets
Thick coats, snowsuits and padded jackets can stop the harness fitting snugly, leaving dangerous slack in a crash. Dress your baby in thinner layers, strap them in, and then put a blanket or their coat over the top of the harness.
Long journeys and sleeping
- On long journeys, stop regularly to take your baby out of the seat, stretch, feed and change them. Many manufacturers advise no more than around two hours at a time in the seat for young babies.
- If possible, have an adult sit in the back beside a young baby to keep an eye on them.
- When you arrive, move a sleeping baby to a flat, safe sleep space. Car seats are designed for travel, not for long sleeps out of the car.
- If your baby seems unwell, floppy, very pale or has noisy or difficult breathing in the seat, stop safely, take them out and seek urgent medical help.
Never leave your baby alone in the car
Not for a minute, not to pop into a shop, not even with the windows open. Cars heat up very quickly, especially in hot climates, and babies overheat much faster than adults. If you see a baby alone in a hot car and they seem distressed, call emergency services.
Your going out and your coming in
A beautiful promise sits at the end of Psalm 121: "The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore" (Psalm 121:8). Many families pray it before a journey. We pray, and we also buckle up, because caring well for our children is one of the ways we trust God with them. Faith and a properly fitted car seat belong together.
A prayer for the road
Lord, watch over our going out and our coming in. Give me patience to check every strap, wisdom on the road, and peace on the journey. Keep my baby safe and bring us home well. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
How long should my baby stay rear-facing?
Keep your baby rear-facing for as long as their seat allows. In the UK, i-Size seats must be rear-facing until at least 15 months.
Can my baby wear a coat in the car seat?
Thick or padded coats can stop the harness fitting snugly. Dress your baby in thinner layers, strap them in, then put a blanket or coat over the harness.
Is it safe to hold my baby on my lap in the car?
No. In a crash or sudden stop, an adult cannot hold on to a baby. Always use a suitable car seat, even on short journeys and in taxis.
This article is for general information and encouragement, not medical advice. Please talk to your doctor or midwife about your own health and your baby's.
