Many first-time parents are quite nervous about taking their newborn baby out in the car for the first time. I was literally paranoid to put my kids in a car when they were newborns. Even if they are good drivers, they still find that their anxiety starts to build and they start to second guess everything that they do out on the road. And, for some people, it doesn’t seem to get any easier the more often they go out with their baby. They still feel anxious and on edge in the driver’s seat.
There’s no reason to feel the nerves, though. There are plenty of ways you can drive safely with your baby on board. Here are just a few great tips that will help you.
Drive During Naps
This might not always be possible, but whenever it is, you should always try and drive while your baby is taking their nap. Thankfully, there will be lots of naps while they are still very young! The main benefit of driving while they are asleep is that there is no way your baby will distract your attention from the road by crying. Most babies tend to fall asleep in the car anyway, so even if your little one isn’t due a nap, they might still drop off when you set off.
Leave Plenty Of Space Between You And Other Vehicles
Accidents happen every day. Unfortunately, these are something that you can’t always prevent. So, to try and keep your risk down to a minimum, you always need to leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles. This is especially the case between your car and large vehicles, such as trucks. If you see Dolman Law Group for more stats and facts on truck accidents, you will notice that they occur fairly frequently. So, make sure there is plenty of space between you and passing vehicles so that you have plenty of time to react just in case something goes wrong.
Secure Everything
It’s a good idea to ensure that anything loose in the car is secured down so that it won’t bounce around as you go over any bumps. This is also the case for your baby – she or he needs to be very secure in their car seat, and the seat also needs to be buckled down in the back seat.
Have Someone Ride In The Back
Babies that aren’t used to being in a car may feel a bit lost and bewildered being in the back seat all on their own. As a result, they could easily start crying for you, which could be very distracting when you are meant to be completely focused on the road. So, for their first few journeys, it’s a good idea to get a passenger to sit in the back seat with them.
Dress The Baby Appropriately
The baby needs to be fully clothed so that they are comfortable in their car seat. Ideally, they should be dressed in clothes that won’t rub and irritate them under the seat straps.
Your baby will be very safe with these useful tips!
