Car Safety

Buy new, never used. You can't verify a used seat's crash history. Check expiration date (printed on the seat, typically 6-10 years). Register at the manufacturer's website for recall alerts immediately.

LATCH is easiest for most cars but has a weight limit (check manual). Seatbelt install works at any weight. The base shouldn't move more than 1 inch side-to-side at the belt path. Tug hard to test.

Most infant seats have a built-in level indicator (bubble or line). Newborns need a more reclined angle (about 45 degrees) to keep their airway open. Adjust with rolled towels under the base if needed.

Harness straps must be at or below shoulder level for rear-facing infants. The chest clip sits at armpit level, not on the belly. Straps snug enough that you can't pinch any webbing at the shoulder.

Chest clip at armpit level — if it's on the belly, it won't protect in a crash. If it's at the neck, it's a strangulation risk. Check this every single time you buckle. It slides down.

Free inspections at fire stations, police stations, and NHTSA events. Find a certified CPST at cert.safekids.org. 80% of car seats are installed incorrectly. A 15-minute check could save a life.

Register at the manufacturer's website with your seat's model and serial number. This is the ONLY way you'll get notified of recalls. Takes 2 minutes and is critically important.

Rear-facing in the back seat only. Front passenger airbags deploy with lethal force for infants. Center back seat is the safest position if your car allows a proper install there.

Shatterproof mirror clipped to the rear headrest so you can see baby's face in your rearview. Helps you check on a rear-facing baby without turning around. Never adjust it while driving.

Static-cling or roller shades on rear windows block UV rays and sun glare. Babies can't tell you they're being blinded or overheating. Install on both rear windows even if seat is only on one side.

Practice buckling and unbuckling the car seat with a stuffed animal or doll 5+ times before the baby arrives. Under stress, fumbling with buckles while a screaming newborn waits is brutal.

Drive to the hospital at least once before labor. Time it at your likely departure time. Know parking locations (ER entrance for fast drop-off). Have a backup route in case of traffic or construction.

Rear-facing until at least age 2, ideally until they outgrow the seat's rear-facing height/weight limit (many seats go to 40-50 lbs). Their spine and neck aren't strong enough for forward-facing crashes.

Puffy coats create slack in the harness — in a crash, the coat compresses and the harness is too loose to protect. Instead: buckle baby, then drape a blanket or car seat poncho over the straps.

In a sudden stop, any loose object becomes a projectile. A water bottle at 30 mph hits with 20 lbs of force. Keep heavy items in the trunk. Soft toys attached to the car seat are fine.

Set a phone alarm and put your left shoe in the back seat next to the car seat as a habit. Heatstroke kills 38 kids per year on average. It doesn't just happen to "bad parents" — it happens to exhausted ones.

Baby first aid kit in the car: diapers (4-5), wipes, change of clothes, plastic bags for dirty clothes, blanket, pacifier, bottle of water, and infant Tylenol. Restock monthly.

Keep a full change of clothes in a gallon zip bag in the trunk at all times. Blowouts happen in the car regularly. Include a onesie, pants, socks, and a plastic bag for the soiled outfit.

Keep 5-6 diapers and a travel pack of wipes in the car at all times. Emergency diaper changes happen in parking lots, on tailgates, and across back seats. Restock your car supply weekly.

Full-size wipes pack in the car, not just a travel pack. You'll use them for diaper changes, spit-up on your shirt, cleaning car seat straps, and wiping down restaurant high chairs.