Driving around with baby can be pretty nerve-wracking for many parents, so in honor of National Baby Safety Month we’ve put together this list of baby car seat safety rules every parent should know. Once you familiarize yourself with this list, cruising around with your little one should seem less unnerving, so let’s buckle up and hit the road!
Install the seat correctly
First things first, let’s make sure your car seat is installed correctly. The back seat is the safest place to install the car seat, but not all cars allow for a car seat in every place that has a seat belt. Check your car owner’s manual to see where you can put a car seat, and read the car seat manual thoroughly. You can also ask a car seat technician for help setting up the seat. Bugaboo makes car seat installation seamless with their Turtle One by Nuna car seat. This seat can be integrated with adapters (some sold separately) and used as a stroller with the Bugaboo Ant, Bee, Butterfly, Donkey, Fox, Lynx and Cameleon 3 models.
Do the inch test…
Make sure baby’s car seat is fitted snugly and securely by doing an ‘inch test’. When properly installed, a car seat shouldn’t move more than one inch front to back or side to side when tugged. This rule applies to forward-facing car seats and rear-facing car seats and when the seat is secured with either the seat belt or latch. Remember to do the inch test to check for looseness every few months. If you’re still looking for a safe car seat, Bugaboo’s Turtle One by Nuna will keep your little one secure on the road. Bugaboo spends years developing, testing, and refining every product far beyond industry standards. So you can be sure that every joint, stitch, and click is designed to keep baby safe.
….and the pinch test
Check that your child’s harness is tight enough with the pinch test. First, place your fingers on the harness, around your child’s collarbone area. Then try to pinch the harness strap. If you can get a good pinch between your fingers, the harness isn’t tight enough. If you can’t get the strap to pinch between your fingers, the harness is tight enough, and your child is safely strapped in.
Dress for the occasion
The clothing that baby wears can impact the safety of their car ride. Bulky clothing such as winter coats and snowsuits shouldn’t be worn underneath the harness of a car seat because the fluffy padding in this clothing immediately flattens out if hit, leaving extra space under the harness. Because of the extra space, a child could slip through the straps and fall out of the seat. To avoid this, dress baby in thin layers and tight thermal clothing in the winter. Try to use padding around your baby that has been tested by your car seat manufacturer and don’t use car seat covers that go behind the child, because they cause the straps to not tighten properly.
Time it out
Since baby’s spine and lungs are still developing, sitting in a car seat for too long can cause unnecessary strain. In general, try to follow the two-hour rule and only keep baby in their car seat for a maximum of two hours a day. If you are on a long drive, try to take breaks as frequently as possible to get baby out of the seat — even if you have to wake them. Keep baby comfy while cruising in Bugaboo’s Turtle One by Nuna car seat. This car seat offers top comfort for your little one and includes the signature Bugaboo canopy with mesh peekaboo and UPF 50+ smart shade to create a quiet haven for your baby, so they remain comfortable on the road.
Still searching for the perfect car seat? Look no further than Bugaboo’s Turtle One by Nuna model! Designed in collaboration with premium car seat brand Nuna, the Turtle One by Nuna offers top comfort for your baby and seamless integration with Bugaboo Ant, Bee, Butterfly, Donkey, Fox, Lynx and Cameleon 3 strollers. Created with your convenience in mind, the Turtle One by Nuna and Turtle Air by Nuna car seat bases are secure and easy to install. Whether you’re going for a drive around the block or a new adventure. Find peace of mind, with a Bugaboo.
