6 Ways to Get Your Car Ready for Baby
As your nesting instincts kick in, you’ll find yourself getting your home and nursery ready for baby. But it’s just as important to prep your car too. Priority number one is getting the all-important car seat installed—ideally, at least a few weeks before your due date. We’ve got guidance on choosing the right car seat, plus a few lesser-known tips that’ll help you prepare for your new passenger. Read on to find out exactly what you need to do to get your car baby-ready.
The car seat is one of the most important things you’ll buy or register for when it comes to baby’s safety, not to mention one of the more expensive. All infants up to 1 year old must be in a rear-facing car seat, so you’ll need an infant car seat or a convertible car seat that can be placed in a rear-facing position.
When shopping, safety is bound to be your number one priority. Rest assured, all car seats on the market are required to meet basic federal safety regulations. That said, some have extra safety features that can provide additional protection and may be important to you. You should also consider the seat’s weight and height limits to be sure it’s a good option for your little one.
babyark was founded by an aeronautical engineer and new parent who wanted to bring his expertise creating life-saving seats to the car seat industry. The babyark is the only convertible car seat currently on the market that includes a front-load leg (a support leg that extends from the base of the car seat to the floor and limits the seat’s forward momentum in a crash), an anti-rebound bar (which reduces rotation and stabilizes the seat in the event of a frontal-, rear- or side-impact crash) and LATCH (a secure connection directly between the car seat and your vehicle). Both babyark’s Classic and Smart models include all of those safety features as well as a specially designed side-impact panel and a shock-absorbing SafeCoil system that was pioneered on helicopters and armored vehicles.
Equally as important as a safe car seat is proper installation—without it, your car seat can’t do what it needs to do. All car seats must go in the back seat, but the best location depends on the size and style of your vehicle and whether you have any other car seats already installed. Follow both your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle manual to ensure every element is done correctly.
If you’re having trouble or just want some added assurance, there are pros you can consult for help. Certified child passenger safety technicians will check your work and train you to install the seat safely on your own. You can attend a Safe Kids coalition event in your area or search to find a technician near you. babyark even has their own in-house certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), Britney Schroeder, who is available to answer questions or walk customers through the installation process in real time.
Unless you have a brand-new car, chances are good that something needs to be fixed or serviced in your vehicle. Be sure to take it in for an inspection and have it serviced by a trusted mechanic before baby arrives—you definitely don’t want to be without your car or dealing with a major issue while taking care of a newborn. This is also a good time to get your vehicle thoroughly cleaned—splurge on the detailed wash!—or even invest in some upgrades you don’t already have, like an automatic starter.
As a mom of two toddlers, one of my best tips for all new parents is to make an emergency baby bag for the car. Babies are messy and unpredictable, and you never know when they’re going to do something like spit up all over themselves or have a blow-out. I always keep a bag in my trunk full of stuff I might need when out of the house. For infants, I recommend the following:
- At least one change of clothes (including socks and booties)
- Extra diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
- Cleaning wipes for the car seat or vehicle
- A nonperishable snack or two if they’re eating solids
- A clean baby bottle
- An extra pacifier
- A toy to keep them occupied if needed
- A sweater, hat or blanket in case they get cold
- A teething toy
- Bandages and some basic first aid essentials
Take it from me: once you have kids, it’s very easy for your car to become a total disaster, but you can set yourself up for success before they even arrive. A behind-the-seat organizer can corral all of the things you’ll inevitably bring with you on any car ride without taking up any precious backseat space. In the front seat, I’ve found little things like sunglass clips and hooks for my bag to be helpful. And I always keep a mini car vacuum in the trunk for quick cleanups. Speaking of messes, if you’ve ever had to try to clean spit-up from the crevices of a car seat, you’ll appreciate one with a cover that zips off and can be tossed in the washing machine, like babyark’s.
The sun streaming through your little one’s car window might keep them awake or cause them to cry uncontrollably as you drive. On top of that, backseat windows typically don’t protect against UVA rays. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using some sort of UV shield or protective window shield to limit exposure to those harmful rays. (Check out The Bump’s guide to car sun shades.) You may even want to look into getting a professional protective film added to your windows, but check your local regulations first.
Our pick: babyark convertible car seats
This seat offers top-of-the-line engineering, materials and safety features designed to protect baby in the event of a crash. And with magnetic straps, adjustable reclining positions and zippered covers that can be removed and machine washed, it’s both comfortable for baby and convenient for parents and caregivers to use. Plus, it never expires, and grows with your little one from newborn up to 65 pounds.
babyark Classic convertible car seat, $790, babyark.com
The Smart version includes multiple sensors that detect movement in the seat and connect with the babyark mobile app, allowing for real-time notifications that tell you if baby is buckled properly or alerts you if they’re left behind in the seat. The app also offers step-by-step guidance for installing the car seat correctly.
babyark Smart convertible car seat, $990, babyark.com
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