The Best Baby Car Mirrors to Keep an Eye on Little Ones

Leaving the hospital and driving home with your newborn for the first time ignites all kinds of worries: Is baby breathing okay? Are they warm? Cold? Is the car seat harness too tight or, maybe, not tight enough? There are suddenly so many things to stress about after finally feeling like the pregnancy anxieties were in your rear view mirror. Driving with baby is certainly an adjustment. Some parents find that a baby car mirror helps abate their anxiety. But is a car mirror for baby necessary, helpful and safe? Read on for all the important information.

Do You Need a Baby Car Mirror?

Wondering if you need a car seat mirror? The short answer: no, you don’t. If you’re concerned about driving with baby, consider scheduling a consultation with a certified car seat expert. They’ll be able to walk you through everything you need to know about car travel with your infant, toddler, preschooler or older child, and hopefully have you feeling empowered to strap your kiddo in and take off without looking back.

“If the car seat is installed properly, and the baby is harnessed properly, they’re not in danger, and there’s no need to look at them,” says Lainie Choy, a child-passenger safety technician and consultant for Safe in the Seat. You may feel the burning need to buy a baby car mirror for quick peeks to ease your nerves, but in actuality, the accessory isn’t necessary. That said, some parents find that a car mirror brings them peace of mind. That said, it’s certainly a purchase that should come with careful deliberation and parental discretion. Here’s what to consider:

Safety Concerns

It makes sense for parents to wonder what their rear-facing infant or young toddler is doing when they’re out of sight—and it’s tempting to turn around and survey the baby car mirror for confirmation that everything is, in fact, okay. But during that cursory glance, you’re not focusing on the road in front of you. “In just a few seconds of not looking at the road, you could easily get into a crash. You could veer into another lane, off the road or the vehicle in front of you could slam on their brakes,” says Choy.

The secondary concern, then, is what can happen in the event of an accident. A car mirror can act as a projectile, and it’s aimed right at baby. Choy cautions that it can come off in an accident and hit the baby in the face. This is especially conceivable if the car mirror hasn’t been installed correctly or securely.

Lack of Federal Safety Regulation

Unlike your child’s car seat, which has been put through rigorous safety testing, federal safety standards for baby car mirrors simply don’t exist. Brands can freely release car mirrors with “shatterproof” or “crash-tested” labels, but you’ll need to take these claims with a grain of salt. The testing is done on a much smaller scale. Choy adds that “there are so many different vehicles, and each has a unique interior style.” She wonders: “Do these companies crash-test their car mirrors on every type of vehicle (sedan, SUV, minivan, etc.), with every different headrest?” Probably not.

If not being able to see your little one while you’re on the road puts you on edge, but a car mirror mellows your stress, then by all means, buy one. Just use it prudently. “Look in the mirror when stopped at a red light or stop sign, and be very quick about it,” urges Choy.

What to Look for in a Car Mirror or Monitor

If a baby car mirror is a must for you and your family, then keep these features in mind before you add to your cart.

Go for a Lightweight build

If an accident does occur (and hopefully that’s never the case!), you won’t want a heavy car mirror coming undone and barreling towards you or baby. So look for car mirrors that are lightweight and crafted from acrylic versus glass (for the mirror) and a pliable, soft-edged frame, versus thick, clunky plastic.

Opt for Extra-Secure Fasteners

How can you make sure a car mirror doesn’t fly off? Snap it and strap it so it doesn’t move—some can wobble or rattle while the car is en route, and that’s the last thing you need when you’re trying to limit distractions. The best car mirrors will have straps that fasten tightly around a headrest so they’re firm and steady even on the bumpiest of rides. Some even use intricate stitching to prevent breakage and wear-and-tear over time. As for suction cups? Choy advises you take those options off your list. “The kind that have suction cups and go on the window are less likely to stay attached,” she warns.

Make Sure Installation Is Easy

Quick and simple installation is always preferred. But what’s the point of a baby car mirror if it’s not put up the right way? Some mirrors are heavier than others; some boast more straps. But, for the most part, they “really only attach securely to headrests that move up and down,” says Choy. “For the headrests that are fixed and don’t have any space under them, it’s hard to attach the mirror as securely as it should be.” If you can find a mirror that pivots, ideally 360 degrees, positioning it on a passenger headrest (if no one is sitting there, of course) is also a smarter choice (to avoid it being affixed directly above baby). Fasten the buckles (much better than Velcro, by the way), tilt the mirror to your preferred angle and ride off into the sunset.

Avoid Car Baby Monitor Options

In your search for car mirrors, you might come across baby car cameras or baby monitors for the car. These can certainly curb your need to keep glancing back at baby, but Choy warns against them, sharing that they still pose a projectile risk. It’s also worth noting that car cameras are illegal in some states and territories (namely, California, Washington, D.C., Florida and New Jersey), so you’ll want to do some research on your local laws before purchasing one.

Best Baby Car Mirrors and Monitors

If you’ve had time to reflect on all of the above and still find yourself in the market for a car mirror, then check out these six options for their low-risk features and incredibly secure installation methods. (One or two might have even won us over for the bonus benefit of letting baby see you in the front. If a calmer and more relaxed child means a less stressful ride—with no turn-around temptations—then we’re here for it!)