Car seat basics
If your baby will travel by car, even just home from the hospital, here's how to choose a seat, install it, buckle your baby in safely and get it checked.
If you'll travel by car with your baby, even just for the trip home after the birth, you'll need a car seat suitable from birth. Some hospitals check that you have one before you leave. Sorting it out a few weeks early means you won't be learning how it works with a newborn in your arms.
Choosing a seat
Babies travel in a rear-facing seat. Many families start with an infant carrier seat, which clicks in and out of a base, while others use a convertible seat that stays in the car and can face forward later on.
Register the seat with the manufacturer if you can, so you hear about any safety recalls.
Installing it in the car
Read both the car seat manual and your vehicle manual. Together they tell you which seating positions work and how to install the seat, using either the built-in anchors or the seat belt.
Choose the position
The back seat is the safest place for a baby. Never put a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag.
Install it tightly
An installed seat shouldn't move more than about an inch (2.5 cm) side to side or front to back when you pull it at the belt path.
Check the angle
Rear-facing seats have an angle indicator. Adjust the seat so your newborn's head doesn't flop forward, which can affect their breathing.
Practice
Take the seat in and out, and buckle a doll or a rolled-up towel into it, a few times before your due date.
Many places offer car seat checks by trained technicians. Ask your hospital or maternity unit, or the store where you bought the seat. A quick check can catch common installation mistakes.
Buckling your baby in
Dress your baby in thin layers. Bulky coats and snowsuits squash down in a crash and leave the harness too loose. Buckle your baby in first, then tuck a blanket over the top of the harness to keep them warm.
Only use extras that came with the seat or that the manufacturer approves. Add-on head supports, padded inserts and strap covers can change how the seat works in a crash.
On the road
Car seats are for travel, not for sleep. When you reach your destination, take your baby out and lay them on their back in a flat, safe sleep space. On long trips, plan regular breaks to take your baby out of the seat, and if you can, have an adult sit in the back to keep an eye on them.
Keep your child rear-facing for as long as the seat allows, up to its height and weight limits. Rear-facing seats protect the head, neck and spine best.
If you'll use taxis, ride shares or other people's cars, plan ahead. Your baby still needs a suitable seat, so check whether yours fits other cars, or whether the service can provide one. Never travel with your baby on your lap. Holding them in your arms isn't safe in a crash.
Never leave your baby alone in a car, even for a minute. Cars heat up very quickly. After a crash, replace the seat as the manufacturer advises, even if it looks fine.
For information only — not medical advice. If something doesn't feel right, contact your midwife or doctor.
Sources
NHS — Your pregnancy and baby guide (nhs.uk/pregnancy)
ACOG — Patient FAQs (acog.org/womens-health/faqs)
WHO — Recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience
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