Safe Car Ride with Babies
The first car ride home with your baby is filled with excitement, but it can also be challenging for the parents. The need to protect your baby raises questions and concerns: how do you cope with the car safety seat? In what direction should it be attached? In the front or in the rear seat? Because the topic is so important, even critical, it may seem complicated. However, following a few essential rules ensures a safe journey with your baby.
A suitable car safety seat
In the early stages of life, a baby's delicate body requires the utmost protection. Their head is proportionally large and heavy, while their other organs are soft. Therefore, in a situation of a full stop, the protection that the safety seat provides is particularly essential.
The safety seat should be matched to the baby's age and bear a valid Israeli safety standard certification (which must comply with European or American standards). It is essential to be aware that the safety seat has an expiration date. Check the date typically stamped on the back of the safety seat before installation.
Further reading on safety car seats: purchase and safe use
Installing a safety seat
Car safety seats should be rear facing up to the age of two to reduce the risk of cervical spine injury in accidents. While the law mandates rear-facing positioning only for up to one year, studies suggest that it is safer to continue rear-facing positioning until the age of two.
The Beterem Organization recommends rear-facing installation of the car safety seat until the child reaches the age of two, or as long as it is feasible based on usage instructions and the child's size. The reason is that during an accident, the body thrusts forcefully forward in the direction of travel. A baby’s cervical spine is not fully developed, making it susceptible to severe damage or even death from sudden movement. When seated rear-facing, the back of the seat absorbs the force of impact, reducing the risk of head injury. Studies have shown that rear-facing positioning is five times safer for babies compared to front-facing positioning.
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Where should you place your car seat
The safest spot for babies in a car is the center seat in the rear seat (unless there is an obstruction preventing proper car seat adjustment). Since most accidents are frontal, sitting in the rear seat can reduce the impact of the hit.
Furthermore, your attention will be less compromised if the car seat is at the back and not by your side. You can use a special mirror that enables the driver to see the baby during the ride.
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Anchoring the car safety seat
The car safety seat should be securely attached to the car using either Isofix (metal rings connected to the car's chassis for anchoring car safety seats) or the safety seat’s safety belts, including the internal straps, in accordance with the seat type, so that it cannot move more than 2.5 cm to the right or left.
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If you do place the car seat on the front seat
It is essential to make sure before driving that you have neutralized the air bag in front of the seat.
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Buckling up the seat belt
The seat belt of the baby must be buckled up throughout the ride, including the inner straps, according to their size and the manufacturer's instructions.