We apologize in advance for the alarming nature of this post, however when it comes to safety, it’s simply too important an issue to sugar coat or skirt around, and we, at Babyshop, are absolutely committed to supporting all parents on their journey with the proper advice and expertise, best in class products and unmatched service. 

No matter how good and careful a driver you are, you know that crashes can happen, often through no fault of your own. Therefore, as a responsible road user, and parent, it’s essential to be always prepared and take all necessary precautions.  When transporting your most precious cargo - your family, including babies and young children – you should follow the laws and guidelines at all times, which underscore the importance of placing children in car seats.

Now as any mother knows, sitting in the front, listening to your baby crying in the back and not being able to scoop them up in your arms to comfort them might just be one of the hardest things to endure on any car journey. But it’s crucial that you do not, under any circumstances, take your little one out of their seat while on the roads for, by doing so, you are potentially jeopardizing their life. 

Infants and toddlers are extremely fragile and vulnerable to spinal and neck injuries, therefore, when travelling by car, you should never ever carry your baby on your lap or in your arms. It’s both illegal and dangerous.  Equally, never put a seat belt around yourself and your baby, for if you have an accident or even simply hit a small bump in the road, the weight of both you and your baby pushed against the seat belt could seriously injure them.

A child car seat is a vital piece of safety equipment and one of the most important items you will purchase.  By law, all babies must sit in a properly fitted child seat, right for their weight, height and age.  Your baby must be in a car seat for every journey, from the very first one home from the hospital. Most hospitals won’t let parents leave in a car after the birth unless they have a properly fitted infant car seat.

The laws on buckling up don’t only apply to children of course, but to everyone in the car.  If you choose not to wear a seat belt, you’re not only endangering yourself but everyone else in the car. When you’re in a crash, the force can be so high that anything not secured becomes a missile — even you.  If the unbuckled person is sitting in the backseat next to your baby, in a hard-impact crash, that person could crush your little one.

Now we know that parenting is no easy task, and all the new information and “rules” can be overwhelming. We hope that the information we share with you here, gathered from leading experts around the world, will go some way to helping you worry less, so that you can confidently do what is best and safest for your children. 

SHOP TRAVEL GEAR