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Home › Articles › General Safety Issues › Car Seat Rules

Car Seat Rules

Simple Rules to Keep Your Children Safe While in a Car Seat

By Renee Roberson

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With stringent laws in place regarding installation and use of infant and toddler car seats, it's important for parents to educate themselves on the ins and outs of car seat safety. As a parent, you can expect to spend a lot of time installing car seats, making sure straps are snug and secure and wondering when you can transition your infant to a forward-facing seat. But proper installation aside, there are other safety factors to consider when transporting your little ones.

Here are some "rules" to consider to keep your little ones safe while in the car seat.

1. Don't Feed Infants in the Car
With small babies, it's best to plan ahead and make sure you feed your baby before heading out for a drive so he doesn't become hungry and want to be fed in the middle of a drive.

"I tell my parents to feed the baby before traveling anywhere," says Dr. Donna Hallas, who teaches pediatric safety at the NYU College of Nursing. "You shouldn't try propping a bottle to feed a small infant either, as it's very dangerous and a baby could choke."

And although the sound of a crying infant can be disconcerting, especially on long trips in the car, Dr. Hallas says parents should never take a child out of their car seat while the car is moving. "Pull over and then get the child out," she says.

2. Avoid Giving Access to Dangerous Items
Experts (and parents) are often divided on the issue of allowing toddlers to have food while fastened into their car seats.

Alison Rhodes, a child safety expert from Wilton, Conn., also known as "The Safety Mom," and Dr. Hallas both recommend not feeding children in the car because of the dangers it can pose. "If they are taking a long trip, parents need to plan ahead and stop to let the kids get out and eat, and then get back in the car," Dr. Hallas says.


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