How Do You Keep Your Newborn Baby Safe in a Car Accident. Here are the Top 8 Ways...
Having a newborn baby is one of the most exciting times in a person’s life. It can also be quite stressful if you don’t know what you are doing—particularly when it is your first child.
A motor vehicle can be a dangerous place for a newborn child if you don’t take precautions to keep your baby safe. Here is a list of things you can do before and your child is born to ensure you newborn baby rides safely in your car:
1. Never hold your baby while you are driving. I know we all have seen those infamous pictures of Britney Spears holding her son while she was behind the wheel, and we were all disgusted by them. This is especially dangerous because it is impossible to hold a small child during a collision. An unsecured baby is at high risk of losing his life in an auto accident.
2. Use a rear facing car safety seat. Use this type of seat for newborns until they turn two years old. It has been proven that this is the best way to prevent head and spinal cord injuries.
3. Keep your baby in the back seat. It is safer for them to be in the back seat because back seat injuries are generally less severe. The best place to put the baby seat is in the center back seat.
4. Make sure the seat belt is fastened properly. It will also be important to make sure the seat belt is functional after it is fastened. To test if the seatbelt is functioning properly, the seat belt should move less than an inch forward or side-to-side.
5. Make sure the baby is fastened in the car seat without their blanket. If you want to put a blanket on your newborn, make sure you put it on them only after they are properly fastened in their seat.
6. Follow the installation instructions on the car seat. Don’t assume that every car seat is the same. Every baby seat is different, so be sure to follow the instructions. It will also be helpful to practice installing it multiple times before using it for your child.
7. Attend a car seat safety class. These classes are very beneficial and can be found at your local hospital or clinic. If your local hospital does not offer the class, they can probably point you to a hospital that does.
8. Contact a car seat technician if you run into any problems. These technicians can be found everywhere. Please refer to our child motor vehicle accident resource page for more information.
Please remember to follow these simple steps to ensure that your newborn child has a safe and comfortable trip in the car. Make sure to pass this article on to anyone with a newborn baby or your babysitters. Of course, the car accident lawyers at the Jurewitz Law Group know that some auto accidents cannot be avoided. If you or your child are ever involved in a car accident, call our personal injury law office at 888-233-5020 for a free consultation.
Have you been injured in an accident in San Diego or anywhere in California and don't know what to do next? We are here to help and provide you with the important and relevant information you need to make an informed decision about:
- How to handle your personal injury claim
- Who is the right injury accident attorney to help you with your case, and
- Whether you even need to hire a lawyer to help you with your insurance claim
Call the Jurewitz Law Group at 888-233-5020 to order one of our free California personal injury books to get the information you need or to set up a free consultation with one of our experienced San Diego personal injury attorneys.
