When you have little ones in your life, you have to childproof every small part of your day. The house has to be packed full of safety functions and toys. You are constantly searching for the right balance of fun and safety. Most importantly, you can never take your eye off them for a second. This extends well beyond the house into the garden, the park and, crucially, your car.
As a parent, you’ll know that any little thing can become a hazard when children are around. Our cars are full of them! Cars are dangerous machines and it’s important to be aware of that. We use our cars every day, so it’s easy to become complacent with our driving and safety. However, when you have a child, you must be vigilant every single time you get inside the vehicle.
Of course, you must drive safely and responsibly. But, before that, the car must be completely child-proof. This means ensuring your child is safe and ensuring that you are safe. This all starts by choosing the right car. We’ll also look at keeping your little one entertained. A distracted child can become dangerous in a car. They begin to find other things to entertain them and will divert your attention from the road. Finally, we’ll look at protecting your car against spills and mess. Every parent has been caught out by a leaking Ribena carton! We’ll help minimise the damage.
Safety
Safety is the first priority when driving. Dealing with safety alters as your child grows older so make sure you are adapting. When they are very small, a baby seat or carrier is essential for travelling. Most come with detailed instructions about securing it into your car.
Always keep the baby carrier in the back seat. This is the single most important thing to remember. It may feel safer to have your child up in the front with you on the passenger seat. In actual fact, this is very dangerous. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that it distracts you, the driver. With your baby up front with you, you’ll constantly be taking your eyes off the road to check them. Taking your eyes off the road for a second can be incredibly dangerous. Trust the safety features and secure your child in the back seat.
The second reason for this is the airbag. In the case of a collision or accident, the passenger airbag is designed to spring out. They are designed specifically for adult passengers. Their placement is intended to soften the blow of the passenger’s face on the dashboard. Airbags are powerful and explosive when they open. If a baby is in the passenger seat, the airbag will hit the baby carrier and could be fatal.
If your baby absolutely must be in the passenger seat, find the function that turns the airbag off. This might seem counter-intuitive, but it is the safer option here. The same applies as your child grows up. They’ll soon upgrade to the child seat. Again, this must never be placed in the passenger seat. Always secure it in the back. Follow the instructions to loop the seatbelt in tightly and securely. Pad it out with a towel or blanket if the seatbelt still feels loose.
Keep hazards away
For most of us, we spend our entire day taking things out of our child’s mouths. Small children love to pick up new objects and explore them. That means putting them in their mouths and playing with them. Make sure there is nothing in the back of the car that could be dangerous. We keep a lot of equipment in our cars. Most of it wouldn’t be considered dangerous until you have a child. Once you do, everything is a hazard.
We often keep spare change in our cars. We store windscreen washer, deicer, ice scrapers and keys. All of these are a choking or chemical hazard to children. Keep these things well away from the back seat and your exploring child. Put everything away in the boot.
Entertain them
Our little ones get bored quickly. When this happens in a car, they’ll start exploring the world around them. They’ll touch and play with anything in reach. That means doors, windows and locks. These things are potentially dangerous to children. This is also dangerous for you as a parent. As soon as they become distracted, you are constantly watching them. You are trying to keep them away from things or talking to them. This takes your eyes of the road and makes you more vulnerable to accidents.
Let them bring their favourite toys on long journeys. If they are playing with toys, they aren’t playing with the rest of the car! Many parents install DVD players or TVs in the back of the car to keep children entertained. You can also put an audio book on the stereo. It is proven that music and images hold children’s attention. Keep them focused on that during the trip.
If you do bring along toys, try to stick to plush soft toys rather than anything with hard edges. In the unlikely event of an accident, soft toys will be less harmful flying around the car.
Keeping the car clean
This is something you could consider before you even buy your car. Dealers like rrg-group.com let you choose the colour and style of interior fabrics. It is wise to choose a darker colour for the interior trim, it will hide stains better! The best option here is actually leather. Although it may cost you a little extra, it is much easier to keep clean. Spills and food can easily be wiped away on leather. It won’t hold smells either. Try to keep a small bin in the back and make sure your children use it for rubbish.
Finally, use the car as a classroom. As your children grow, teach them the rules of the road. Teach them to respect property by keeping the car in good condition. Teach them how they should act towards others on the road. It’s a great place for them to learn human interaction. Remember, stay safe, avoid distractions and stay clean. Happy driving!
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