Whether you’re driving across town to Grandma’s or across several states, holiday travel with little ones takes planning. Roads are busier, schedules are off, and winter weather can turn a short trip into a long one. Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the U.S., but the right car seat, used correctly on every trip, prevents many serious injuries.
Use the right seat for your child’s age and size. The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend these stages:
- Rear-facing car seat from birth until about age 2 to 4, until your child reaches the seat’s height or weight limit. Keep children rear-facing as long as the seat allows.
- Forward-facing car seat with a harness after outgrowing rear-facing, until at least age 5.
- Booster seat after outgrowing the forward-facing seat, until the adult seat belt fits properly.
- Seat belt once it fits correctly across the upper thighs and chest. Keep children in the back seat through age 12.
Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an active air bag. Check your car seat manual for its limits and installation instructions.
Buckle, don’t bundle. Puffy winter coats and snowsuits create slack in the harness. In a crash, that padding compresses and the straps can end up too loose to hold your child. Instead, dress your child in thin layers such as fleece. Buckle the harness snugly, then lay a blanket or put the coat on backward over the straps. Try the pinch test: after buckling, you shouldn’t be able to pinch any extra strap material at your child’s shoulder.
Double-check the install. Loose installation and loose harness straps are among the most common car seat mistakes. If you’re unsure, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can check your seat, often for free.
Plan for stops. Little ones need breaks to stretch, eat and use the bathroom or get a diaper change. Build in a stop every couple of hours. Never leave a child alone in a car, even for a minute.
Pack a travel health kit. Bring any medicines your child takes, with enough to cover delays, plus a thermometer, children’s fever reducer, bandages, hand sanitizer, wipes and your health insurance card. Add snacks, water, a change of clothes and a few favorite toys or books.
Keep routines when you can. Familiar naptimes, bedtime stories and comfort items help children settle in a new place.
With the right seat and a little planning, you can focus on the people waiting at the end of the road.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Child Passenger Safety; Preventing Child Passenger Injury; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Keep Your Little Ones Warm and Safe in Their Car Seats.