Car Safety Checklist for Moms

Running errands and taking an extra-long road trip used to be easy, but now you have a little living life (or two, or more!) to look after in the back seat. Want to be sure your vehicle is child safe and ready to roll? Review this car safety checklist for moms before you head for the highway or just pop down to the store. Ensure your peace of mind…at least until they start to ask, “Are we there yet?”

Do as You Say, and They’ll Do as You Do

Whether you’re a new parent with a babbling infant in the back seat or a long-time one with a teenager in the front seat, it’s always smart to brush up on car safety. But no matter how much you know, it won’t mean much if your kids don’t see you practicing what you preach. Older kids see you being safe and so it becomes second nature to them. Keep in mind that parenthood is a classroom. They’re always learning by your example.

Car Seat Safety

Assess whether your kids have the right car seat for their age group. Infant seats face the back of the car. Infant and toddler seats are forward-facing and suitable for children between 40 and 70 pounds. A child graduates to a booster seat at about age eight. This is also the time to ensure they’re strapping themselves in every ride. Check to be sure the seatbelts are snug and secure and that the seat doesn’t move an inch—too much give in any direction can be dangerous. Consider placing the seat toward the center of the back seat, as it significantly reduces the risk of injury in a car accident.

Kid-friendly Cars

Let’s close out this car safety checklist for moms with what to look for in a vehicle. Are the kids able to play with the locks and door handles in the back? Be sure to pick a car with automatic locks that are childproof too. If the windows are automatic, they need to have the anti-pinch feature. Anti-pinch windows can sense resistance when something is blocking them, and either stop moving or reverse direction. So important when it comes to little hands and fingers. Ensure your car is equipped with airbags but ensure that if an air bag deploys with a child in the front seat, there’s no risk of injury to them. The rule, however, is a child must be over 12 years old to sit up front. Be safe!