Children should travel facing the rear for as long as possible, preferably in the middle of the back seat. What should every new parent remember? Why is there no room for any exceptions in this matter? Here are several rules for safely transporting children.
How should you transport an infant in a car? – First and foremost, in a car seat!
A child’s safety while traveling is the most important thing. That is why it is worth remembering that until the age of 12, a child must travel in a special car seat. Contrary to appearances, an infant is not a smaller version of an adult. There are differences between the anatomical structure of a child and that of an adult. Surely all parents are well aware of this. A small child is very delicate and completely defenseless. The force of inertia generated during a road collision is merciless toward a child inside a car.
Considering that a small child’s cervical vertebrae, muscles, and ligaments are not yet fully developed, it is obvious that the child is more vulnerable to injuries and damage. A small passenger is fragile and defenseless, so we must provide maximum protection. It is absolutely unacceptable for an infant to travel in a carrycot or in the mother’s arms. This is very dangerous and creates an enormous risk of serious injury or death in the event of an accident! A baby may travel only in a car seat installed facing the rear. Under no circumstances should the car seat be dispensed with. The child must not be removed from it while the car is moving. Even if the child fusses, nothing will happen, but in the event of a collision, the consequences will be incomparably more serious. An infant transported without a car seat is not protected in any way.
A rear-facing car seat is an essential part of every baby’s layette!
Newborns and infants should travel only facing the rear. This is one of the most important rules that we should never break. Only a rear-facing car seat will protect a child while traveling by car. That is why car seats for the youngest children are produced so that they cannot be installed the other way around. All experts unanimously recommend transporting a child in a car only in this position. There is no room for any exceptions, as a baby is fragile and needs support from the seat back. Only a rear-facing car seat and a rear-facing position can provide a child with adequate protection.
According to statistics, approximately 65% of road accidents are classified as head-on collisions. Head-on collisions, even at low speeds, generate the greatest forces of inertia. They cause us to move forward against our will and then fall back with great force. Although our spine is already fully developed, it is not resistant to the effects of such force. A child has a different anatomical structure than an adult, and their cartilage tissue is not the same as our bone tissue. A small passenger is weaker and less resistant to all kinds of injuries. Taking all this into account, it is understandable that a child must have suitable protection and solid support. This is very important! Under current regulations, children up to 15 months old must be transported facing the rear. However, we encourage you to use a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible!
Install a rear-facing car seat on the back seat!
There is still the question of where to install a rear-facing car seat in a car. The answer is simple—do not transport a baby in the front! A car seat should not be installed on the front seat, especially if the vehicle is equipped with an airbag. Install a rear-facing car seat on the back seat, preferably in the middle, as this area is equally far from the theoretical crumple zones after impacts from the left and right sides. If installing the car seat there is impossible, the recommended place is the seat on the right, behind the passenger. In this situation, safety and convenience are the deciding factors. When taking the child out of the car, the right side will be safer.
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