Whether it is a newborn baby on his first car ride to his way home, or a kid being dropped at school, rules of car safety are of utmost important. Keeping our precious little ones safe and happy while taking a ride needs a parents’ conscious efforts, which gradually get passed on to the kids.
Knowing and following the safety precautions and the road rules of your city is likely to keep you and your kids safe on the roads.
While accidents are inevitable, taking proper precautions to make sure that your child is safe in and around the cars will reduce any untoward risk. Being aware of the potential dangers and knowing how to protect your child will help to create a safe trip for your child.
Let us explore child car safety rules and how to ensure the child has a safe journey.
13 Car Safety Tips For Kids To Be Never Compromised
The primary concern of any parent would be the safety of their children. We know that you have already taught your kids the basic safety rules while at home but what about car safety? And when it comes riding in cars on the road, the risks are pretty high. While car safety tips for kids are not linked only to roads, it also depends on how safe the child is inside the car. There are a lot of incidents such as choking while eating inside the car, parking lot accidents, and leaving the child inside the cars that still take place.
It is important you know and follow car safety tips for kids thoroughly and also teach your kids how to safely remain inside the car during your absence. Also, while traveling with a toddler, there are some basic rules that you need to follow. Things such as using a child lock, installing a child seat for babies, and using seat belts are some basic things that you can initiate.
Listed below are a few important points you need to consider while traveling with a baby.
1. Use a good quality booster seat
Since the regular car seats are designed for adult passengers, you must use a quality car seat or a booster seat for your little one. This is always a safe option for your child, as the regular seats cannot provide safety and comfort for your little one.
While many parents prefer to hold their child on their laps, it might not provide ultimate safety and comfort for your child. A booster chair will help to keep your child in a safe and comfortable position. Make sure you use the age-appropriate seat to keep the child comfortable.
2. Keep the child within your eyesight
While it could sound like something stupid, one important car safety tip for kids is to ensure they are always under your vigilance. Leaving a child behind in the car could be fatal for the child. It is necessary to keep the child within your eyesight to avoid any disaster.
A rear-facing car seat has a disadvantage as you cannot see your child through the looking glass. To avoid accidents, in that case, keep talking to your kids occasionally to ensure they are safe.
Related Reading: Top 15 Bathroom Safety Tips For Toddlers
3. Don’t leave your child alone in the car
Leaving the child alone in the car even for a few minutes is not a recommended idea. While you may think it might take only 10 minutes in the supermarket, even those could turn out to be hazardous.
Many factors contribute to this. You might think the child needs to stay comfortable in the car and so you switch on the AC leaving the car on. If the child accidentally turns the gear, things may go fatal. Similarly, if you switch off the AC and have the doors shut, it could lead to suffocation and heatstroke during summer.
4. Activate the child lock
It is advised to activate the child’s safety lock on the doors and windows to ensure the child doesn’t open them while the car is moving. This prevents the child from hazardous situations. Children can unintentionally pop their heads, arms, and legs out of the window. So, the best thing is for the driver to have complete control over the doors and windows.
And ofcourse, strictly no joyrides where you permit the kids to stick the heads or arms out!
5. Avoid letting the child eat in the car
While it seems unavoidable, most of the time, the child’s snack time will coincide with your car trip at some point in time. However, giving children food in the car could be dangerous. For example, if your child begins to choke over food, especially after you drive on a bumpy road, you may not notice it right away.
Hence, your reaction to it might not be immediate. To avoid such situations, it is better to provide food to your child before you start the trip and later offer some toys for the kids to play with and get distracted. Or if the drive is going to take more time, try offering foods that don’t pose a choking hazard.
Related Reading: Top 10 Choking Foods For Toddlers
6. Buckle up
Fitting the seat belts correctly is essential. The recommended norm is only one person per seat belt. Hence it is advised to avoid having your child in your lap while you are driving. Make sure you model the right seat belt while in the car as we act as role models for our children.
Also, the habits such as safe seating and proper buckling need to be instilled to the child right from their childhood. Ensure that the child is wearing a seat belt before you start the car and the child must not remove it until the engine is switched off.
7. Don’t allow kids to play around parked cars
Even if the cars are locked, children must not be allowed to play around parked cars. This creates a false sense of security where the child could make it a habit to keep playing in parking lots which is dangerous.
Your child would be in great danger if the vehicle breaks do not function properly. Also, it is safe to let the child know well beforehand that the parked cars and the ones about to start from the parking lot are pretty similar.
8. Keep the car locked
Keeping the car locked not only protects the car from theft but also ensures your children don’t get into it without your knowledge, especially when it is parked in the driveway or garage. Locking the vehicle potentially saves the child from being trapped inside the car or playing with the vehicle’s control which could lead to accidents. Also, make sure that the car keys are potentially out of reach of children so that they do not open and start the car.
Related Reading: The Top 10 Most Common Parenting Mistakes
9. Look both ways
It is better to teach your child the safety rules of roads even at a very young age. Instead of giving them vague instructions, it is better to show them safe crossing habits. Instead of saying “watch out for cars”, teach them that they have to look left and right and again all over again the second time to ensure the car hasn’t approached again.
The more you teach children this way of practical techniques, the more they would be adapted and used to them.
10. Keep the child hydrated
If you are planning to go somewhere for a long trip, keeping the child hydrated is an important car safety tip for kids. This will ensure proper hydration and prevent dehydration and summer stroke in a country like India. Make sure to have a bottle of water and fresh juice always in your car and keep offering to the child at regular intervals.
11. Avoid using phones
You know all the reasons to keep smart phones away from the kids. But while driving phone usage by adults contributes to the rate of accidents hugely. No matter how important the text or call is, make sure to stop the car and respond. It would be better if you could also avoid it. Using the phone while driving puts you and your child’s life in danger. Remember, a few seconds of distraction could turn out to be fatal.
12. Keep the kids engaged
Concentration is the key to driving. When your kids are engaged, they are less likely to disturb you. You must ensure that the kids are engaged in something or the other so that you can concentrate on driving.
Encourage your child to read a storybook, listen to some music, or indulge in activities such as painting or drawing. Remember, kids can break your concentration when they get bored.
13. Take a break during long travels
If you are taking long trips with your kids, make sure to take small breaks in between. You may let the child use the restroom during this time. Also, while taking the highway, you may find a lot of refreshment centers, Dhabas, or petrol bunks. If you find the place to be clean, allow your child a toilet break which might keep them comfortable.
Related Reading: 12 Must Know Tips When Travelling With Baby In Car
Conclusion
While traveling with kids is something that couldn’t be avoided, following certain safety measures is sure to keep your ride safe. Educate your child about car safety and use the right seat according to the child’s weight, height, and development stage.
Following car safety tips for kids while you travel with a baby or a toddler is very crucial. Also, to make sure you stay safe from accidents, it is advised you follow the road safety rules of your city. Also, make sure to get your car serviced at regular intervals.