Even though I feel like I’m a safe driver, I have to admit I am always a bit nervous when I’m driving my kids around. You may feel like you’re in control but you never know about other drivers and driving conditions. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that you are following all of the safety tips for kids in cars that you can!
Your Child’s Car Seat
Every car seat is different so you will want to make sure that their car seat is properly installed in your car. Even different makes of cars have different ways of having a car seat installed! I feel confident with my husband installing our children’s car seats but there are many places that offer car seat installation. There are technicians that can come to your house and even local children’s hospitals offer them! You never want anything to happen because the car seat wasn’t installed properly. Hopefully you never will be in one, but you need to look into if you have to get a new car seat after a car accident.
The Back Seat is the Safest
Your older child may think he’s ready to sit up front but the back seat really is the safest. They may not like rolling up to middle school sitting in the back, but safety IS cool, right? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that kids don’t sit in the front seat until they are 12 years old but even then, it’s okay to have them sit in the back. Children are built different than adults and seats belts were built in mind to protect adults – not young children. Remember, back is best!
Buckle Up
This may seem like it shouldn’t be a safety tip, but it is. There have been so many times that I have seen families in cars and they aren’t buckled. Even if we are going to another store in the same parking lot, I make my kids buckle up. If you want to give your child some important responsibility, make them the seat belt captain of the car. It can be their job to remind everyone in the car to buckle up before the car starts moving.
No Texting or Distractions
This goes for when you’re driving WITHOUT your kids too but especially when you’re with them. I’m guilty of glancing at my phone while driving…and my kids will call me out on it! Luckily, there are phones where you can put on a Do Not Disturb while driving. Better yet, put your phone in the backseat where you can’t reach it…or to one of your kids so they can just watch YouTube!
There’s so many more important car safety tips for kids but these are just a few of the ones that our family follows all of the time! Be safe out there!
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