I remember placing my daughter in her car seat for the first time. Although it was an infant car seat, it still seemed like I was placing her tiny body in a giant contraption. Despite the seat belt straps that held her, she never seemed snug. So, I rolled her swaddle blankets and placed them around her body, and for added protection, I kept my hands and arms near her teeny head. You could say, I was terribly — I mean, just a bit — anxious.
So, why don’t people talk about the first ride home? There are so many things to consider — the car seat position, the snugness factor, the use of blankets, and the list goes on.
To calm your fears a bit, let's hear what the experts and experienced mothers have to say about how to put a newborn in a car seat.
How to practice car seat safety: Your newborn's first car ride
How long can my newborn be in a car seat?
Newborns should not be placed in a car for longer than they have to be.
“Infant car seats have been designed and tested not only to protect your baby in a collision but also to ensure that if your baby does fall asleep in the seat, the risks of slumping down chin to chest and blocking airflow are low,” Emily A. Thomas, Ph.D., and CPST, advised. Thomas is an automotive safety engineer and specializes in pediatric injury biomechanics for Consumer Reports. “Still, car seats aren’t appropriate for extended, unobserved sleep,” she further cautioned.
For the safety of your infant, follow the two-hour rule: Throughout a 24-hour period, a baby should only be in the car seat for a couple of hours.
