Preschool Safety – Car Seats and Travel

• 5 Car Seat Buying Tips: What to do before and after choosing a booster seat to ensure your preschooler stays safe.
• Top Car Seat Mistakes: The most common installation and safety slip-ups that can easily be avoided.
• Common Driving Mistakes Parents Make: Even the safest drivers can have some dangerous habit – how to be a better parent-driver.

Preschool Safety – Car Safety Basics

• Take care of any necessary car maintenance before your trip and make sure it’s fully stocked with tools like jumper cables, a car jack and spare tire.
• Store milk and refrigerated snacks in a travel cooler.
• Have the kids wear pull-ups, especially if still potty training.
• Buy hand sanitizer and travel sanitizing wipes to clean germ-infested surfaces like public toilets.
• Install a transparent sunshade on windows to protect your child’s eyes and skin from UV rays. A static-cling shade is a safer choice than ones with suction cups, which can detach and become projectile in an accident.
• Take as many breaks as they need to eat, go to the bathroom or expend some energy running around. It’s definitely going to take longer to get to your destination, so plan accordingly. Figure a 20-minute break for every 2 hours on the road.
• For long trips, consider using disposable bibs, sippy cups and utensils so you don’t have to worry about storing and cleaning dirty dishes.
• Pack a map (or GPS unit), food, water, medical supplies, and a flashlight or battery-operated nightlight in case you get lost or stranded.
• Bring an abundance of toys and books to reduce stress levels. A portable DVD-player can also be a sanity saver.
• If your child starts to get car sick, encourage them to look out the window instead of reading or drawing. (Looking out the front window is the best option.) If that doesn’t work, pull over and give your toddler some air. To be safe, have water, snacks, peppermint candies and a “barf bag” on hand. Also, try and take more frequent driving breaks and have lots of car activities planned to distract them. If this is a consistent problem, talk to your pediatrician about medication options before your trip.