1. Practice installing the chair in the car before the baby is born That way you'll feel safer and more confident when you bring your baby home from hospital. 2. Don’t buy second-hand car seats Buying a second-hand car seat from someone you don’t know is very risky. You cannot be sure the car seat will be in good condition or if it will offer the appropriate level of safety. You also do not know if it has been damaged in an accident or has parts missing. 3. Always use the correct seat to transport children in the car Although compulsory, many children still travel without being fitted in appropriate car seats and accidents happen when one least expects them. Therefore, always use the correct car seat when travelling with children in cars, even on short journeys. 4. Adjust the straps well Pull the strap (the belt inside the car seat) and keep it tightly fitted . If you can put one finger between the strap and the child's shoulder, it is correctly fitted. Remove thick coats before tightening the straps. 5. Make sure the straps are well positioned The straps must be at shoulder height . Check the handles are not twisted. 6. Always use the original car seat lining Linings that are not sold with the chair will not fit properly and will mean the straps are poorly placed. 7. Always ensure the car seat handle is in the correct position For reasons of safety, when travelling by car with a child you should check the car seat handle is in the position indicated by the manufacturer. 8. Avoid using the car seat for more than 2 hours at a time Children, and especially babies, need to move around and change position - just as adults need to stop and rest during car travel. 9. Avoid having loose objects on the parcel shelf or inside the car In the event of an accident, even the smallest objects can be thrown around the car and hit the child , possibly causing serious injury. Store them in the correct compartments. 10. On very hot days, check the metal buckles on the straps Exposure of the vehicle to the sun may raise the temperature of the metal buckles of the straps, which can burn the baby. 11. Hydrate the baby well and dress it in cool clothes when it's hot Make sure the baby drinks lots of water. Babies need to drink 4 to 5 times more water than adults. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
