Tips for good equipment for summer road trips
No matter if you're going a short or long distance, you obviously need to have the equipment in order when driving with a baby as a passenger. A good car seat is important for all road trips, while other equipment is specifically designed for summer outings and travels. Here are my tips for good equipment – both basic and specifically for summer trips.
1. A good car seat is essential
Car seats come in different shapes and sizes, just like babies do. When you go out to find a car seat, it’s a really good idea to bring your baby with you so you can place him or her in the various models to see which car seat fits best. Also, take note of how safe each car seat is by looking at the label it has received.
The 3 safety labels
- E stands for that the car seat meets the minimum safety requirements.
- DS stands for a better standard than E, because there is a greater focus on requirements to ensure that the child’s head is well protected before a car seat can receive the DS label. Additionally, you are assured that a Danish user manual comes with the seat.
- The safest car seats are marked with a T. Only rear-facing car seats can receive the T label, and the requirements for protecting the child's head are very high with the T label.
It is safest to install the seat rear-facing
Several car seats can be installed so that the child faces the direction of travel (forward-facing) and so that the child faces the opposite direction (rear-facing). It is safest to install the car seat so that the child looks away from the direction of travel, because the child is pushed down into the seat (rather than out of the seat) if you brake hard while driving.
A few tips for the car seat
- Remember that you must never install a car seat on a seat with an airbag.
- If you have a forward-facing car seat, it’s a good idea to install the seat far enough inside the car so that the child cannot get their fingers pinched in the car door.
- Buy a seat protector for the car seat to avoid the seat causing cracks, scratches, or marks on the seat in your car that it is installed on. You can get various seat protectors for your car from us.
2. Always shield from the sun
It can easily get hot in a car on a sunny day, and besides being uncomfortable for your baby, it can also be downright dangerous for him or her to be in an overheated car for too long. Babies dehydrate much more easily than adults, and they can’t just tell you if they feel unwell due to the heat in the car.
Direct sunlight is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to an overheated car and an uncomfortable baby. Therefore, it’s important that you shield your baby from the sun when you're out driving.
Mammashop sells several different types of sunshades. With us, you’ll find models that you can place on your car's side windows and rear window, as well as sunshades that can be mounted directly on your baby's car seat. All sunshades are designed to protect your baby from getting baked in the sun.
3. Keep a close eye on your baby during the trip
Sun shades do a lot to prevent your baby from feeling unwell during a car ride, but you still need to keep an eye on him or her while you are on the road. An adjustable rearview mirror allows you to see almost the entire back seat, so you have a good sense of your baby while driving. This is super practical if you are the only adult in the car, and it will also keep you from the temptation to turn around to check how your baby is doing while you are driving.
You can get two different models of rearview mirrors at Mammashop: one that mounts over the regular rearview mirror with a suction cup and one that attaches to the passenger seat next to the car seat.
4. Have a bottle warmer with you for baby food on the go
If you are going on a day trip by car, it can be nice to be able to warm up the bottle or baby food along the way. You can get a super smart bottle warmer that fits all types of bottles at MammaShop.
The bottle warmer is made of the same material as divers' wetsuits – that is, a fabric-like material that is water-resistant and can wrap around all shapes of bottles. The bottle warmer is equipped with a power plug that fits into the car's cigarette lighter.
When you want to warm up your baby's bottle, you just wrap the bottle warmer around the bottle and plug it into the car. You can also use the bottle warmer to heat up baby food if you have it in a cylindrical container.
5. If you are going on a trip with older children…
If you are going on a trip with children who are old enough to sit in the car without a car seat, a good booster seat can be a great way to make car trips more enjoyable and comfortable for the kids. A booster seat raises the child up so they can see better out of the car windows, while ensuring they sit well and correctly in relation to the seatbelt.
With us, you will find a smart inflatable booster seat, which is a great alternative to regular plastic booster seats. It fits children between 4 and 11 years old, and it can easily be deflated for storage, so you can pack it up and have it in your bag. This makes the inflatable booster seat particularly easy to take on vacations, where you may need to travel by bus, taxi, or rental car.
