Although mommy has been cleaning the house non-stop for months, there is one more, very important, place that parents need to think about before baby arrives: their car! This is the first family space baby will enter after leaving the hospital/birthing center, so it must be perfect!
Of course, we always forget the car. It is one of those “we meant to do it” things that my husband usually ends up doing alone while the baby and I are still in the hospital. He has even been known to install the car seat in the parking lot about an hour before discharge.
Don’t do that!
Don’t wait until last minute to get your car ready for baby. Do it a month before you’re due. Do it two weeks before you are due. Do it now!
Let’s do it together!
- Cleanout your car and remove anything that doesn’t belong there. Sibling’s toys, especially small ones, must go!
- Have your vehicle professionally detailed. Sometimes, this job should be left to the pros — before baby is one of those times!
- Rotate your tires! I know I tell you this all the time, but honestly, it is important! Get it done before baby arrives!
- Tent your windows. Having window tent will keep your car at a more comfortable temperature, and keep the sun out of baby’s face during harsh times of day.
- Have your air conditioning/heater inspected or recharged.
- Install the baby’s carseat (and don’t forget to register it.) Avoid putting baby next to toddler siblings. They love to give baby all sorts of things they can’t have, like lollipops, small toys, you name it!
- Install a buckle guard for the buckle that the car seat is using. This will protect your seat belt from being undone accidentally. (I cannot tell you how many times this has happened to us!)
- Visit a car seat inspection station! It is estimated that 75% of car seats are installed improperly — yours may be one of them!
- Install baby safety products: monitors, mirrors, thermometers, and safety shades.
- Setup a back seat organizer on the side of the vehicle where mom or dad is most likely to ride as a passenger. Stock it with your mobile diapering/baby needs. Example: travel wipes, diapers, hand sanitizer, pacifiers, soothing music toy.
With a clean house, clean car, and properly installed car seat…
Now you are ready for baby!!!
