Baby’s First Ride

Exciting. Thrilling. And scary, too. No, we’re not describing a roller coaster ride. We’re talking about your first car ride with your newborn. Most likely this maiden voyage involves driving them home from the hospital, and you’ll probably have a lot on your mind as you contemplate life now with this tiny human. To ease your mind as much as we can, we’ve put together some tips to help make that first trip a little easier and safer, too.

Before Baby is Born, Get to Know Your Orbit Baby Car Seat

• Spend some time with the car seat manual, reviewing the different installation methods, how to safely harness your child, and other important tips.
• You’ll want to look at your vehicle owner's manual to find important information such as LATCH seating locations, airbag positions, and any special notifications from the manufacturer.
• Practicing installing the Orbit Baby car seat in your vehicle to get comfortable with the steps.
• Learn how to use the Infant Insert, so it’s ready for your first trip. (Note: you may still have to make some adjustments depending on baby’s size before you take off.)

Once Baby is Here, But Before You Get on the Road

When your little one arrives, once your car seat is installed, you may feel like the work is done. And it is… but there are still a few little things to check before you go.

• Place your baby in the car seat and make sure the harness straps are at or below their shoulders.
• Baby should not be slouching in the car seat- make sure they are sitting up nice and high.
• If baby is slouching, or if the harness is not at their shoulder height, use the Infant Insert to lift them up.
• Before buckling baby in, make sure they are not wrapped up in a blanket, so their arms and legs fit correctly through the harness. The harness straps should lay over their thighs and shoulders.
• Adjust the harness straps until the child can pass the pinch test.

Installing a car seat correctly can still feel daunting- after all, your baby’s safety is your top priority. For those wanting a bit of reassurance, we highly suggest contacting a local Child Passenger Safety Technician. The technician will help guide you through the installation methods available to you, with your particular seat and vehicle, teach you how to safely harness in your baby, and help you identify additional hazards in your car that might harm your child.

And if you have any questions about your Orbit Baby car seat, we encourage you to reach out to us for support.

Safe Travels!