Travel home from the hospital with your newborn – 5 things to prepare !

Are you going to be parents for the first time? At birth, BeSafe gives you the choice between two different car seats: the portable iZi Go Modular X1 i-Size car seat and the iZi Turn B i-Size rotating car seat. Team BABYmatters collected the best tips for preparing for the first trip you will take with your baby:

1. Practice installing the baby car seat before the child is born

You have probably already chosen a baby car seat by now – but if not, you can read more about BeSafe’s baby car seats here. BeSafe offer two possible car seats for babies: a portable car seat or a rotation car seat.

The portable iZi Go Modular X1 i-Size can be installed in two ways:

• The first option and the one we recommend is an ISOfix base. This is an easy and flexible option that saves time every time you get in and out of the car.
• Alternative two is to belt the baby car seat with the car’s 3-point belt. Both options are equally safe if everything is done correctly.

If you choose a rotation car seat for your baby, you go for the BeSafe iZi Turn B i-Size. The advantage of this car seat is that:

• You have a car seat that you can use from birth (40cm) to around 4 years of age (105cm).
• You can just leave it in the car.
• You can turn it towards you, making it easy to put your child in the car and take him or her out again quickly.

The iZi Turn B i-Size has several reducer cushions that you can remove one by one, depending on the size and age of your child. This means you don't have to immediately get a new car seat!

The iZi Turn B i-Size also features a number of innovative technologies that make the car seat extra safe and user-friendly.

• Baby Shell™: this baby shell ensures that the car seat can only be installed rearward facing (against the direction of travel) until your child reaches a height of 86cm. Carrying your child against the direction of travel is in fact 5 times safer!
• Universal Level Technology: this innovation means that the car seat is always horizontal, regardless of the car seat angle. It means your child's head cannot tilt forward.

Tip: With the iZi Transfer by BeSafe you can safely and easily put him in the car or take him out of the car seat.

Whatever you choose, we recommend that you practice the installation before the baby comes so you feel safe with how to do it when you leave the hospital. Remember to always turn off the airbag if you install the baby car seat in the front seat of the car!

2.  How to place and fasten the baby correctly

If you have a baby car seat with belt magnets, start by releasing and loosening the belts of the seats completely (as shown in the user manual), open up the buckle and hang the belts onto the magnets, so that you have plenty of free space to place your baby in.

First tighten the hip belts by pulling the shoulder belts upwards. Then pull the central belt strap straight outwards to tighten the shoulder belts. While tightening, use your other hand to keep the shoulder belts close together, so that they cannot slip off the newborn’s shoulders. The seat belt should be tight over the baby’s chest, and you should not be able to fit more than one finger between the seat belt and the baby (1 cm).

Fasten the seat belts tightly! It is more dangerous if the child is too loose if an accident occurs. A padded 5-point belt is the best, it stabilizes the baby and keeps them safe.

This instructional video shows you how to safely buckle your child into his car seat:

3. Adjust the baby car seat to fit your child

Each child is different, which is why BeSafe has developed seats that grow with your child. Therefore BeSafe has developed baby car seats that adapt as your baby grows. For example if you use our BeSafe iZi Go Modular X1 i-Size, some children don’t need the extra head cushions when they are newborn or can only use them for a few weeks/months while others have them for several months.

Just make sure to remove the inserts when your child is 3 months or older or when their head no longer fits comfortably between them. It’s easy to remove these extra cushions – just open the Velcro at the back.

Also, remember that you can raise the seat belts as the child grows and they should always be at 90 degrees in relation to the child’s shoulders. But remember, as all children are different, these numbers are all just approximate – adapt to your child so it’s as comfortable and safe as possible.

4. how long can you leave your baby sitting in their car seat?

One question we often get is how often to stop and let the baby take a break from sitting in the baby car seat. Newborn babies should not sit for more than approx. 1 hour in a baby car seat, older babies not more than approx 1 1/2 – 2 hours to avoid them sitting in the same curved position for too long, as their muscles are not fully developed yet. If you are unsure about your specific situation, we recommend you to always consult with your midwife or paediatrician.

5. Use your baby car seat with a Travel System

You can easily turn most baby car seats into a Travel System by using adapters that allow you to click the baby car seat onto your pushchair chassis.

A Travel System can make everyday life easier during the child’s first months, allowing you to hop in and out of the car when running errands without having to move them between the car and the pushchair. But do of course keep in mind not to keep them in the baby car seat for too long – a Travel System should not replace a pushchair!

safe travels!