If you’ve got a baby on the way, there’s likely a million things you’re wanting and needing to take care of before their arrival. And while it’s nice to have a beautiful nursery and the perfect homemade blankets, what’s the most important things to have ready when you’re little bundle of joy arrives are the things that will keep him or her safe.

As soon as you leave the hospital, you’re going to be putting your newborn baby in the car and going home together. So to ensure that you’re ready for this first transition, here are three tips for keeping your newborn safe while in the car. 

Be Wary About Secondhand Car Seats

Every parent needs a car seat for their child, whether you actually own your own car or not. If you’ve ever in the car with the baby, he or she needs to be safely strapped in their car seat. 

Because a car seat will be keeping your baby safe while in the car, it’s important that you get the right car seat. When choosing this accessory, Dr. Kate M. Cronan, a contributor KidsHealth.org, advises against getting a secondhand car seat. 

When a car seat has been involved in a car accident, the safety of that car seat is now compromised. And when you choose to get a secondhand car seat, you can’t guarantee that it hasn’t been in an accident before or how well taken care of it was. Because of this, it’s always going to be a safer bet to just get a new car seat for your infant to use. 

Practice With The Car Seat Before Baby Arrives

Ideally, you should get your new car seat for your baby before he or she arrives. By doing this, Consumer Reports shares that you’ll be able to practice with the car seat before you’ll actually be putting your baby in it.

To best practice with the car seat, make sure you read the instruction manual and set everything up correctly. Learn how to tighten and loosen the straps and how to install the car seat into your car. You can then practice taking the car seat in and out of the car so you’re already a pro once your baby is born. 

Never Take Baby Out Of The Car Seat When The Car’s Moving

For many infants, being strapped in a car seat isn’t the most comfortable thing. Because of this, your baby might get fussy when riding in the car. 

Although this can be frustrating and sad for everyone involved, to keep your baby safe, Dr. Dan Brennan, a contributor to WebMD.com, cautions that you never take your baby out of their car seat when the car’s in motion. If you were to get in a car accident, your baby will be much less safe than if he or she was secured in the car seat. 

If you’re worried about how to best keep your newborn safe while in the car, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.