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Pregnancy and car safety

The law states that all pregnant women must wear seat belts when travelling in cars; this applies to both front and back seats. The safest way for pregnant women to wear a seat belt is to:

• Place the diagonal strap between the breasts (over the breastbone) with the strap resting over the shoulder, not the neck.
• Place the lap belt flat on the thighs, fitting comfortably beneath the enlarged tummy, and over the pelvis not the bump.
• The belt should be worn as tight as possible.
• In this way the forces applied in a sudden impact can be absorbed by the body's frame.

It is not advisable to wear 'Lap-only-Belts' as opposed to lap and diagonal belts as they have been shown to cause grave injuries to unborn children in the event of sudden deceleration. Mother and unborn child are both safer in a collision if a lap and diagonal seat belt is being worn correctly (text copyright RoSPA). 

NCT Shop sells a ‘Baby safe bump belt’ which is designed to reposition your seat belt to divert pressure onto the thighs away from the tummy giving added safety to you and your unborn child. This can be used from early pregnancy in the driver or the passenger seat.  

Babies/young children and car safety

A well fitted baby seat is essential and for children under three you have to have one by law. Rear facing baby seats provide a good level of protection. But if your car has air bags never use a rear facing baby seat in the front of the car. It is not safe to hold a child on your lap. In a crash, the child could be crushed between your body and part of the car's interior. Even if you are using a seat belt, the child would be torn from your arms - you would not be able to hold onto them, no matter how hard you try. It is also dangerous to put a seat belt around yourself and a child (or around two children). The safest way for children to travel in cars is in a child seat that is suitable for their weight and size.     

See NCT Shop for a range of car seats.

NCT Shop also stocks these items which you may find useful while driving with your baby: to keep babies amused and occupied when in the car, the Car Seat Gallery  (Code 4248); and, to keep an eye on your baby in a rear facing seat whilst driving, an infant view mirror (Code 4464).

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