Can You Feed Your Baby In a Car Seat? – What You Need To Know

It is good that you have access to a car for easy mobility, especially now that your baby is on the way or has already arrived. One of the things access to a car also gives you is privacy. You can do what you want when you want it. But does this include feeding your baby in a car seat?

Sometimes, it may seem like an excellent idea for you to feed your baby in the car seat while driving. However, it is important to ask: Is this a really safe practice?

In this article, we will consider how safe it is for you to feed your baby in a car seat, how and what to feed your baby, and some extra tips on feeding your baby in the car seat.

Furthermore, here’s a link to find the best baby car seat options available worldwide.

Can you feed your baby in a car?

It is expected that you will need to feed your baby in a car seat, but you have to find a safe spot and park your car before you start feeding. This way, you’d get to monitor your baby’s feeding properly while driving.

Can you feed baby in car seat

Even though you can feed your baby in the car seat, you should know that it is not recommended by pediatricians. Nonetheless, everyone agrees that if it is done with adequate care, you can feed your baby safely in the car seat.

How to feed your baby in a car seat

If your journey will be long and feeding your baby becomes inevitable, you should add some extra time to your journey. This will help you stop and feed your baby properly. If you are expelling breast milk for your baby, you can give your baby a bottle of breast milk. On the other hand, you can also prepare a bottle of baby formula ahead of time or buy a ready-made formula.

Read this post to learn how to prepare and store baby formula.

While breastfeeding your baby in the car seat, make sure you buckle your baby in a safe seat. You should never leave your baby unattended in a car seat, no matter how fast the errand you want to run may be. Also, be sure to follow the instructions with the car seat for proper setup.

Normalize using a bottle holder or strap to help keep the bottle in place while feeding your baby in a car seat. You should also avoid giving your baby solid food items that can cause choking. While breastfeeding in public, make sure you use a cloth to cover your breast to limit exposure

Don’t try to multitask while your baby is feeding in the car seat. Always give your baby optimum attention while feeding.

Can you feed baby in car seat

You should not allow your infants or newborns to drink in a bottle in a car seat while the car is moving. This is because they cannot hold the bottle themselves; neither can they remove it if they have too much milk in their mouth. The excess milk or formula can cause choking and your baby will not be able to prevent it.

In addition, most babies are used to feeding in a calm and still environment, therefore, car movements while feeding will be new to them. This can lead to extra gas inflow, and they may not be old enough to control it.

Feeding your baby in a car seat while your partner or someone else is driving is preferable. If you really have to feed your baby in a car, make sure someone else is driving. This helps to monitor your baby’s feeding without distractions.

Can you feed baby in car seat

What to feed your baby in a car seat

There are a number of foods you can give your baby in a car seat. Make sure your child is able to chew their food properly and also able to grasp things before they can travel in a car seat.

Some of the foods you can give your baby include:

  • Fruits or vegetables. This should have been cut up into small pieces.
  • Finger foods like crackers, cheerios, oatmeal, dry cereals, etc.

Extra tips

  1. Avoid giving your child hard candies or whole grapes to avoid choking.
  2. Don’t leave your child to bottle-feed alone in a car seat. This helps to prevent choking and also reduces messes in the car seat.
  3. You can use a blanket, towel, or bib to prevent the car seat from food or drink spills.
  4. Ensure that your child is safely and properly buckled into the car seat before you start to drive.
  5. If you would be spending a very long time on the road, it is good and advisable to take regular breaks so that you and your child can relax, stretch and also get some fresh air.
  6. Avoid whole grapes and cherry tomatoes. It prevents choking hazards.
  7. If you are bottle-feeding, make sure your baby’s head is higher than the stomach and the bottle is filled with formula and not air.
  8. Don’t give your child carbonated drinks or food items with caffeine in them.
  9. Avoid giving your baby hot foods while driving.
  10. Try as much as possible to give your baby healthy foods and not just junk.
  11. Take caution when giving your child soft or sticky foods like candies and ice cream.
  12. Some foods like chips and salty snacks can cause dehydration. You should give your child water to drink after eating these snacks.
  13. Nuts like peanuts and cashew nuts can cause allergic reactions. If you are not sure if your baby is allergic to them or not, don’t give them at all.
  14. You should pack some snacks and drinks for yourself too; you don’t want to be famished while feeding your child.

Conclusion

Feeding your baby in a car seat may be inevitable.

Try as much as possible to feed your baby when you are not in motion. When this is not possible, let someone else have the driver’s seat. Also, avoid choking your baby by all means. Avoid foods that can cause choking and don’t use methods of feeding that predispose your baby to choking.

You and your little one are going to be just fine, Mama!