Car travel with babies and children

What is the best way to keep my child safe in the car?

The best way to keep your child safe in the car is to use a car seat that's suitable for your child's age and size. Make sure your child's car seat is properly installed. All seats need to be approved, properly fastened and correctly adjusted so your baby can travel safely.

According to Australian law, there are rules for keeping children safe in cars:

• Babies under 6 months of age must be seated in a rearward (back)-facing child restraint, with an inbuilt harness.
• Children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years must travel in a rearward-facing or forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness.
• Children aged from 4 to about 8 years must travel in a forward-facing child restraint, with an inbuilt harness.
• Once a child is too tall for a forward facing child restraint, they should use a booster seat with a lap-sash belt until they are tall enough to safely use an adult seat belt.
• All children aged 0 to 4 years must not travel in the front seat of a vehicle with 2 or more rows of seats.

Find out more about car seats and car safety.

Only start driving once everyone is properly buckled up. You should not try to actively reposition a child while the vehicle is moving.

Is it safe for my child to sleep in their car seat?

Car seats are very important for safe travel, but they are not safe sleeping environments outside of the car or for long periods of time. Babies left to sleep in car restraints — especially when they are unsupervised or outside of a moving vehicle — have an increased chance of airway obstruction (difficulty breathing) and SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy).

Tips to keep your baby safe:

• Only use car restraints for travel.
• Always transfer your baby to a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as possible once you've arrived at your destination.
• Never leave your baby to sleep in a car seat when it is placed on the floor, in a stroller, or anywhere outside the car.

How should I prepare for the car journey?

To prepare for a car trip with your child, consider things such as:

• when to travel
• what to pack
• how to keep your child safe
• ways to keep them entertained during the trip

When should I travel with my child?

Some people find travelling at certain times of the day easier than at other times. It depends on a few factors, including your child's personality and their routine.

Tips on when you should travel with your child:

• Leave early in the morning to beat the traffic, and to drive as far as possible before your child gets restless.
• Travel around naptime if your child sleeps well in the car.
• Start travelling around your child's bedtime, so that they sleep for most of the way.
• Think about how easily your child can be moved from the car to their bed when you've arrived.

How often should I stop during car travel?

Travelling with a child by car may take longer than travelling with adults and may have more unscheduled stops. It's a good idea to plan regular breaks, around every 2 hours of car travel. This can allow your child to get out of their car seats and move around, and you can also attend to their needs such as feeding or nappy changes and bathroom breaks.

Children shouldn't spend long periods of time in their car seat. During stops, it's a good idea to put your baby on a rug on the ground so that they can stretch their legs, move around or kick. Older children may enjoy running around to burn off some energy.

If your child is sleeping when you reach your destination, always take them out of the car, even if it means waking them. Never leave your child alone in a car — it can be very dangerous. Children left unattended in a car are at risk of heatstroke, dehydration or even death.

What food and drink should I pack on the trip?

Feeding and hydration tips for travel with babies and kids:

• Stop regularly to breastfeed your baby, especially in hot weather.
• Never breastfeed in a moving car. Always pull over to a safe spot before feeding.
• If your baby drinks infant formula, pack pre-measured formula powder and cooled boiled water, so you can make bottles as needed.
• If your baby eats solids, you can also pack simple snacks and water.
• If you have an older child, make sure to bring plenty of snacks and bottles of water to keep them well-fed and hydrated along the way.

How can I protect my child from the sun in the car?

If it's sunny, use a window shade on the window near your child's car seat. Don't cover a baby capsule with a blanket, even a light one. This can restrict airflow around your child, make it more difficult to see them or to remove them in an emergency.

How can I keep my child busy during the trip?

Here are some tips for keeping your baby or child busy on car journeys:

• Bring some of your child's favourite toys and books to help keep them entertained in the car.
• On long trips, give them toys one at a time to help them stay occupied.
• Pack a few new items in your bag as well, in case your child gets bored with familiar ones.
• Singing and music may also help keep your baby distracted.

What should I pack for my child?

Writing a checklist can help reduce any worries you might have about preparing for your trip.

Here's what you may want to pack for your child:

• items to prepare formula feeds for babies (including cooled boiled water, bottles and formula powder)
• non-messy, healthy snacks (that do not pose a choking risk)
• your child's water bottle
• medicines you may need
• toys, books, talking books or music
• a tablet or portable DVD player for limited screen time
• wipes, nappies and a spare change of clothes
• It is also helpful to bring anything else that can help comfort your child, such as a dummy, favourite toy or blanket.

Singing and playing simple games can also help to pass the time.

How much time should I allow for travel?

When travelling with a child, you may find you need to stop more often or for longer than planned.

Tips for travel timing with kids:

• Allow yourself lots of time to travel.
• Never rush or drive too fast to make up for lost time.
• You may also want to check real-time information on traffic jams, road conditions and closures.

How can I avoid or manage car sickness?

If your child suffers from car sickness, bring plenty of spare clothes, wipes and a plastic bucket with you, in case they vomit. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before travelling and about medicines for travel sickness.

During the trip, offer small amounts of food instead of large or heavy meals. Help avoid car sickness by encouraging your toddler to look out at the road ahead or distract them with singing or games.

Resources and support

For detailed advice, visit Red Nose's recommendation on car seat use and their research update.

Government agencies have come together to create the Child Car Seats website to help make the safest choice when it comes to car seats.

The Cancer Council provides a nutritionists' guide to healthy road trip snacks for kids.

Before you set out on your drive, check incident reports and the traffic information with the following services:

• New South Wales — local council numbers
• Northern Territory — call 1800 246 199
• Queensland — call 13 19 40
• South Australia
• Tasmania — call 1300 135 513
• Victoria — call 13 11 70
• Western Australia — call 138 138

Some phone applications ('Apps') allow you to check for expected traffic jams or road closures ahead of time.