Getting your baby in to the car safely

Read how to avoid causing one of the most common baby manual handling injuries.

This is one of the hardest baby manual handling tasks to do because it is hard to create a perfect environment. It is hard to get yourself and your centre of gravity close to the car seat where you are trying to place your child. On top of that you are inclined to bend and twist to place your baby and to do up their straps. I have an excellent idea for a baby car seat to solve these issues but it is too hard to patent. Anyone in the car seat industry that is interested in making me and yourself rich please contact me!

“It is hard to get yourself and your centre of gravity close to the car seat...”

Anyway we have to deal with the seats we have, so since becoming a mother I have a few things to add to the general physiotherapy advice. If you have the choice between cars pick the higher one with the biggest widest doors so that you don’t have to bend down so low and don’t have to twist in tight spaces. We are looking at getting an SUV for this purpose. In lieu of that dreamy option, I have been:

1.       getting as close to the car seat as possible,

2.       tightening my core,

3.       squatting keeping my back straight,

4.       placing her straight in rather than twisting and,

5.       doing this blindly if required- that is I am keeping my head above the roof of the small car. Maybe this is because I am tall and shorter people can get full view but whatever your stature, keep your back straight and don’t twist.

Unless you have a big 4WD where you are standing with the baby seat at arm height, squat putting your knees on the adult car seat if possible, aiming to get as close to the baby seat as possible. Keep this position whilst doing up the straps.

Bending and twisting at the same time with a load is probably the worst action you could do for your back. I learnt since having a babe there is no need to twist to put your baby in the car even though you might feel inclined to. Cradle your baby to your chest as normal, keep facing the door directly as you straighten your arms to place the baby.

I found this puts less load on your back than kneeling on the adult car seat (to get closer to the seat and baby) because you are leaning over which strains the back. You are also more inclined to lift your baby with your back and small arm muscles. Squatting instead keeps your weight distributed over two feet and more importantly you do the work with your legs for the most part, have your back upright and then extend with your arms for the last part.

“Bending and twisting at the same time with a load is probably the worst action you could do...”

I also want to be spending the least amount of time doing this task as the longer we hold a load the more pressure it puts on the back etc. So I extend the seat belt straps over the side of the seat before I get her out. Thus I am not spending longer than required bending over whilst holding her to pull out the straps before she sits down or pulling out the straps when she is sitting on them.

This makes more sense when you watch the video we hope to make soon!

Added note: Since writing this post we got ourselves a 4WD for the sole purpose of making baby car transfers easier. And it so does! Not only is it higher so I don't have to squat down or risk bending over while putting her in the seat or fastening her straps, the doors are big and wide so that I have plenty of room to put Misaki in without the risk of twisting my back in small spaces. I have full view and now that she is wanting to be active she is much happier going into the car sitting in my arms rather than reclined and there is plenty of room to allow for this. I used the low set station wagon the other day and I really noticed the difference! Hopefully it can become a reality for you too!

Summary

If an option get a car with the biggest, widest and highest doors so that you are not inclined to bend or twist to get your baby in the car.

Get you and your baby as close to the car seat as possible.

Keep your back straight, bend your knees and keep your core on until your baby is secured in their seat.

Melli Tilbrook is a Physiotherapist based at Adelaide Physiotherapy and Pilates Studio, Beulah Park.