You asked

What should I do about car seats when my child is in other people’s cars?

While it’s fairly easy to control how your child travels when he or she is a baby or toddler, it becomes more complicated as time goes by as they undertake more activities, or if he or she goes out with a friend or relative.

It’s important to remember that not everyone will have a spare, approved car seat or booster seat installed in their car. If they don’t, it’s up to you, as a parent, to provide one. Either use your own car seat if it’s not a regular occurrence, or buy a second car seat if your child regularly travels with other people. If your child is old enough for a booster seat, then you could even buy a small, portable backless booster seat specifically for this purpose.

Many parents are concerned that they will be perceived as overprotective or nitpicking if they don’t let their child travel in someone else’s car without a car seat. However, as a parent, it’s your job to keep your child safe at all times, and that includes when they drive with other people. Make sure that everyone knows that unless your child is strapped in, he or she does not travel in a car. Ever. Not only is it safer for your child, it’s also in compliance with the law. It’s far better to be labelled overprotective than it is to think about what could happen in the event of an accident!

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