Elara guides

The car seat and the trip home

The one piece of kit you can't skip — fitted right.

Updated 2026-07-30 · Sources

Of all the baby gear, the car seat is the one that truly matters from minute one — most hospitals won't let you drive away without one. Getting it sorted before the birth means the trip home is calm, not a frantic instruction-manual moment in the car park.

Choosing one

• Pick a seat that meets current safety regulations for your country and your baby's size/weight.
• Rear-facing for newborns — and rear-face for as long as the seat allows; it's far safer.
• Check it fits YOUR car (and any second car) — not all seats fit all vehicles.
• Buy new if you can, so you know its full history; never use a seat that's been in a crash.

Fit it before the due date

Install and practise well ahead. Many retailers and some safety schemes offer a fitting check — a wrongly installed seat is one of the most common safety slips. Learn how to thread and tighten the harness while it's not 3am with a newborn for the first time.

Harnessing a newborn

• Straps snug — you should fit no more than a couple of fingers under them.
• Chest clip (where fitted) at armpit level.
• No bulky coats under the harness — dress light and tuck a blanket over the top instead.
• Limit time in the seat to travel; newborns shouldn't stay in it for hours.