New Parents: What Should You Consider When Buying a Vehicle?
Becoming a parent is a big change! Naturally, we want what’s best for our children—for their happiness, their comfort and their safety. This involves a good means of transport that suits the family’s needs.
Whether you’re looking for a brand-new or pre-owned vehicle, here are a few points to consider while searching and trying various models:
- Also: What Were the Best Minivans in 2017?
- Also: 2022 Kia Carnival: There’s No Shame in Being a Minivan
Trunk Space
Undoubtedly, this is one of the first things you think about: can it hold the stroller, playpen, diaper, toys and all the other baby accessories needed for outings and trips? Make a good assessment of your equipment and choose a vehicle with a trunk wide and deep enough to contain it all. The ideal is to do some checking at the dealer to make sure of that.
Back Seat Access
The door openings must be tall and the back seat at the right height for you to easily install a child seat and use it. After all, you’ll have to put your child in it several times a day, every day … You don’t need to hit your head or hurt your back on top of that!
Seat Anchors
In your verifications, remember to check if you can easily access the LATCH anchors to install a baby seat. This small element can make a big difference. Speaking of anchors, you don’t always have to remove a seat installed in the second row to access the third, for example. Some companies like Nissan/Infiniti have developed mechanical systems that allow you to tilt and slide the second row even with a baby seat attached to it, which is very convenient.
Rear Occupant Alert
You definitely want your new vehicle to be safe on the road, but also when you get out of it. More specifically, we want to talk about the rear occupant alert system found in some recent models. When you turn the engine off, it emits a warning sound or message to remind distracted drivers that they should look on the back seat before leaving the vehicle. A child forgotten in the back seat is a nightmare no one should have to go through.
Little Extras
Finally, there are vehicles that do more things than others to accommodate the rear passengers, including toddlers, and to reassure the parents. For example, the Hyundai Santa Fe has sun visors on its doors—simply pull it upwards and hang it to the window’s upper frame—so you don’t need to install ones with suction cups that end up falling off. Also, some Honda Odysseys are equipped with a system called CabinWatch: using a camera, it allows you to keep an eye on your passengers at the back, day or night, through the central screen, so you don’t have to turn around constantly to check if everything is okay.
