Are RVs Safe for Babies? Here’s What You Need to Know

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RVing is a great way to increase family bonding, spend some quality time with kids, and create some long-lasting memories. This is why many parents bring along their little ones on their camping trips. And if you are a parent and thinking of going RVing with your kid, you might be wondering- are RVs safe for babies?

Well, most of the RVs are baby proof, so you don’t have to worry about your child’s safety. Although only some RVs come with a front-facing seat, you can easily install one.

But that is not all. Traveling with kids requires a lot of effort to ensure their safety. This is also true if you go RVing with your baby. Here in this article, I’ll be giving you some tips on RV travelling with your baby. So, read till the end to find out more.

Are RVs safe for babies?

RV Traveling with Babies

Traveling with babies always means extra work. You have to look after them always and make sure that all their primary needs like feeding, changing, bathing, and sleeping are met. The same is also true when you go RVing with babies.

Feeding

If your baby is a newborn, then you might want to buy a comfortable chair or sofa for your RV to sit while you are nursing your child. On the other hand, if your children are old enough to eat solid food, he or she might need a place at the table.

But most of the RV’s have limited storage space. So, bringing along a high chair might not be a good idea as it will occupy a lot of space. You might want to consider buying a portable booster seat for your baby. It doesn’t cost much and you can save a lot of storage space.

While buying a portable booster seat, check whether the seat can be fastened around a picnic table or used in a camping chair. This will allow the whole family to enjoy eating outdoors together.

Changing and Bathing

You can easily change your baby on a sofa, or a bed. But consider using a towel or a changing mat to protect your sheets from any sort of accidents. Keeping all the changing supplies like diapers, wipes, a few extra sets of clothes in a basket can be very helpful.

Consider buying a foldable baby tub, especially if you are planning for a long camping trip with your baby. And, most importantly, never let your baby out of your sight.

Sleeping

Your baby needs a safe place to sleep. Ensure that your children are sleeping in a travel bed with taller sides. Also, avoid placing their bed in such places where they can fall down.

Investing in a crib might be a good idea in that case. There is a wide range of travel crib models available in the market. Choose a crib that is large enough to fit inside your RV and you don’t have to replace it frequently as your child grows. And if you want to save some space, choose a crib that is portable, and easy to set up and dismantle.

How to Keep Your Baby Safe in an RV?

Let’s get this straight. Babies with their underdeveloped motor skills are always going to be in danger inside any moving vehicle. RV or not. But you can take some steps to making sure you’re your RV is fully baby friendly. Below I have discussed some tips on how you can keep your baby safe in your motorhome:

  • Find an RV That Can Secure a Car seat

Most of the motorhomes don’t have forward-facing seats. This is something you should consider, especially if you are planning to go camping with your baby. There are some RV’s that comes with a dinette booth equipped with a LATCH system, but they are very rare.

Make sure that there are not any open cabinets above your baby’s seat while you are on the road. Otherwise, something heavy might fall on his or her head and they can be seriously injured.

  • Baby Proof Your RV

You need to baby proof your motorhome if you want to keep your baby safe. Fortunately, most of the RVs are already baby proof. The cabinet doors and drawers are secured with latches. Make sure that all the cabinet doors are closed properly before you start to drive. Otherwise, something might come flying and hit your baby while on the road and injure him or her very badly.

Keep sharp things like kitchen knives, or blades out of your baby’s reach. If possible, install a soft carpet on your motorhome. Block off areas that might be dangerous for your children. Before you buy or rent an RV, walk around the motorhome to identify potentially dangerous areas and baby proof it using traditional methods.

  • Remain Seated While on the Move

RVs are equipped with all the facilities that you can find in a small home. This is why it is very easy to forget that you are riding a moving vehicle. Turns, bumps, braking, and unexpected obstacles can cause you to fall down and hurt yourself badly. This is why always ensure that your children stay seated for the entire tie the RV is moving.

  • Buckle Up

Almost all the RV’s come equipped with seat belts. Kids should remain seated during the entire period the RV is moving. In addition to that, they should also be buckled up at that time.

  • Bringing a Car Along with Your RV may be a Good Idea

Depending on the size of your RV, and the size, age, and number of your kids, bringing a second car along with your motorhome might be a good idea for you. One of your options is to drive the second car with your kids restrained on the passenger seat. Another option is buying or renting a Pull-behind RV like a fifth wheel motorhome. This allows you to enjoy all the facilities that you can find on your home at your camping site and at the same time enjoying all the safety features that are inherent to passenger cars.

Should You Buy Special Seats for Babies?

As mentioned before, most of the motorhomes don’t have forward-facing seats. But if you are traveling with kids, it is always recommended to place your baby in a front-facing seat. Side or rear-facing or any seat that might swivel or turn should be avoided.

So, if your RV doesn’t have a front-facing seat, you should buy one because the safety of your child always comes first. These seats must be installed inside your motorhome using the LATCH system or a three-point seat belt with a tether anchor.

Keep the following tips in mind before installing a baby seat in a motorhome:

  • Always install the baby seat in a front-facing seat.
  • Make sure that that your baby seat’s seat harness is securely attached to the forward-facing seat you selected for your child.
  • Never install the baby seat on the front side of the RV.
  • Make sure that the seat you are installing is secured to the frame of the RV.
  • Ensure that your kids are always seated and buckled up while the RV is moving.
  • Always make sure that the cabinets above the baby seat are closed, otherwise loose objects might come flying and hit your baby and injure him or her badly.

Conclusion

So, are RVs safe for babies? Yes, but only if you take the necessary steps to make it safe for your baby. Buy a front facing seat, baby proof your RV, put seat belts on your children. All the things I’ve mentioned in this article should make your RV travels safe for them.

I hope that I was of some help to you. Take extra care of your little ones while you go RVing with them. Thank you for having the patience to go through the entire article. Have a great day!

Stephanie Lynne
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