When I bought my first car, I didn't care about maintenance at all. Instead of carefully checking the oil and watching the wear on my tires, I drove it mindlessly into the ground. However, after junking my first car after only five years, I learned how painful it was to start the entire process from square one. The fact of the matter is that car repair is important. In addition to keeping you safe, car repair can also save you money. As you look through the articles on my website, I hope that you can find tips to help you along the way, so that you can hang onto your investment.
If you are a parent or grandparent, and will soon be welcoming a baby or toddler for a trip in your RV, there are several things you should be aware of. Besides practicing good hygiene in your RV, and knowing where to keep all of accessories young children tend to travel with, you will need to be vigilant about safety. Below are four situations you may need to address before you can take your young child on a family vacation in your RV.
Use a Proper Safety Seat When Moving
Many adults riding in the back of RVs do not think about using a seat belt, so it might be easy to forget that children up to 40 pounds should be in a car seat, and after that they should use a booster seat until a seat belt fits properly. This standard applies to all motor vehicles, including RVs.
A car seat installed properly in an RV can prevent serious injury to your baby or toddler if you are in an accident. However, even if you are not in an accident, they are still helpful. Toddlers who are not restrained in a car seat may be tempted to explore the RV while you are driving, and unlike adults, they may not be able to compensate for changes in speed or direction, resulting in them taking a tumble or falling off their seat. For this reason, it is best to train your child to use a carseat every time you drive your RV.
It is important to note that the safest place to install a carseat in an RV is in the front passenger seat, with the passenger airbag deactivated.
Install Safety Locks On Your Cabinets
Just like at home, cabinets in an RV provoke curiosity in your children. However, unlike home cabinets, RV cabinets are usually much more accessible to children, especially once they can climb onto nearby couches. Luckily, many RVs come with internal mechanisms meant to keep drawers and cupboards from opening while you are moving. If any cabinets do not have these safety latches, or are secured with magnets, you should consider installing either an internal catch or an external latch.
If you do not want to make modifications to your RV, you should make sure that all products that might harm your baby, such as knives, scissors, silverware, and cleaning supplies, are stored in a locked cabinet.
Keep All Doors Locked
Even when your RV is parked, it can present dangers to curious toddlers. One danger you may not be aware of is the side door of your RV. The steps out of an RV can be difficult for a toddler to navigate, and the door handle is usually low enough on the door for a walking baby to reach. This creates a hazard of your little one opening the door and falling out of the RV, resulting in bruises and scrapes.
To prevent this, simply keep your RV door locked at all times, even when the vehicle is not moving. If the lock can be easily manipulated by a child, consider installing a safety chain on the door.
Be Aware of Unusual Dangers
RVs can make excellent spaces for young children, because there is less room to baby proof than a house or a hotel. However, in that little amount of space there are many hazards you should be aware of. Swiveling chairs and the front seats can create places for fingers to be pinched, and removable caps over bolts can be a choking hazard. It is a good idea to click here and go through your RV at baby level thoroughly before inviting a toddler on board.
Share22 January 2015
