You can’t leave the hospital without a car seat. But when’s the right time to install it?
If you’re getting close to your due date, that question might be creeping up on your mental checklist. You need a car seat to bring baby home—but how early should it go in your car?
Here’s our take:
🚫 Don’t install it weeks or months in advance, just in case.
🚫 Don’t wait until you're holding your baby to figure it out, either.
Let’s walk through the best way to time your installation—and how to make sure it’s done safely and correctly.
Why Not Too Early?
We get it. Nesting is real. But once a car seat is installed, it becomes part of your daily driving environment—with or without your baby in it. That means if you're rear-ended, or even in a minor fender bender, the seat could be compromised before it's ever used.
It’s also easier to miss something important if you set it up early, then forget to double-check it before go-time.
Why Not Too Late?
Our CEO, Shy, has a great story (okay, maybe not great in the moment). He bought his car seat and installed it in the hospital parking lot—only to realize he wasn’t totally confident he’d done it right. Not ideal when you're about to drive your newborn home for the first time.
Even with the best gear, installation matters. That’s why we always say: don’t wait until the contractions start to figure out how it all works.
During the third trimester, you have a clearer picture of your delivery plan and can coordinate the installation with other preparations, such as hospital visits or prenatal classes.
Installing the car seat during the nesting pre-labor period gives you enough time to make adjustments and ensures you're not caught off guard should the baby arrive a bit early.
So… When Is the Right Time?
Here’s our suggested timeline:
✅ Around 34–37 weeks pregnant, take the car seat out of the box.
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Watch the installation video or open the babyark app for a guided walkthrough.
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Familiarize yourself with how the harness works and how to adjust it for a newborn.
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If possible, do a dry run in your car—but don’t leave it installed just yet.
✅ Once you hit 38–39 weeks, go ahead and install the seat.
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By then, you’re close enough to go-time that it makes sense to have it ready.
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Use babyark’s built-in smart sensors and companion app to confirm correct installation—or reach out to a CPST (Child Passenger Safety Technician) if you want extra assurance.
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You can always uninstall and reinstall if you need to swap cars or make an adjustment.
Pro Tips from the babyark Team:
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Infant insert? Put it somewhere close by for easy access so you don’t forget to throw it into the car when it’s time.
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Use our guided app setup to walk through installation step-by-step, including feedback and alerts.
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Find a CPST near you if you’d like an expert to double-check your install. Many hospitals even have one on site.
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Make sure you check your install again before putting your baby in for the first (and every) time, and getting the “buckled up and ready to go” reassurance from your app.
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Not your first baby, and had the prior one early - or feeling like baby is likely to come sooner? Move your timeline up, trust your body, be prepared. If you're facing a high-risk pregnancy or have been advised to rest during the third trimester, it may be beneficial to install the car seat earlier than otherwise planned.
Bottom Line
You do need a car seat before labor starts.
But you don’t need to drive around with it for weeks “just in case.” Plus, who wants to drive around with an “extra” car seat, especially in the weeks you want to enjoy any spaciousness a car without more bulk can provide!
That being said, take time to get familiar with your car seat, do an installation trial run and become acquainted with its features, and aim to install it a couple weeks before your due date.
For information on how to install, always check your vehicle and car seat manuals.
For the when? Well, now you have a sense.
With the car seat securely in place, you'll have one less thing to worry about as you welcome your little one into the world.
babyark makes it easier with tech that confirms when everything’s secure - and support that’s just a tap away.
