KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) has unveiled Singapore’s first Newborn Car Seat Programme, offering complimentary car seats to 300 newborns. This initiative aims to reduce child road traffic injuries and promote safety awareness among parents.
Urgent Need for Car Seat Safety Awareness
KKH treats approximately 400 children annually for road traffic-related injuries, many of which involve severe head, spinal cord, and internal organ trauma. Studies show that more than half of injured children were not secured in a car seat at the time of the accident. Lack of awareness, improper installation, and cost concerns are major barriers preventing parents from using car seats.
“Every year, we treat approximately 400 children for injuries from road traffic accidents. Many of these – especially to the head, spinal cord, and internal organs – are far more severe when the child isn’t using a proper car seat. These can have lifelong consequences, potentially impairing their mobility, or in the worst case, threaten their life. Many of the injuries could be prevented with the right precautions. The need for families to have greater awareness about the effectiveness of car seats in saving lives has never been more crucial,” said Dr. Ronald Tan, Senior Consultant at KKH’s Department of Emergency Medicine.
How Parents Can Benefit from the Programme
Expecting parents can register for the programme during antenatal checkups or via for.sg/buckleupbaby. KKH ensures that car seats are provided before delivery, giving parents ample time to familiarize themselves with proper installation.
Parents will also receive:
- Educational videos on car seat installation
- Guidance from Child Passenger Safety Experts
- A subsidy for their next car seat upon returning the loaned seat after one year
Collaborations to Promote Road Safety
The initiative is backed by the Traffic Police, Komoco Motors, and Mothercare.
- Komoco Motors, a leading mobility provider, has sponsored the car seats. “we believe that mobility on the road should be safe for all road users, and children who are defenceless in these situations must be well protected… Hence, we’ve sponsored the car seats so that every baby’s ride is as safe as possible.” said Tracy Teo, Marketing Director of Komoco Motors.
- Mothercare, known for its high-quality baby products, also reinforced its commitment to child safety. Pang Fu Wei, its Group Managing Director, emphasized that “every baby deserves to travel safely from the very start.”
Encouraging Long-Term Car Seat Use
Singapore law mandates that children must use a child car restraint until they reach 1.35 meters in height. KKH educates parents on transitioning their children to age-appropriate car seats:
- 0-2 years – Rear-facing car seat
- 2-5 years – Forward-facing car seat
- 5+ years – Booster seat with seatbelt
Dr. Tan, who chairs the KKH Injury Prevention Working Group, emphasized the importance of continued car seat use as children grow.
“Car seats are specifically designed to accommodate a child’s size and weight, offering the best protection as they grow. It’s important for parents to transition their child to the appropriate car seat as they reach each developmental milestone, ensuring continued safety throughout their childhood. Children are required to use child car restraints until they are 1.35 metres tall. Typically, this means using a rear-facing car seat for the first two years, a forward-facing seat from ages two to five, and a booster seat with seatbelt from age five and up,” he said.
A Milestone in Singapore’s Child Safety Efforts
The Newborn Car Seat Programme is part of KKH’s broader commitment to injury prevention. By equipping families with free car seats and expert guidance, KKH aims to reduce preventable injuries and ensure that every child gets the safest possible start in life.
Parents interested in signing up can visit for.sg/buckleupbaby.