Rear-facing is the safest way for babies and toddlers to travel, but it puts the child out of sight. You can hear everything and see nothing. A back-seat mirror fixes that with a glance.
How a baby mirror works
The mirror straps to the headrest of the rear seat, facing the child seat. You see its reflection in your normal rearview mirror. No turning round, just the same quick glance you already make.
What to look for
- Shatterproof. It sits close to the child, so not glass. Look for acrylic.
- Wide and convex. A wide convex mirror shows the whole seat, not just a face.
- A firm headrest strap and an adjustable joint. Set the angle once while parked; after that it should not move.
Ours, the shatterproof baby car mirror, is a 24.5 × 17.5 cm convex acrylic mirror in an ABS frame, with a ball-joint pivot and a headrest strap.
Set it up properly
- Fit it on the headrest of the seat the child seat faces.
- Tighten the strap so it cannot slide or rattle.
- Set your rearview mirror for driving first, then angle the baby mirror until the child seat appears in it.
- Do all of this parked, never while driving.
A few rules
- Use it for glances, like any mirror. Pull over if something needs your attention.
- Keep loose objects off the rear shelf and seats; anything unsecured can move in a hard stop.
- Follow the child seat and car manufacturer's instructions.
The short version
A wide, shatterproof mirror on the rear headrest lets you check on a rear-facing baby with a normal mirror glance.
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