Feeding infants inside a vehicle should only be done when the car is fully stopped, especially if it requires removing the child from a safety restraint or if the adult feeding them needs to unbuckle their seatbelt. This reminder comes from Martín Sánchez Agüero, deputy director of the Traffic Police, who emphasized that neither haste nor the child’s needs justify anyone being unrestrained while the vehicle is moving.
Sánchez Agüero explained that reasons such as not finding a parking spot do not excuse this type of risky behavior. He stated, “Even justifications like ‘I couldn’t find where to park’ are not valid for this kind of irresponsible conduct.” The warning follows reports of incorrect practices, including holding and feeding babies on laps while vehicles are in motion. Such actions pose significant risks and can result in a fine of ¢245,000 and four points on the driver’s license.
The official noted that breastfeeding with both mother and child properly restrained is difficult. Often one or both may become unbuckled during feeding, but he stressed that this practice is unsafe: “If an adult moves to the back seat to accompany or feed a baby, that person must also wear a seatbelt; it is mandatory.”
Sánchez Agüero used an example to highlight potential dangers: even someone with great physical strength would not be able to securely hold a child during a frontal collision.
He urged parents and caregivers to prioritize safety by stopping the vehicle before attending to children’s needs—whether for feeding or changing diapers—rather than attempting these tasks while driving. As routines change with the start of the school year and more families transport young children daily, he cautioned against letting urgency override safe practices: “Dynamics will soon change—we’ll go from just going to work to having first to take children to daycare or kindergarten. In those moments of rush, some might decide to feed or care for their small child by unbuckling them or themselves while driving, which is very dangerous.”
Statistics show ongoing challenges with compliance. In 2025, authorities issued 1,027 fines to drivers transporting minors without appropriate restraints based on age, height, and weight requirements. Additionally, 3,630 drivers were fined ¢123,000 each for failing to use seatbelts themselves; another 1,585 received similar penalties for allowing passengers in their vehicles without seatbelts.
The Traffic Police continue efforts to ensure all passengers—especially young children—are safely secured whenever vehicles are moving.
