Then of course, you’ll want to ensure they are actually strapped in correctly with a 5-point harness. This is most likely one of the handiest way to stay warm. Here's a … If you have a remote control, you may also be able to start the car while you’re indoors getting everyone ready — this makes taking off your bulky winter coat MUCH EASIER when you step into a toasty warm car! Because the baby is typically already in the carseat before we get into the car (Thank God for click-connect carseat technology!) A few layers are a fantastic bet for a baby who is spending the day indoors. With larger vehicles like my minivan, I realize the back temperatures aren’t always the same as the front — even with the controls as my fingertips. Use a thin receiving blanket – this can provide you with a great tight transplant which will be a fantastic air barrier – then put in a thicker sheet and if it’s cold, sip that fine and close around the infant and under their toes. Additionally, if you warm up the car, your children can get to overheat if they have these warm substances between them as well as the harness straps. All these kids running around now without coats on could also be very dangerous. In winter, you don’t need to dress your baby in thick or quilted clothes to keep her warm, because most cars have very efficient heating systems. Begin with a bodysuit or onesie and put in a top coat like a fleece one-piece with toes. The short answer is yes, it can be safe but only with the proper precautions. As a general rule, winter coats should not be worn underneath a car seat harness because that can leave the harness too loose to be effective in a crash. First, they can still keep your kids warm in the car without having to deal with putting on and taking off a coat in the car. People bought her coats but they were never worn! READ MORE: How To Keep Baby Cool In Stroller hot weather? It is NOT bulky and fits right over their heads for easy access. When it’s cold, you obviously want to make sure the car is warm. So turn up the heat and make sure the temperature is comfortable for everyone. Winter car seat cover The general rule of thumb is that a baby should be dressed in one more layer than an adult in order to be comfortable. They also need to be warm and protected from hypothermia at all times. So far, I have discussed on How To Keep Baby Warm In Car Seat during winter. Avoid car seat covers that go behind the child, as this can cause the straps to not tighten properly. Required fields are marked *. In addition to dressing them in layers, you essentially have two old-school options, and one new, depending on the size of the baby: Cover them with blankets. So turn the heat up and make sure that temperature is suitable for everyone. It is NOT bulky and fits right over their heads for easy access. This is a no-brainer. Products that line car seats and act as sleeping bags to keep a baby warm in the winter are not safe because they interfere with the harness. And it’s not a pleasing situation at all. What Every Mom Should Know About Surviving Baby’s First Winter, How to Keep Your Baby Cool in the Car Seat this Summer, Protect Your New Baby from RSV & Other Viruses, Traveling with Baby: Tips for a Stress-free Road Trip. Copyright © 2021 Mommy's Bundle • Privacy Policy • Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs. I’m sorry, but that is not enough. Instead, use a cosy toes approved by the child seat manufacturer, or fold a thin blanket in half and tuck it tightly around your baby over the harness, once they are strapped in correctly. This one’s a no-brainer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Make sure you leave the infant’s face opened to prevent trapped air and re-breathing. You may be wondering what the weather has to do with the car seat… Fleece coats are a fantastic option for heavy coats and will not include a lot of padding below the harness straps. It’s basically a blanket that kids can wear as they walk to the car AND keep on in the car because it stays OVER the seatbelt straps! Instead, she suggests putting your baby in a sleeper (or well-fitted fleece suit) and a hat, buckling her in and placing blankets over top, being careful not to cover her face. According to the experts, if you can squeeze in more than two fingers in that space…it is not safe. Read on to learn more about why you should remove thick winter clothing before placing your child in the car seat. Whenever possible, it is best to not have your baby wear a coat at all once placed in their seat. First of all, Dr. Baer (aka, The Car Seat Lady) wants all parents to know that keeping your child safe in the car seat during the winter does not mean freezing them to death. If the harness straps are not comfortable on the kid, then they will not do their task of assisting the kid during a crash. Your email address will not be published. It is natural to worry that, Is your child warm enough or not? How To Keep Baby Cool In Stroller – 9 ultimate tips for you, Pelvic Pain After Running During Pregnancy – 4 reasons why, Front mounted child bike seat vs rear mounted Review for kid, Your email address will not be published. This is probably one of the more convenient ways to stay warm since you already have the coats handy and need a place to store them while driving. Comfortably Set your kid into the car seat and buckle the harnesses, but don’t squeeze the straps hard. Required fields are marked *. A car seat poncho is exactly what it sounds like: a warm poncho often made of terry-cloth material that kids can wear over the car seat to keep them safe. Instead of wearing a puffy coat, take a large warm blanket like this with you — many kids already have a favorite blanket they like to tote around the house so usually they don’t make a fuss about snuggling in once buckled up. And you have to do this before the car gets warm. You should notice a significant difference in the space now — if the straps are now super loose and you have to adjust them to secure your child in tightly…you know that the coat and car seat combo is NOT safe. It is actually pretty terrifying to think about. And it’s still 10 degrees out. According to Transport Canada, almost 2,000 children aged four or under were killed or seriously injured in car … Don't worry, though, here are a few tips for car seats in the winter that'll keep your tiny passenger warm and safe. To keep a safe distance between the harness or vehicle seat belt (for booster riders), unzip the coat. As a general guideline, babies should consider wearing an extra layer compared to adults. Have the child put on their coat, but don’t zip it up. It’s something I will always keep in mind during the cold winter months. My neighbors kids are going out to the car in the morning with no coats and car had not been warmed up. Any layer of clothing (including a onesie), a blanket, or fleece all count as a layer. It is possible the straps may be loose the child slide through the straps and come from their child restraint. But if you think that your baby is feeling warm or acting unusual then check his temperature. Once everything is in place, unbuckle him and remove the coat, making sure to not adjust the straps (for test purposes only*). So they will not create a fuss about snuggling if you buckled them up in their favorite blanket. When it’s still chilly in the car, cover or wrap her with the blanket. Always Keep dry clothes, additional blankets, hats, gloves and non-perishable snacks in your vehicle. If you can pinch the strap webbing between your thumb and forefinger, the coat is too big to be worn underneath the car seat harness. Fleece coats and snowsuits are often a good option for use with car seats, providing warmth without bulk. Related: How to keep baby warm in the crib. It may make your kid uncomfortable on a car ride. It might not be the first thing you think of when preparing for a family car ride, but since babies shouldn't wear jackets while in their car seat, these convenient covers … Buckle your kid into the car seat with a coat. If you need simple alternatives to wearing a coat for the loading and unloading routine, here are some great ideas. Friends of mine just throw one of those car seat covers over baby and take them in and out. If it’s possible to fit more than two fingers underneath the tackle in the kid’s shoulder, then it is evident that the coat thick and isn’t a safe option to use with the car seat. Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com. Your little one can put a thin fleece coat over the top. And don’t assume every caretaker knows how to properly use the buckle — oftentimes grandparents or older babysitters don’t know how it all is supposed to work – so show them! Blankets supply a smooth coating to wrap around your baby on the road to the car, and it’s also easy to remove as soon as you arrive. The buckle should meet right above the heart — not at the waist (which kids may sometimes prefer!). Then remove it if she gets too warm to prevent overheating. However, coats can be a necessary evil in frigid parts of Canada. Babywearing during the winter allows a caregiver to complete day-to-day activities with ease and comfort! Temperatures are in the low 30s. With winter weather here, we need to discuss how to keep baby warm in the car seat in winter without compromising the safety features that are in place for their protection. A 5-point harness is the standard car seat straps, that includes two straps over each shoulder and two straps around the waist that meet at the center to buckle. Filed Under: Baby, Motherhood, New Mom | Leave a Comment, Your email address will not be published. Buckle Me Baby Car Seat Coats are the easiest, safest, car seat friendly coats that end car seat struggles for parents. It’s your parental duty. You have to make it sure that nothing goes underneath and between your child’s body. So I do what most parents with good intentions would, and help my children zip up their coats as we make our way to the car. Your email address will not be published. Typically in the car seat she would wear a vest, all in one, thin cardigan and a hat, we would put a cellular blanket on top and then a … Another easy tip to help keep the kiddos warm in the car is simply putting the coats on backwards once strapped in. If you decide to wear multiple layers with the coats, then it can be difficult to tighten the harness. What should you do instead? Babies should be dressed in thin layers when in the car seat, and thick or puffy snowsuits will cause the harness to fit incorrectly. They should fit securely in their car seat even with their winter coat on. Layering helps keep steady body temperature, which is vital for the child. The straps should be tightened like they were when you child was wearing their coat. A child can then slip through the straps and be thrown from the seat. How To Keep Baby Cool In Stroller hot weather. Instead, he just wears this thinner microfleece body jacket that is super warm, yet not super bulky like a standard winter coat. Also remember, mittens, booties, hats and thin, light jackets such as fleeces are acceptable. How frequently have you ever been bundled up for the cold then begin sweating the moment you go inside? Try the “pinch test” yourself. But car seats and puffy coats don’t mix. Car seats are a part of parents’ lives. If you think that your baby is feeling too warm, then try to touch his neck. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Dress your child in thin layers. Even if you can't safely use your child's winter coat in the car seat, there are ways to keep baby warm when temperatures drop. READ MORE: What to do when Baby suddenly hates car seat? By correcting his layers along with also the car’s internal temperature; consequently, it is possible to keep your kid cozy and chill onto a car ride. We all know that heavy clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. Each layer holds warm air. The extra layers between a child’s body and the belt can leave dangerous room for your kid to be ejected in a collision or upon slamming on the brakes. Once you've found the perfect car seat for your baby, it's a good idea to finish it off with a suitable cover. When it’s freezing cold in outside and toasty warm in your car, your infant could have an issue with overheating. Safety experts recommend that children ride in car seats without wearing their winter coats. Your baby’s winter clothing should never interfere with the proper tightness and position of the clips and harness. Also, get six safe alternatives for keeping children warm in a car. Sometimes it may just be easier to have the kids wear a warm sweater or thin fleece jacket when in the car. I know it’s a pain in the butt to take those coats off in the car once you’ve spent all morning chasing your kids down to get them on in the first place, but it’s a step worth taking. If your car seat comes with extra padding for warmth, then read the directions and follow them closely. With winter weather near, we need to think about how to keep baby warm in car seat without sacrificing safety issue. I’ve also made it a point to educate my spouse about it too…and although inconvenient, he has made it a habit too! Another simple idea to keep kids warm at the car is just placing the coats on backward after strapped in. Consider a car seat poncho. Some coats and most fleece jackets are thin enough to wear safely in the car. Let me be the first to acknowledge the truth: I’m just as guilty as anyone else. They are great for several reasons. In case you are living in a cold area of your country, you might wish to have a car seat which features with all-weather “boot” that can help keep your child comfortable and warm. It makes life so much easier when you have three boys to load into the car. If you haven’t seen these before, you better check them out! What to do when Baby suddenly hates car seat? So every now and then I take a walk to the back seat where baby is strapped in and check it out for myself — making sure to see if the vent blowing air is open or closed. So try to pinch the straps of the car seat harness. Thick winter coats should not be used with car seats. Luckily, once you’ve found the perfect coat for your baby, you won’t have to worry about either of these problems. No one wants to think the worst, but it can be life-saving in the event of an accident. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as a general rule, bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn underneath the harness of the car seat. Experts at the NHTSA and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend parents take dangerous traditional coats off in the car seat. So many moms are wondering if baby wearing a winter coat in the car is safe or if they are putting their infant in danger by bundling them up in a padded jacket so they will be cozy and warm. “No child should freeze in the car,” she told Scary Mommy. They respond well she/he can’t wear a coat. Rather than wearing a puffy coat, have a big warm blanket and use it. And it can be a deadly one. We can’t possibly list every jacket and snowsuit that is safe for the car seat – but you can quickly assess if yours is or isn’t in 2 easy steps. It happens then. Dress your baby in thin layers, then use a blanket after she's buckled in. In this installment, Jason Foroglou – Allstate Employee, Certified Car Seat Safety Technician, and new dad – explains how to dress your child for their car seat in cold winter months. But one of my favorite reasons for going with a fleece jacket is when it comes to baby. When it is freezing, you have to be confident … Once there, I loosen the seat belt and help them get comfy in their car seats…with their coats still on. A bulky coat under a child seat harness can result in the harness being too loose to be effective in a crash. As is winter weather. I didn’t quite understand how a coat and car seat combo was so bad initially…but after I saw it in action everything made sense. The Car Seat Lady demonstrates the dangers of fluff (winter Step 1 is to dress your child in a few thin, tight layers and then put the coat or snowsuit on. Load the child into their harnessed car seat. It's one mistake parents make frequently in the winter. Start with close-fitting layers on the bottom, like tights, leggings, and … Bitterly cold. A car seat poncho is exactly what it sounds like: a warm poncho often made of terry-cloth material that kids can wear over the car seat to keep them safe. If it is sweaty, you should remove a layer of his clothing. 1  Dress your baby or toddler in thin layers of clothing. You see, a bulky coat prevents a seatbelt or harness from being snug enough to keep a child safe during a car accident. If you are deciding on a heavy winter coat too, tuck your infant to a snowsuit or bunting, or coating on a few blankets. "When using winter clothes, always ensure that the … Turn Up The Heat. Many children have their favorite blanket that they prefer. We’ve used the 7AM Enfant Pookie Poncho (shop family-owned / shop Amazon) and the CatBirdBaby Winter Baby Carrier Cover and loved them both. This is a no-brainer. In case you’ve got a hat and a coat, your infant will likely to require a hat, coat, and blanket. It happens almost every day as I load the kids into the car, to and from school. Your kids may fuss, you may be short on time and it just isn’t as convenient as keeping them on…but they can literally be life-changing. They cannot remove. That’s why one of the first steps I’ve recently taken is to remove those coats once we are in the car. If you haven’t seen these before, you better check them out! The layer next to the skin should be Early Motherhood: Love the Joy. So that layer does make any difficulties. You have to be alert that many manufacturers produce car seat bundling products that are not that secure to use in the car. Children shouldn’t wear bulky winter coats underneath their car seat harness. Our daughter was a winter newborn so we did lots of layers and blankets. Letting children wear winter jackets in car seats is a common mistake. When it is freezing, you have to be confident that your car is warm. It’s cold outdoors. Winter Coats and Car Seats If you plan to keep baby's coat on while traveling, you must choose a thin winter coat that will not interfere with proper car seat harness adjustment. What do snowsuits have to do with car seat safety? Because during a car crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out due to the force and that leaves some extra space under the harness. Layering your child in thick or puffy coats before getting in the vehicle can actually cause the car seat to not work properly. From car-seat ponchos to blankets, what car seat-safe coat can you put on your child to stay warm? Standard coats, no matter how thin, should never be worn underneath a car seat harness because it can leave the harness too loose to be effective in a crash. Transport Canada and the provinces don't ban kids from wearing heavy winter gear in car seats, but they don't recommend it. Love the Chaos. Not even a little. Once the harness is secure, zip the coat up over the harness. In fact, lots of layers or heavy clothing will prevent the car seat harness holding her body firmly, and could be dangerous in the event of a crash. I don’t have to follow the same procedure of putting-on-a-coat-and-taking-it-off that I do with my 2 and 4-year-olds. A lot actually. And also watch out for the harness straps. If you leave them unzipped, they will fit even better than the traditional winter coat. Take off their coat, then buckle your child back into their seat. We’re excited about 7AM Enfant’s new K-Poncho which is wider at the hips and leg area like the CatBirdBaby one – which means it will fit big kids in ergonomic carriers for longer. In addition, a baby carrier itself counts as a layer over the torso. Wearing long underwear can be another good option during the cold weather. Now that you’re not putting your infant, toddler, or kid of any other size into a car seat wearing a winter coat, you still have to keep them warm. So you have to take care that he does not get overly friendly. As a general rule, you only want to use padding around your baby that has been tested by the manufacturer of your car seat. Second, they are not super bulky like a winter coat making them much safer alternatives in the car. “Is it safe for my child to wear a winter coat in her car seat?” - Jacki from MD This is a question that comes up every winter. What you need is a car seat … Those extra minutes you take to remove coats in the car ride can be such a hassle. If you think that I have missed something then please don’t hesitate to let me know by commenting below. The wind has picked up and I just want to keep my kids warm…you know, like any parent would while outdoors to prevent those little hands and faces from freezing. With this in mind, she offered some basic guidelines for how to plan your child’s car seat … During a crash, all of the substance of a heavy winter coat or those cozy heavy sleeping bag such as bundling goods will start making the harness straps lose on the kid. For booster riders, this method also works.