Carseats and Bundle me's

Heids04

This is my first post. I have been lurking my whole pregnancy. I am due Oct. 10th so it's getting close.  

Today my husband and I got our car seat inspected, everything was good so that made us happy. We were talking about bundle me's and were told to not use anything that was tested by the carseat manufacturer (Chicco). My husband looked online and Chicco says not to use anything except a blanket. And the Bundle Me site said they don't test their products.

I am torn, we have 2 of these a lite one and the heavy one for winter. Would you return them and not use them or would you continue to use them?

Thanks!

AfterAll

MH is a carseat instructor... he certifies the techs.  We discussed this and he echoed everything you just mentioned.  He is more concerned about it being a suffocation hazard.  We came to an agreement that we will get one but while it is in the car it will be completely opened up.

Aliliv

I wouldn't use one, but then again, I'm a little anal retentive about carseat safety.    You could always use them in the stroller.

Aliliv

BTW: there are alot of alternative (not to mention cheaper) ways to keep baby warm in the carseat during winter.

Edit:   Things you could do is:  baby legs under outfit, tightly tucked flannel blanket around baby, doubly thick fleece blanket to throw over carseat when outside - remember to pull it back!!!   There are also products that fit over the carseat via elastic.

reannegummer

I have a jolly jumper brand cuddle bag for the winter time.  The carseat straps fit snugly through the back of it and baby is restrained as usual with their light clothing on.  in my opinion it is much safer than putting your kid in a bulky snowsuit in the winter time in the straps.  They don't recommend that at all.

I am using mine and in my opinion stores like BRU, etc. wouldn't sell these Bundle Me's or Cuddle Bags if they were dangerous.

pdljump21

I would return them.  You are not supposed to have anything in between baby and the back of the carseat.  Buy just a car seat cover so it doesn't interfere with strapping the baby in.  They don't even like thick coats or snowsuits in the carseats.  Hope this helps.

stckgrl79

We have and used one with our DD but like the other post when she wa sin the car it was unzipped and lowered to her feet.  She enjoyed kicking it and was more comfy bc with winter type clothes and the heat the car she would have sweltered with the bundle me.  They are great for running into stores and stuff (much better then a coat when they are that little). IMO

Aliliv

Another BTW:  the use of them may void carseat warrenties because they are "after-market products."   Might be worth looking into.    Anything where the straps thread through shouldn't be used or at least ask the carseat manufacturer if it is safe to use with your particular carseat.    There is  A LOT of baby crap on the market that is unsafe.

reannegummer

I have to add that I agree with some of the pp that you have to be smart enough to unzip them while they are in the car so you don't suffocate them but that shouldn't be rocket science. 

I'd use this rather than a snowsuit or thick coat anyday.

ZacksBride

pdljump21:

I would return them.  You are not supposed to have anything in between baby and the back of the carseat.  Buy just a car seat cover so it doesn't interfere with strapping the baby in.  They don't even like thick coats or snowsuits in the carseats.  Hope this helps.

 

this is what we were told by the police dept as well when we had our carseats inspected.  we got this instead from bru:

https://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_fsposh.php

toots8125

I used one with DD and plan on using it again with LO. It gets to be 30 below here with bad winds so I wanted something that didn't blow away like a blanket would if I had it over the car seats. I folded it off of DD face as soon as we were in the car and if we were going to be in the car longer then 5 minutes I would unzip it. With the weather up here I thought it was the best bet plus it was recommended to me by one of the wives of the doctor that I work for.

Temp6313048411121614

ZacksBride:

pdljump21:

I would return them.  You are not supposed to have anything in between baby and the back of the carseat.  Buy just a car seat cover so it doesn't interfere with strapping the baby in.  They don't even like thick coats or snowsuits in the carseats.  Hope this helps.

 

this is what we were told by the police dept as well when we had our carseats inspected.  we got this instead from bru:

https://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_fsposh.php

We have something similar (well 2 of them )

bellapup

I plan on using a bundleme.  I come from an area where it can get -20 in the winter time..and that's without windchill.  Yep..we are crazy to still live here.  Anyway, I don't really see a difference between a thick blanket and a bundleme if I were to pull it down when we get in the car. 

bellapup

toots8125:

I used one with DD and plan on using it again with LO. It gets to be 30 below here with bad winds so I wanted something that didn't blow away like a blanket would if I had it over the car seats. I folded it off of DD face as soon as we were in the car and if we were going to be in the car longer then 5 minutes I would unzip it. With the weather up here I thought it was the best bet plus it was recommended to me by one of the wives of the doctor that I work for.

 

I am from ND as well!!  I posted above but only people from ND know what our winters are like

AndLyn

We didn't use one with DD on the advice of the nurse teaching our prenatal class (because they can interfere with the straps), and we won't be using one this time (and it can get pretty cold here in the winter). Tucking a flannel over top of her and covering the car seat with a thick blanket while outside worked fine.?

tak2002

I was wondering about this too. Thanks for all your feedback everyone. My step-mom bought me one at  my shower this weekend and I was torn about if I should keep it or not.

Christina79

I don't understand why people still use the bundleme, even after knowing it voids their carseat warranty and is unsafe. Who cares if it's easy to use, your baby's safety is SO much more important!

The one made by kiddopotomous is safer because it doesn't go between baby and carseat, so for us it's an obvious choice to use this instead. It does the same thing, and you can remove it once the baby is in the car.

nmc29

My hospital won't let you leave with one in the carseat. 

I bought a cover with elastic around it to just stretch over the top of the carseat.  It zips open and closed and has an opening for his face.  If it doesn't work out, we'll just have to use a blanket.

itsMsAlbin

Someone just sent me over to your post from SAL.  I would never use them because they void your carseat's warranty.  They can also compress in a crash and cause baby to slide out between the loosened straps. 

 You can see a picture demonstration with a coat under car seat straps here:  https://thebabybloak.com/pages/safety.htm

A bundleme could cause similarly loosened straps.

toots8125

bellapup:

toots8125:

I used one with DD and plan on using it again with LO. It gets to be 30 below here with bad winds so I wanted something that didn't blow away like a blanket would if I had it over the car seats. I folded it off of DD face as soon as we were in the car and if we were going to be in the car longer then 5 minutes I would unzip it. With the weather up here I thought it was the best bet plus it was recommended to me by one of the wives of the doctor that I work for.

 

I am from ND as well!!  I posted above but only people from ND know what our winters are like

I know!! You have to live through a winter here to understand!

caremore37

I'm sure they told you this, but nothing should go between the carseat/straps and the baby.  I, personally, would definitely take them back.  We have a carseat cover that fits over the outside of the carrier like a shower cap.  It's very warm, but safe at the same time.

If you think you'll use the stroller a lot during the winter, I think they may work with some of them... you could look at them to see if it would work with what you have, but no, I wouldn't chance it at all.

This is what we have:

 https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2302941

 

caremore37

toots8125:

I used one with DD and plan on using it again with LO. It gets to be 30 below here with bad winds so I wanted something that didn't blow away like a blanket would if I had it over the car seats. I folded it off of DD face as soon as we were in the car and if we were going to be in the car longer then 5 minutes I would unzip it. With the weather up here I thought it was the best bet plus it was recommended to me by one of the wives of the doctor that I work for.

There's also a lot of doctors/pediatricians who will tell you to turn your child to forward facing when they reach 1 yr/ 20 lbs... doesn't mean it's the safest way to go...

caremore37

bellapup:

I plan on using a bundleme.  I come from an area where it can get -20 in the winter time..and that's without windchill.  Yep..we are crazy to still live here.  Anyway, I don't really see a difference between a thick blanket and a bundleme if I were to pull it down when we get in the car. 

Suffocation is not the greatest concern.  Read some of the other posts as to why it's not recommended.   I wouldn't do ANYTHING that would void my car seat's warranty.  But I'm really AR about car seat safety, too...

SusieQ1982

We got a carseat cover instead of a bundle me. Those go OVER the carseat and straps so they don't affect safety.

I would not put anything padded or quilted between my son and the carseat. His safety is more important than convenience.

SusieQ1982

reannegummer:

I am using mine and in my opinion stores like BRU, etc. wouldn't sell these Bundle Me's or Cuddle Bags if they were dangerous.

I wouldn't put much stock in that. Stores sell dangerous products all the time.

ccrow

What about the baby neck supports or body supports for car seats? Does anyone know if they r as bad, the go between baby and the straps too.

Aliliv

ccrow:

What about the baby neck supports or body supports for car seats? Does anyone know if they r as bad, the go between baby and the straps too.

 They should only be used if they came with the carseat!   If not, don't use them.