Worth the read about car seats and winter coats!

DublinMama · November 2013

This may be common knowledge, but as a FTM, I didn't know this. I have been putting DS into the seat with a fairly bulky coat on, as it's in the teens here now in the morning. Time to switch up the procedure!

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/12/winter-coats-and-car-seats-keeping-your-child-safe-and-warm/index.htm

tamarar5 · November 2013

I know the recommendation is to not put a thick coat on, but we don't use an infant seat, don't park inside or have a heated garage. We have compromised with the fleece j jacket (like one from carters fleece sets) and blankets. Hopefully I can convince DH to warm the car when needed too.

LASeigrist · November 2013

Thanks for posting this, OP! I am a FTM and had no idea about this either until I read a story about a car accident where the car seat was ejected and the baby was ejected from the car seat (the baby was fine--he landed in snow!). The car seat was still buckled, but it was assumed that the bulky snowsuit kept the car seat from being fastened tight enough. Your post was the reason for my post earlier to ask what everyone was doing! Thanks!

DublinMama · November 2013

LASeigrist said:

Thanks for posting this, OP! I am a FTM and had no idea about this either until I read a story about a car accident where the car seat was ejected and the baby was ejected from the car seat (the baby was fine--he landed in snow!). The car seat was still buckled, but it was assumed that the bulky snowsuit kept the car seat from being fastened tight enough. Your post was the reason for my post earlier to ask what everyone was doing! Thanks!

I'm sorry I didn't even see it! I probably should have just posted the link in there instead of starting a new thread lol. I think from now on we will put him in a fleece pullover, a blanket on him until he gets into the car, and we always have to heat the car up before we go in it anyway because it Jan./Feb. it is literally -5 or colder outside in the mornings. Of course he'll have a winter hat on, too. The one thing we have going for us (because it sure isn't the weather!) is that our front door to the car door is a five second walk.

penguingrrl · November 2013

Yes, this is very important! When we lived in NYC and parked on street it was a pain since we had to bundle the kids up for the walk to the car, unbundle in the car and rebundle on the other end. But worth it since it's a serious safety risk!

If you must keep a coat on, many techs say that you leave the harness as tight as it was set without the coat, unzip the coat, pull the front of the coat through the harness straps, buckle the harness under the coat then zip back up. My kids said that was really uncomfy when we tried it, so we keep blankets in the car instead.

LASeigrist · November 2013

DublinMama said:

LASeigrist said:

Thanks for posting this, OP! I am a FTM and had no idea about this either until I read a story about a car accident where the car seat was ejected and the baby was ejected from the car seat (the baby was fine--he landed in snow!). The car seat was still buckled, but it was assumed that the bulky snowsuit kept the car seat from being fastened tight enough. Your post was the reason for my post earlier to ask what everyone was doing! Thanks!

I'm sorry I didn't even see it! I probably should have just posted the link in there instead of starting a new thread lol. I think from now on we will put him in a fleece pullover, a blanket on him until he gets into the car, and we always have to heat the car up before we go in it anyway because it Jan./Feb. it is literally -5 or colder outside in the mornings. Of course he'll have a winter hat on, too. The one thing we have going for us (because it sure isn't the weather!) is that our front door to the car door is a five second walk.

It's great info! We're all thinking the same things these days, I suppose!

downtown80 · November 2013

Although I haven't actually tried this....I've also heard that you could buckle child in the seat and then put their heavy coat on backwards on top of harness. Acts like a blanket and keeps ther arms warm. Might stay put better than a blanket.

fignewt74 · November 2013

I love the idea of a carseat poncho. You can find them on Etsy, or I am thinking of making one myself!

cmhicklin · November 2013

TamaraR4 said:

I know the recommendation is to not put a thick coat on, but we don't use an infant seat, don't park inside or have a heated garage. We have compromised with the fleece j jacket (like one from carters fleece sets) and blankets. Hopefully I can convince DH to warm the car when needed too.

A thin fleece jacket is just fine. I think Old Navy even has thin fleece "snow suits" if you feel like dealing with that. We have gotten fleece jackets from Target every year for my DD (around $7) and then we have a blanket we keep by the front door, to wrap around her and take her to the car.

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