Bulky winter coats and snowsuits should not be worn underneath a child’s car seat harness because the extra padding can prevent the straps from fitting securely. Instead, dress your child in several thin, snug layers and tighten the harness directly against those layers. Once your child is safely buckled in, add a blanket or place a coat backward over the harness for extra warmth. These simple steps can help keep babies and children both warm and properly secured during winter car rides.
How do you keep your child bundled up and warm in the car? Dr. Jessica Long is here to help!
Safely strapped into her carseat with multiple thin layers for warmth.
One of my favorite things about being a pediatrician is getting to work with new parents as they embark on this wild, crazy, amazing journey of raising a little human. They often apologize for having so many questions but how could they not? There’s no all-inclusive manual on parenting and, even if there were, no parent would have the free time to read it. Thankfully my schedule allows me to spend the time parents need to walk themthrough their questions and concerns,andtoassurethem that even as a pediatrician I had many of the same quandaries when I first became a parent.
This time of year one of the big things we talk about is how to keep kids safe and warm in the car. Multiple times a day a baby adorably bundled up in a snowsuit comes into our office looking like the Stay PuftMarshmallowMan. She’s clearly warm and toasty buckled in her car seat, but she’s not safe. The parents are unaware that there is a better way to keep their baby snug and safe this time of year.
Due to the fluffiness of snowsuits and puffy jackets, it is impossible to get car seat straps tight enough to appropriately buckle your child. Even when you have tightened the straps as snug as they can go, there is typically still four (!!!) inches of slack. Though our muscles cannot squish down that extra air in the puffy clothes, the force of a car crash certainly can,and those four inches of slack can be enough to let your child slip out of the harness all together.
Yikes! Look how loose the car seat straps were with the puffy layer.
Save the snowsuits and puffy jackets for playtime outside or walks in the stroller. When you are buckling your child into the car, multiple thin layers are the way to go. A long-sleeved shirt with a tight fitting fleece over it, a snug hat, and fleece leggings with pants on top is plenty warm in the car. You can always add a blanket tucked in all around your little one. There are also many products on the market that go around your baby or car seat for additional warmth without additional bulkiness.
What about when you’re putting your child in the car for a trip to go play in the snow? I know it’s a pain, but bring the snowsuit with you and put it on your child when you get there. If you dress your child as just described above, she’ll be warm enough for those few minutes. And the inconvenience is worth it to keep your child safe.
While most of these tips address infants, the same applies to bigger kids as well. A bulky jacket will hinder the tightness and effectiveness of all car seat straps,so plan ahead with tight layers and add a jacket worn backwards (so that the fluffiness does not interfere with the straps) after your child’s buckled in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child wear a winter coat in a car seat?
Bulky winter coats and puffy jackets should not be worn underneath a car-seat harness. Thick padding can prevent the straps from fitting snugly against your child and may compress during a crash, creating dangerous extra space.
Why are puffy coats unsafe in car seats?
Puffy coats contain bulky material and air that can make a harness appear tight when there is actually extra space between the straps and your child. In a crash, that material can compress and leave the harness too loose to properly restrain your child.
What should my child wear in a car seat during winter?
Dress your child in multiple thin, close-fitting layers. The article suggests options such as a long-sleeved shirt, fitted fleece, hat, fleece leggings, and pants rather than a bulky coat or snowsuit.
How can I keep my baby warm in the car seat without a coat?
Dress your baby in thin, warm layers and buckle the harness securely. After your baby is strapped in, you can tuck a blanket around them without placing it between the child and the harness.
Can I put a blanket over my child in the car seat?
Yes. A blanket can be placed over your child after the harness has been properly tightened. The blanket should not interfere with the harness or be placed underneath your child.
