WinterCoats and Carseats reminder!

brymommy · by **brymommy** on Wed Nov 24, 2010 7:20 am

Winter coats, snow suits and Bundle Me's (bunting bags) don't mix with carseats.

Remember that in a crash the big coats will compress too much and the harness can become useless...

Here is a thread with pictures and lots of good tips on how to properly wear winter coats with the carseats.

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=29772

We personally use really thin coats in the car/carseats and then before getting out we put our winter coats on. Yes it is a little more work, but when roads are already bad and car accidents more likely to happen safety is still important.

CLCARR · by **CLCARR** on Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:47 am

Brymommy thankyou for posting I have been screaming this (okay not really) to anyone who will listen same goes for all those cuddle me/ bunting bags in car seats they are not safe in a crash either a much better aternative is the shower cap style that goes OVER the carseat.

On purpose? · by **On purpose?** on Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:02 am

Great reminder. It might seem like a little thing but it does make a difference.

FairyElf · by **FairyElf** on Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:35 am

Thank you for sharing the link. I always wondered how I could make it snug enough for DS so he could still wear his winter coat (he gets cold easily and likes to be bundled up!). Love how they did it in the link. I will try that out!

Shanny · by **Shanny** on Wed Nov 24, 2010 10:36 am

my son is in a high-back booster (convertable carseat) using the actual seatbelt from the van - not the harness - is he fine with his puffy jacket and seat belt over it?

by **Guest** on Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:19 pm

Shanny wrote:my son is in a high-back booster (convertable carseat) using the actual seatbelt from the van - not the harness - is he fine with his puffy jacket and seat belt over it?

Seatbelts cross the body and lock but carseats have a breakaway clip across the center that breaks away in the crash. Therefore the straps can separate and compact the coat allowing their shoulders to slip out.

For DS we have layers. He has a hoody with a matching rain coat that goes overtop.

brymommy · by **brymommy** on Wed Nov 24, 2010 3:25 pm

I didn't have time to find this to post it this morning but here is a fantastic video SHOWING what happens...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGT9eBL ... re=related

Blacken · by **Blacken** on Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:52 pm

Thank you! I was just thinking today as I buckled my son in with his big jacket on how I could do it up safely. You read my mind! lol

ryer · by **ryer** on Thu Nov 25, 2010 8:36 am

For this reason, all of my kids have fleece car blankets...they get to pick out the fleece, and everyone is happy.... they are then toasty warm in the car without the big heavy coats.... my older kids now prefer NOT to wear big heavy jackets in the car.....

Be safe out there....

Angels 6 · by **Angels 6** on Thu Nov 25, 2010 11:28 am

Great video J, thank you for sharing it. :-D

hannahlin · by **hannahlin** on Thu Nov 25, 2010 10:32 pm

yeah all my daycare kids know that we get all bundled up to go out and then hand me their jackets as they get in the van, 5 pt harness on and then jackets on backwards lol. It can be exhausting but its safe!

lovemy2girls · by **lovemy2girls** on Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:17 pm

I just wanted to thank you for this post. This is my biggest issue with winter. My kids get their coats on, walk out to the car, take their coats off in the freezing cold, get in the car, get buckled, them have a blanket on them. Its a pain in the tooshie. Anyways, so I looked at this link which the pictures, ITS AMAZING! My 2yo calls it 'our trick' she thinks its great that she can wear her jacket, zipped up in the carseat now, and doesnt have to take it off in the freezing cold, we just unzip, buckle, and zip overtop - Mind you, it does look like she is sitting in the carseat with no buckle...Ill deal with explaining it, maybe it will help some other people!

Thanks again!!!