Q: How can I be sure my daughter’s car seat straps are tight enough over her bulky winter coat?
A: Winter is a tricky time for car seats. As a general rule, bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn under the harness of a car seat.
In a car crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the harness straps. A child can slip through the straps and be thrown from the seat.
These tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics will help parents strike that perfect balance between keeping little ones warm as well as safely buckled in their car seats. These tips are appropriate for all ages. In fact, wearing a puffy coat yourself with a seat belt is not best practice because it adds space between your body and the seat belt:
– Store the carrier portion of infant seats inside the house when not in use. Keeping the seat at room temperature will reduce the loss of the child's body heat in the car.
– Get an early start. If you're planning to head out the door with your baby in tow on winter mornings, you need an early start. You have a lot to assemble, and your baby may not be the most cooperative. Plus, driving in wintry conditions will require you to slow down and be extra cautious.
– Dress your child in thin layers. Start with close-fitting layers on the bottom, like tights, leggings or long-sleeved bodysuits. Then add pants and a warmer top, like a sweater or thermal-knit shirt. Your child can wear a thin fleece jacket over the top. In very cold weather, long underwear is also a warm and safe layering option. As a general rule of thumb, infants should wear one more layer than adults. If you are wearing a hat and coat, your baby likely will need a hat coat, and blanket. Remove the coat and blanket inside the car before putting your child in the car seat.
– Don't forget mittens, socks or booties. These help keep kids warm without interfering with car seat straps. If your child is a thumb-sucker, consider half-gloves with open fingers or keep an extra pair or two of mittens handy — once mittens get wet, they'll make your child colder.
– Tighten the straps of the car seat harness. Even if your child looks snuggly bundled up in the car seat, multiple layers may make it difficult to tighten the harness enough. If you can pinch the straps of the car seat harness, then it needs to be tightened to fit snugly against your child's chest.
– Use a coat or blanket over the straps. You can add a blanket over the top of the harness straps or put your child's winter coat on backward over the buckled harness straps after he or she is buckled up. Keep in mind that the top layer should be removable so your baby doesn't get too hot after the car warms up.
– Use a car seat cover only if it does not have a layer under the baby. Nothing bulky should ever be between your child’s back and the car seat. Be sure to leave baby's face uncovered to avoid trapped air or suffocation. Many retailers carry car seat bundling products that are not safe to use in a car seat. Just because it's on the shelf at a store does not mean it is safe!
– Remember, if the item did not come with the car seat, it has not been crash-tested and may interfere with the protection provided in a crash. Never use sleeping bag inserts or other stroller accessories in the car seat.
– Pack an emergency bag for your car. Keep extra blankets, dry clothing, hats and gloves, and non-perishable snacks in your car in case of an emergency or if your child gets wet on a winter outing.
Taking a few extra minutes to ensure your car seat is secure and there is nothing bulky between the child and the straps is well worth it. You can then travel with peace of mind.
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Dr. Sarah Denny is an attending physician in the Division of Primary Care Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University School of Medicine. For more information, go to HealthyChildren.org, the website for parents from the AAP.
