As the weather turns colder, we're wrapping up to stay warm, but one common mistake may put children at risk when in the car.
Putting your little ones into car seats while still wearing their thick winter coats can be "seriously dangerous", according to The Mirror. The extra padded layers mean there is a sizable gap between the child's body and the actual seat belt.
In a crash this could mean the seat belt is not close enough to the child's body to restrain them during an impact, increasing the risk of injury.
READ MORE: The 12p hack all drivers can rely on to prevent a frosty windscreen this winter
Parents should do the harness tightly enough so that they can only just get two fingers between their child and the straps. This likely means ditching the coat in the car.
If you are worried about kids being cold on road trips, there are plenty of other ways to keep them warm.
For babies, dress them in thin layers or fold a thin blanket in half and tuck it tightly around your baby over the harness. The blanket should not come up any higher than armpit level.
For children, remove their coats and jackets, and strap them into their car seat properly. Then tuck a blanket around them - your child will be able to remove the blanket if they get too hot which they cannot do when they have their coat on.
You can find out more about child safety on the Good Egg Car Safety blog.
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