Safety is my top priority when it comes to Oliver and I will do anything I can to keep him safe. Obviously when we are travelling in the car, we make sure he’s all strapped into his car seat properly and his car seat is properly strapped/clipped in. But one thing I have noticed as he has grown is how little people are aware of what is appropriate for a baby and small child to wear in a car seat. I read up quite a lot about it when Oliver was small (as he was a winter baby), this is a good site to learn more about it.
Did you know that you should make sure you remove outer clothing before you place your child in their car seat? A thick or puffy coat/snowsuit can add inches in extra space which then isn’t securely holding your child in their seat. If you had an accident the coats would become compressed and there could end up being a lot of movement, which could mean your child could slip out from their harness.
In a snowsuit or coat your child may be at risk of overheating , as you most likely will have the heating on in your car on these chillier days and you will have it acclimatised to your temperature not your child’s. If you’re worried about your baby or child getting cold you can always place a blanket over their lap (no higher than their armpits) to keep them snug in their seat. There are cosy toes available on the market but you should always check that they have been tested with your car seat before buying.
Just remember to always check that you can fit two fingers between the car seat strap and your child. If your child has a coat you are unsure whether it’s too thick to wear in the car, you can put them in the car seat with the coat on and then without, if the gap is more than 2 fingers in when you put the harness on without the coat then it’s too big!
Pink Pear Bear
I need to try this with Olivers car seat! #KCACOLS
Great post. I am very cautious with my daughter in her car seat because I read up about this a lot when she was small too. I suspect I often verge on strapping her in too tight because I’m so scared of something happening to her. You’re right though that too many people put their babies in car seats wearing puffy clothing and it’s dangerous. Wishing you all a safe winter x #KCACOLS
Me too, my husband often says I have the straps far too tight because he can’t do them back up! I always make sure there’s 2 fingers room though! Thank you for reading x
This is such a vital piece of information that a lot of parent know know about. Thanks for the post. He looked super cute and cosy in his car seat x
Thank you, it is very important!
X
I am a little obsessed with car safety, I am often amazed at the lack of knowledge around the do’s and don’ts of car seats. Well done for writing this post and raising awareness, it’s incredibly important.
#bigpinklink
I am too, I see so many people putting their children in car seats in big coats and snow suits! Generally I don’t know them and don’t think they’ll appreciate some crazy woman coming and telling them off!
It makes you cringe though doesn’t it? X
Definitely!
I always remove my daughters coat now but do you think this is something we always need to be doing? I’m not sure what the cut off point is? #DreamTeam
Everything I’ve read is for when you’re using the harness on the car seat, there isn’t much information about the cut off. I guess you just have to use common sense, if it’s a big thick coat would they want to wear it in the car anyway? X
I didn’t know this. Thank you for sharing. It’s summer here now, but I often put my daughter in her car seat with her coat on during winter. At least I know now. Thank you! #bigpinklink
I think it’s important people know, I don’t know why it isn’t something that you get told, I only found out through a friend and my own research!
This used to drive me and my husband crazy when ours were tiny-we never knew if we were doing things right or wrong! I did sometimes put the eldest (also a winter baby,) in his snow suit in the car seat, but would leave it unbuttoned all the way down, and make sure the hood wasn’t up-I’ve no idea if this was the right or wrong thing to do! Thankfully we are past this stage now, but it’s handy to have the information available, and very important to raise awareness xx
#bigpinklink
Great post and so important at this time of year! Thank you for linking with #kcacols
This is a really great guide! I hate to admit that a few times I’ve put my two into their car seats all ready to for the cold in coats but I’m definitely being more aware lately #KCACOLS
Very useful post, I wasn’t aware of the problem with thick coats either. People here in Mexico have about zero knowledge of car seat safety, but it’s important to be informed. #KCACOLS
That’s a fab reminder about making sure that coats are removed. I still make mine take off her coat, and just turn up the heating. When she was a baby, we have one of those special cozy covers. Thank you for sharing with the #dreamteam. x
I think it’s surprising how many things you don’t realise you should know about car safety. I never knew this while my daughter was young only now she is older have I become aware of it #kcacols