What could possibly go wrong when it comes to dressing your little one in a winter coat? Well, the fact that car seats are not compatible with coats makes for another safety practice that's not very intuitive. That's right – to safely secure your baby, toddler, or child in their car seat, you cannot secure the harness over their coat – or any bundled layers of clothing.
But it's cold!
We know, but car seat safety techs also know that the padding of a coat or bundled layers can create a gap between your child's body and the harness straps. In the event of a sudden stop or a crash, this extra space means your baby is not protected in their harness like they're supposed to be, potentially leading to severe injuries.
Always remove extra layers, coats, and jackets before securing your child in their car seat. This ensures the harness fits snugly over your child as intended.
Seasoned parents prioritize warmth without compromising safety by making a few routine changes, like:
When possible, warm your vehicle before leaving with your child.
Have your child wear a jacket to the car, but take it off while buckling your child in.
Gently place the jacket or a travel-size blanket over your child and the harness once secured in their seat.
Once the car is at a complete stop and you both are at your end destination, unbuckle your child and help them place their coat back on.
Alternatively, some products are designed to be car-seat friendly through colder-weather months, such as: