Winter Car Seat Safety

 Baby its cold outside! With all this snowy cold weather we have been having, we wanted to review ways to keep your child safe and warm in their seat. On those below freezing mornings it can be tempting to leave your child’s winter coat on as you strap them into their seat, but this can leave your child at risk for injury or even death. The seat straps are designed to pull nice and tight against your child’s body. Most winter coats are bulky, even those “light-weight” puffy ones. When a child has a bulky coat on, and you strap them in, they will not get that important tight fit. The seats harness is designed to fit your child’s weight and height, and to fit snug against their body. Remember, the harness straps work best when they are not twisted, so make sure you are checking and untwisting when needed.

Good news is, you don’t have to sacrifice your child’s comfort for safety. There are many different ways you can keep your child warm and safe. A few companies even make coats specifically designed to be used with a car seat; these coats have special zippers so that the harness can go under the coat. If you want to keep using the warm winter coat you already have, strap your child safely in their seat coat off, then put their winter coat on backwards over the harness. Instead of a coat you could add 1-2 layers to your child’s outfit, long underwear can go a long way when it comes to keeping your child warm! A thin fleece, zip up, or a wool-blend sweater is enough to keep a child toasty. Or go with the simple method of keeping a blanket in the car, that way no matter what, you always have something to layer with after you strap your little one in. 

Using a car seat correctly is so important, but doing it right can feel overwhelming, so don’t hesitate to call our office! There are many online resources that can guide you through using your specific brand and model of car seat. You can even schedule a car seat fitting session through ctsafekids.org.