car seat safety :: how to buckle up with a winter coat

The best way to protect your kids in the car is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way.

There are so many car seat types and models, how do you know which one is right for your child? The right car seat or booster fits your child and your car, and is one you will use correctly every time you travel. Not only will your child ride as safely as possible, you will be establishing the foundation for a lifelong habit of seat belt use every time your child travels.

You may be very surprised at the amount of slack a coat or snow suit can cause. For a car seat harness to work properly, the straps need to be tightly strapped against the child’s chest. When a child wears a snowsuit or thick coat, the straps are usually adjusted to the thickness of the coat, not the chest. If the car was in an accident, the coat could compress, making the straps too loose and reducing the level of protection for the child.

I know with my first child, I thought how in the world do I get my child in a car seat with this big old coat on and have him be safe and know that if we were to get into an accident he would be strapped in correctly.  Not knowing I just put him in and put the straps over his coat and tightened it as much as I could. Then raised the center clasp to his upper chest.  I thought he was safe.  When he was in infant it used the JJ COLE Bundle Me and I think it was the best thing ever invented.  In the newborn carrier I didn’t need a coat or a big snow suit and he was very warm. I did put a winter hat on him tho.

To test whether you have correct harness tension when using a coat or snowsuit, this is what I would suggest doing:

• Put the coat on the child.

• Strap the child into the car seat and tighten to ensure a snug fit.

• Remove the child from the car seat – without loosening the straps.

• Take the coat off the child.

• Strap the child back into the seat – but don’t adjust the straps.

• Do the Two finger test. If you can fit more than two fingers underneath the harness at the child’s shoulder bone, the harness tension needs to be tightened.  I have done this and it amazes me how much room there is and scary.

Here is my suggest and what I do EVERY time I put my daughter in her seat with her winter coat on.
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I always have my daughter put her coat on before leaving the house. Most people do when it is freezing outside. She gets in her seat and then I unzip her coat. I then take the straps and pull her arm thru along with the sides of the coat. As you can see in this picture to the right one side is thru the strap and the other isn’t.  Pull both sides thru with the arms of your child.I then buckle up everything as normal. Pictured below. Making sure it is snug enough to her so that it is safe.  I move the center clasp as far as it will go – it should be on the higher part of her chest.

Then I either zip the coat back up or just close it in front of her.  So that the carseat belts are underneath and still keep her secure as it should be.

There is a really great YouTube video on this as well.

Keep your baby safe!