On a cold morning, buckling a child into a car seat while they are bundled in a puffy coat seems like common sense. Unfortunately, it is one of the most common winter car seat mistakes. Bulky coats and snowsuits can make a harness feel snug when it is not. In a crash, the padding compresses, leaving extra space that can allow a child to slip out of the harness. The good news is that keeping kids both warm and safe is easy once you know the routine. Here is what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends.
Why Puffy Coats Are a Problem
A car seat harness works by holding a child firmly against the seat so crash forces are spread across the strongest parts of the body. A thick coat fills that space with air and soft padding. During a crash, the force flattens the padding instantly, and a harness that seemed tight can suddenly be several inches too loose. The AAP advises keeping bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, out from under the harness.
Try this quick test at home
Many child passenger safety technicians suggest a simple check. Buckle your child in while wearing their coat and tighten the harness. Then, without loosening the straps, take your child out, remove the coat and buckle them back in. If there is now a noticeable gap between the straps and your child’s chest, the coat is too bulky to wear under the harness.
Dress in Thin, Warm Layers
The AAP suggests dressing children in thin layers instead of one thick one. Good options include:
- Tights, leggings or long underwear as a base layer
- Long-sleeved bodysuits or thermal shirts
- Pants and a sweater
- A thin, close-fitting fleece jacket on top
For babies, the AAP’s “plus-one” rule applies: infants generally need one more layer than an adult would wear in the same conditions. Hats, mittens, socks and booties are fine because they do not interfere with the harness.
Use the Pinch Test Every Time
After buckling your child, place the chest clip at armpit level and tighten the harness. Then try to pinch a horizontal fold of strap material at your child’s collarbone. If you can pinch any slack, tighten the straps until your fingers slide off. The AAP recommends this “pinch test” as a reliable way to check harness fit, and it is worth doing on every trip, not just in winter.
Warmth Over the Harness, Not Under It
Once your child is buckled and the harness passes the pinch test, add warmth on top:
- Coat on backward: put your child’s arms through the sleeves of their coat from the front, like a blanket with sleeves, over the buckled harness.
- Blanket over the straps: tuck a blanket around your child after they are buckled.
- Car seat covers for infant carriers: the AAP says to use a cover only if nothing goes between the baby and the seat or harness, and to keep the baby’s face uncovered.
Avoid aftermarket products that go behind or underneath your child, such as thick bunting bags or inserts that did not come with the seat. The AAP notes that these products have not been crash tested with your seat and may interfere with its protection. Never use sleeping bag inserts or stroller accessories inside a car seat.
Smart Winter Routines
- Keep the infant carrier indoors. Bringing it inside means your baby starts in a warm seat.
- Warm up the car first, but never leave a child alone in a running vehicle, and make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow.
- Give yourself extra time. The AAP points out that bundling and unbundling takes longer, and winter roads call for slower, more careful driving.
- Pack an emergency kit. Include extra blankets, dry clothes, hats, gloves and non-perishable snacks in case of a breakdown or a child getting wet.
- Remove extra layers on long drives once the car warms up so your child does not overheat.
Get Your Installation Checked
Winter is a good time to make sure the seat itself is installed correctly. Many communities offer free car seat checks with certified child passenger safety technicians. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a locator on its website to help you find one, and it also lists recalls for car seats. Register your car seat with the manufacturer so you are notified if it is ever recalled.
Check That the Seat Still Fits Your Child
Winter is also a good time to make sure your child has not outgrown their seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises keeping young children rear-facing as long as possible, up to the top height or weight limit allowed by the seat’s manufacturer. After that, children move to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether, then to a booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly. NHTSA also recommends that children ride in the back seat at least through age 12. Check the labels on your seat for its limits, and look for the expiration date, which is usually printed on the seat or listed in the manual. If your child is close to a limit, compare options before the coldest months so you are not learning to install a new seat in freezing weather.
FAQ
Are thin puffer jackets ever okay?
Some very thin, compressible jackets pass the coat test described above, but many do not. Test your child’s specific jacket before deciding.
What about older kids in booster seats?
Bulky coats can also push the seat belt out of position. Have older children unzip or remove heavy coats so the lap belt sits low on the hips and the shoulder belt crosses the middle of the chest.
Can my baby wear a snowsuit in the car seat?
Not under the harness. Dress your baby in thinner layers and add a blanket or cover over the buckled harness.
Sources
Featured image: Shixart1985 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0