Coats in carseats
By Sillychick
@Sillychick (3275)
United States
January 2, 2008 10:01am CST
A person who is certified in child safety and carseat safety told me to never put a child in a carseat with a heavy coat. She said that in an accident the coat will deflate and make the straps loose, meaning the child could be ejected from the carseat. She told me to put a blanket over him instead. I don't want him to be cold, and it seems like the blanket is not enough, especially since he is in the backseat where it is not as warm. I do put a light coat on him but it seems like it's not enough- I don't want him to be cold.
Do you have your child wear his or her coat in the carseat? Do you think it's that big a deal?
2 people like this
9 responses
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
2 Jan 08
I just heard this little piece of information and it really surprised me. It makes sense though once I thought about it. I can't figure out a solution either. We park outside so we don't have the shelter of a garage to load up in. They have to wear the heavy coats outside, I can't imagine stripping them off outside when they get in the car and I know none of them would leave a blanket around them even if we did try that...and the car doesn't heat up enough to go without.
I know accidents can't be predicted but my thinking is that getting sick from exposure is more likely than a car accident under those conditions so I'm going to keep bundling them up until we win the lottery (lol) and can build a house with a heated attached garage and buy a brand new vehicle with a working heater...like apparently the experts think everybody already has.
1 person likes this
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
2 Jan 08
You are right, a lot of people can't afford cars with heat that works, let alone with heat in the backseat. I respect your viewpoint, but with the way I see people driving, I think that an accident is a very likely occurrence. My son does leave the blanket on. If he ever starts taking it off, I'll come up with a solution, somehow. Thanks for your input.
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
2 Jan 08
We do it and have been doing it for years. The kids either just put their coats on or wrap them around themselves and then jump in and we buckle them up and then they put the coats back on backwards, like a blanket. Our van doesn't have heat in the back so it gets pretty cold all the way back there. For long trips they bring a blanket, too.
It's not as hard as it sounds. It was a lot easier with our van since they could stand inside it to get their coats off. We have a pickup now and there really isn't room for that, but only the baby is in a carseat in the truck. The other kids have booster seats now.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
3 Jan 08
I found this to be intriguing...and did some research on it....How to test and how to dress a child for the bad weather.
http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/a/carseatcoat.htm
I think I would warm the car up before bringing a baby out in extremely cold weather.
1 person likes this
@twinsohiomommy (4)
• United States
4 Jan 08
You should never put a thick coat on a child in a car.. It will compress in a accident and can cause the child's body to move farther forward then it should and helps to cause neck injuries..
Do you have a hunting store near you? Once that sells Carhart type clothing? If so go there and they should sell warm sweat shirts or zip up jackets that are either thermal lined or just really warm.. Those are safe to use and will keep your child warm.. ( And yes they come in all sizes from NB up to adults)
If you don't have one of those try a sweat shirt or a fleece type coat that is thin.. Those are also good..
Think about it.. How long is your little one actually outside getting exposed? 1 or 2 minutes each time you get in our out of the car.. They will be fine.. I did this when my boys where little and preemies even.. And they are now 7 years old in booster seats and we still use the sweatshirts as coats.. Heck my husband and I now wear Carhart heavy weight sweatshirts as our winter coats and my DH works outside in the cold..
It really is soooooo much safer..
@academic2 (7000)
• Uganda
2 Jan 08
Take heed my dear, accidents have no formulae, and when they finally happen as unexpectedly as they do, dont tell the world yuo didnt know because you have been warned-find other items to keep the child warm
1 person likes this
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
2 Jan 08
That's exactly why I put a light coat on him and wrap him in a blanket. I don't care what the world thinks, I could not live with myself if something happened to my son as a result of me not following safety advice. Thanks
@4monsters4me (2569)
• United States
2 Jan 08
My kids never wore coats in their carseats because it was a pain to fasten them in and it isn't safe. The belt should be close to the body but with a heavy coat it isn't close at all. Plus I worried about over heating because once they are in they are in and can't get the coat off if they get too hot.
We just strap them in and then put the coat on backwards over them, with their arms through. The baby was always covered in a couple of blankets in her carrier.
It is way easier to not put a coat on them, then you don't have to adjust the straps again when summer comes, lol.
1 person likes this
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
2 Jan 08
That is a good idea to put the coat on backwards. You are right, it isa a pain to put a child in a carseat with a lot of clothing on. Thanks for the idea.
@joey_matthews (8354)
•
2 Jan 08
I have never put my son in a coat in his carseat because when he had a carseat it was summer and all he needed to keep him warm was a jumper and a blanket.
Aslong as the coat isn't loads too big for him he should be ok in a thick coat in his carseat.
If you don't want to put him in a thick coat, you could try putting him in a t-shirt and a few jumpers aswell as a thin coat and put a blanket over his legs.
He should be warm enough anyway, but if you try to match the thickness of his coat in other cotton sweatshirts or long sleave tops he should be warm enough.
Even if his coat did deflate(which i don't think it would) he shouldn't fall out his car seat because even if they were lose he wouldn't fall out.
~Joeys wife
1 person likes this
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
2 Jan 08
Where I live, children are required to be in carseats until they are 7 years old. After about age 3 it is a booster seat, so the coat is not a problem in the seat. So everyone has to face this decision each winter for at least the first 3 years. I'm thinking maybe I can unzip the coat, then buckle the carseat and zip the coat over the straps. Thanks
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
2 Jan 08
I have never had anyone tell at the child safefy seat checkups tell me not to put a heavy coat on my child they just said adjust the straps to fit tightly around the coat.
I always put a heavy coat on my children if it is cold outside I don't want them cathing colds.
1 person likes this
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
2 Jan 08
Maybe it is a matter of opinion, just like different doctors tell us different things. Thanks.
@nicolecab (923)
• United States
2 Jan 08
My ped told me the same thing no coats in the car seat. What I do is bring a small blaket and a heavy blanket and double layer them on his lap. He seems to stay pretty warm that way. I would try to find the havest/warmest blanket that you could like a fleece blaket. When it is time to take him out I leave the blakets in the car and then put on his coat before taking him out the car. That seems to work the best for me. Hope this helps you some.
1 person likes this
@thedster (18)
• United States
2 Jan 08
A fluffy coat can and will get compressed in an accident, and if the carseat belt is not snug, the baby/child can slip out. It does happen, you're just more likely to hear about the kids who aren't in carseats on the news.
Put him in a long sleeved shirt, and a sweatshirt or lightweight fleece jacket, he'll be fine. Fleece is thin, but so warm!
1 person likes this
