Leaving car seat straps too loose is by far the most common error when the weather turns cold, says Jennifer Hoekstra, safe kids coordinator at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
“Many parents don’t realize their children should not wear puffy coats or snowsuits in car seats and that adding this bulk between the harness straps and the child does not get the straps tight enough,” she says.
Every extra layer can bring a false sense of tightness.
A car seat’s harness straps should be snug against a child’s regular clothing. Car seats are designed to protect children, but only when they are used correctly.
Hoekstra offers these tips for car seat safety this winter:
- Be sure your car seat is installed tightly, not moving more than one inch from side to side, or front to back.
- Check to see that your car seat is installed using either a locked seatbelt or the latch system. You should not use both systems at the same time.
- Doublecheck that the harness straps are tight enough. Make sure you can’t pinch any excess webbing at the child’s shoulders when they are wearing everyday clothing.
- Be sure the car seat is appropriate for the age, height and weight of your children.
- Get your car seat inspected by a nationally certified child passenger safety technician. (Check safekids.org or cert.safekids.org)
Tips to make securing your kids a little bit easier:
- Use blankets over children (after they are properly buckled in) instead of big bulky coats.
- Put your child’s coat on backwards after buckling in.
- Remove big boots in the car seat. This helps keep the vehicle seat clean and allows kids to be more comfortable.
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My boy was a January baby and admittedly is quite a warm baby. In the house he used to wear a vest and an all in one with the scratch mit’s turned over if it was very cold and sometimes a cellular blanket over him (e.g. when asleep). Outside he wore this plus a thick cardigan and a hat. My pram had a newborn cocoon so I didn’t both with a pram suit most of the time. Mind you, it wasn’t the coldest of winters. The standard advice for dressing babies seems to be what you would feel comfortable wearing plus one layer. So if you are wearing trousers a top and a jumper, dress baby in the equivalent plus a vest or a coat. The cocoon counts as a layer as it goes up to the neck/shoulders. I was always told by midwives etc. that it is better to err on the side of caution. If they are too cold they’ll let you know but too hot can be dangerous.
Thank you! Good to hear, worth to read article