Winter Coats & Car Seat Safety

With snow and colder temperatures hitting Colorado, Car Seats Colorado is reminding parents and caregivers of an important safety tip: bulky winter coats should not be worn under car seat harnesses.

While bundling your child up on a freezing day seems like common sense, strapping them into a car seat while wearing a puffy winter jacket can be dangerous. Why? During a crash, the material of the coat compresses, leaving the harness straps too loose to protect your child effectively.

How to test if a coat is too bulky

Follow these steps to check whether your child’s coat is safe to wear in their car seat:

1. Put the coat on your child and buckle them into the car seat. Tighten the harness until it passes the “pinch test” — you shouldn’t be able to pinch any excess strap between your thumb and forefinger.
2. Without loosening the harness, remove your child from the seat.
3. Take off their coat, then buckle them back into the seat with the same harness setting.
4. Perform the pinch test again. If you can pinch excess strap, the coat is too bulky to be worn under the harness.
   

What to do instead

Keep your child warm and safe with these alternatives:

• For infants and smaller children: Place a blanket over the child after buckling them into the car seat. Avoid covering the entire car seat, as this can restrict airflow and lead to carbon dioxide poisoning.
• For toddlers and older children: Buckle the child into their harness, then turn their coat around and put their arms through the sleeves backward to keep warm.
• Be cautious of overheating: With blankets and the car heater, babies can quickly overheat. Monitor your child’s temperature and adjust as needed.
  

Winter driving comes with unique challenges, and ensuring your child’s car seat is used correctly is one way to prevent injuries. Car Seats Colorado encourages all parents and caregivers to prioritize safety over convenience.

For more tips on car seat safety or to schedule a car seat check, visit CarSeatsColorado.com.

Stay warm, and most importantly, stay safe this winter!