Winter Jackets Are Not Safe For Your Child in Their Car Seats

Winter is upon us, which means kids will want to start wearing their winter coats for walks to school or to keep them warm during their car ride. But what many parents don’t know is that these warm, puffy winter jackets are unsafe for children to wear while in their car seats because they create too much slack in the car seat straps which can lead to serious injuries during an accident.

The extra bulk of the coat compresses during a crash which can leave your child’s harness straps loose, and if they are buckled up with the shoulder belt at armpit level it is dangerous to have too much slack in the straps. It only takes 6 millimeters of loosening of the straps during a crash to cause your child’s body to move around outside their car seat and this can lead to neck, head or spine injuries.

There are some products out there that help make your child’s winter coat safe for use in their car seat but it is important to note that nothing should go behind your child and thread through the crotch buckle or harness straps. It is also important to remember that it is not safe for any type of coat to be zipped up all the way while your child is in their car seat.

The best way to keep your child warm for their walk to the car and as they wait for the car to heat up is to dress them in thin layers such as onsies or leggings, a long sleeved bodysuit or sweater, and a hat and gloves. This allows them to be comfortable for the walk out and as the car warms up they can remove their thin layer(s).

Another option is to repurpose your child’s thick winter coat into something safer for the car seat. This is particularly useful for very puffy or bulky winter coats such as the Patagonia Hi-Loft Down Hoody, which can be made safer by tightening the harness straps and compression a couple of times to push out all the fluff making it car seat safe. This can be done by putting the child in the car seat and then flipping their coat backwards over them after they are buckled securely in the car seat.

It is also a good idea to keep a thin fleece coat or blanket in the trunk of your car for those times when it will be too cold for your child to take off their coat before getting into the car. You can always have them put the fleece or blanket over their shoulders after they are buckled up securely in the car seat and it will be there when they get out of the car to keep them warm. This also ensures that they aren’t overheated while waiting to be picked up. This is especially important for young babies who may need to be in their car seat for an extended period of time.