Here in the northeast our babies are now bundled up like chubby little Micheline Men, so what happens when we need to take them over the river and through the woods? Unlike some of our parents, we now wouldn’t think of going even just around the corner without putting them into car seat with a five point harness system.
The question now arises, how do I fit my child into the car seat with his winter coat on? The manufacturers have thought long and hard about this and after millions of dollars in research, the answer is YOU DONT. Much planning has gone into exactly just how far the webbing on the straps gives if an impact did occur. When it comes to ANY padding being used between your baby and any part of the car seat, less is always better. Adjust the straps so that you are not able to thumb and fore finger pinch the strap where it covers the shoulder area. Make these adjustments while the child is dressed in normal clothing. If you can not again buckle the straps with a winter coat on, best practice dictates to remove the jacket and then once child is buckled in, place jacket on backwards over straps. If restraints do strap with coat on, another thing to consider is, how long will you be driving for and will the jacket be too warm for your child once the heat is adjusted and comfortable for you. My suggestion is that you warm up the car first and wrap the baby in a very warm blanket or a winter coat and remove (prior to strapping) in the car for long drives rather than try to dress them warmer. As everyone knows the last thing you need on a long drive is an uncomfortable child in the back seat.
It may take you about an hour to learn the ins and outs of your car seat completely but it will be time saved and well spent on the safety of your child.
Tom Treanor Is a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and Baby Proofer
