Winter Car Seat Safety: Tips from an expert on keeping your child warm and secure
Winter is here, and if you’re a parent, you know how tricky it can be to keep your little one warm while also making sure they’re safely buckled in their car seat. I know these challenges all too well. When we had our first baby, we faced our first New England winter, and let me tell you—it was a learning curve! I had no idea how much thought had to go into balancing keeping my Little Love warm and making sure he was truly safe in his seat. Like many parents, I didn’t realize that some of the most common practices we rely on in winter could actually put our babies at risk. Let’s dive into some easy tips and expert advice to help you navigate winter car seat safety with confidence!
To help answer some commonly asked questions and concerns about winter car seat safety, I interviewed Rebekah Kimminau, a CPST (Child Passenger Safety Technician) from The Baby Gear Consultant. Even with 4 kids, I still learned somethings I didn’t know before.
What are the main risks associated with using winter coats or bulky clothing in car seats?
The straps won’t be tight enough. Even if the straps appear to be tight, there is still dead space that compresses with crash forces. This can cause babies to partially or completely slip out of their car seats. Puffy coats are the worst culprits, but not the only winter gear that can cause this problem.
Why is it important for parents to be cautious about harness fit during colder months?
Often times kids and babies have a few more layers on which can effect the fit of a car seat harness. This can cause strap placement to be off. Let’s say the kid is in a coat that makes their shoulders look broader than they are; it can make the harness look as though it is positioned correctly, but not actually be positioned correctly on the child’s body.
Can you explain how improper harnessing in winter affects a child’s safety in a crash?
When a child is rear facing and not tightened all of the way, they have more room for their bodies to move and hit their heads on the seat, or potentially fall out from their car seat and see more significant injuries.
If a child is forward facing, they have a greater chance of head injury even if they are only partially out of their seats.
What’s the best way to keep a child warm in a car seat without compromising safety?
The best way to keep kids warm in a car seat is with a thin layer of clothing or even adding a base layer. Then, add warmth that goes over the harness such as blankets, Cocoona, or poncho.
What steps can parents take to ensure the harness is snug without being too tight?
The best way to tell if your child’s harness is tight enough is the pinch test. Once you have tightened the harness, try to pinch the webbing near the collarbone/shoulders. If the webbing touches/pinches, it’s not tight enough. Excess slack can often be found near the hips. So pulling the webbing up at the shoulders to get the slack out before tightening can help get a better fit.
What should parents look for when purchasing winter-friendly car seat gear?
When looking at accessories that will be able to keep your child safely warm, look for things that do not go between the child and their harness and that do not require the straps to be fed through it. Look for items that go on once your child is properly harnessed.
Most people heat their car to a comfortable temperature, so it’s also important to watch for over heating, especially in babies under 1 year of age.
What myths or misinformation about car seat safety in the winter do you wish more parents knew?
Sometimes people assume that a thinner bunting or coats are ok because it doesn’t appear as bulky as puffy coats, but after harness testing, you will often find that it’s not as thin as you thought. Even several thin layers can create space that compresses with crash forces and can cause excess room for a child to move and increase the risk of injury.
Winter can make car seat safety feel tricky, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By avoiding bulky clothing, double-checking the harness fit, and using safe winter gear, you can keep your little one both warm and secure. Remember, small changes can make a big difference in protecting your child. If you ever have questions or want extra peace of mind, reaching out to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician is a great way to get personalized advice. Stay cozy, stay safe, and enjoy the season knowing your child is riding securely!
For more great car seat safety information, you can follow Rebekah on IG or TikTok @thebabygearconsultant.
She also recommends Car Seats for the Littles and Safe in the Seat as great resources.
To find a CPST near you, visit https://cert.safekids.org/ or https://csftl.org/finding-a-cpst/
