Snow suits in car seat

[babyblabber]

When I had DS 5 years ago there was no talk of there being any issue with putting a baby in a snowsuit in the car seat. DD was a summer baby so didn't have to think about it but number 3 due in a few weeks so now I need to figure it out.

Have seen it mentioned on loads of forums but can't find any studies/official advice against it. Apart from concern re overheating, people seem to think because the suit is thick it will mean the straps aren't tight enough or something along those lines. I've two questions in relation to this:

1. Is this really an issue in an infant seat which is rear facing anyway? The straps are important but not what primarily protects the baby in a crash (I'm a car seat safety nut btw, my kids stay rearfacing til age 4).
   

1. If the issue is padding which compresses in an impact making the straps too loose then surely older kids and indeed adults should wear puffer coats in cars either?!!!!
   

Anyone able to shed more light on the topic?

[babyblabber]

That should say shouldn't wear puffer coats in the car

[HerrenaHarridan]

The issue is that on impact the straps so not hold the child. The compress so quickly and easily the child can just fly out.

I don't have any research to hand about it. I didn't stop because I heard it from any one. I stopped because I realised how big the difference in the straps was. Ie I put dd in her car seat with out her coat after having taken her out with coat on. It was almost double. I decided it wasn't safe then.

[IAmAPaleontologist]

An adult seatbelt moves with you so you so though your puffy coat compresses it does so against the seat belt which locks and stops you moving further forwards. A 5 point harness has no movement so coat compresses on impact which leaves a gap and child can slip out. Fleece, wool etc is fine. It is just padded stuff with lots of air in that is an issue.

[CorporeSarnie]

Agree with pp. The car is rarely cold enough for me to need a chat for more than a few minutes anyway, so warming the car before putting car seat in is not a problem. I like Morrck hooded blankets for in car seat as well, can unwrap once inside warm car, wrap up for outdoors.
I always take 3yo DD's winter coat off before strapping her into the car as well as it isn't safe.

[CorporeSarnie]

Um, coat, not chat, sorry.

[pommedeterre]

Unsafe.

Just tuck blankets around baby and use gloves and hat when you get out of car.

[babyblabber]

Ok so if I'm confident the snow suit we have (which isn't a puffy one, more furry thick material & not massively thick at that) wouldn't bulk out the straps enough to mean they'd compress so much that the baby would slip out, then it's ok? Will have to do some tests with a doll!

Heating the car in advance every time isn't a practical option. Blankets & cardigan ok but really not as warm if it's very cold outside and also am thinking of school runs, we'll be waiting in the yard for 10 mins or so and baby will be in my arms/sling for that so would rather snowsuit than blankets. Just trying to think of the practicalities with a 5 year old and toddler in tow too!

[IAmAPaleontologist]

Non puffy should be fine yes. I still use a fleece all in one for toddler boy and then stick his coat over the top when we get out of the car. For practicalities of car warming I tend to nip out and put the car on then come in and tackle the shoe putting on, school bag getting, reading book finding, water bottle filling mayhem and then y the time we are ready to go the car is sorted! You can get nice fleece things that are like buggy snuggles but for car seats but I doubt you want to spend money on that for dc3 .

[PotteringAlong]

Google star suits from tuppence And crumble - great for car seats and slings!

[WhyOWhyWouldYou]

I didnt see this on a forum first - it was in an information booklet on car seat safety being handed out by the local authorities road safety department, just after I'd had DS in early 2012.

1. The problem is that harness is supposed to be held with no give and in a very different way across the body to a seatbelt. So when the padding compresses the straps are made effectively loose, allowing them to slide off the shoulders and DC to be flung out of the seat.
   

1. Any child, of any age, who is harnessed into a car seat should not wear a thickly padded coat of any kind. Children using seatbelts and adults can have any kind of padding because sealtbelt mechanisms and position/way they hold you in is not effected by padding being compressed.

[WhyOWhyWouldYou]

Sorry - should have refreshed before answering, after getting distracted for a while.

If its more of a fleecy or furry one, rather than one with padding, it should be ok.

[babyblabber]

Thanks girls. Never heard the skipping out thing before. Think our suit should be ok. Our car heater is terrible so would take way to long to heat car in advance & would also be nervous of leaving keys in car as we've no real driveway.

Defo not purchasing any more baby gear if I can avoid it!

[Luciferbox]

Max- cosi cosy toe was a life saver for us (the one with the toggle as a hood). Very warm without the fuss of getting them out of a damn snow suit whilst they're asleep and you've moved somewhere warm. Just unzip when required.

[SaggyAndLucy]

when using a car seat, the straps should be TIGHT! they should be well positioned on the shoulders and hug the baby to the seat. This is very important.
When you wear a coat or suit, the straps don't sit in the correct position on the shoulders and they don't go as tight as they should. extra layers compress, making it easier for the baby to slip out.
I've seen this happen. a friends baby was wearing a coat when she got into an accident. She turned round after the collision to find him not in his seat. She location d him in the foot well. Thankfully he was okay!
Try putting your baby in their coat, putting them in the seat, doing up the straps, removing the baby, taking off the coat and then putting the baby back into the seat with the coat sized straps. This will show you how much difference it makes. If the straps aren't still dead tight, they won't be effective if you crash and the baby is in the coat.
At the end of the day if there is any risk at all of your child not being safe in an accident, then why take the risk?

[AnythingNotEverything]

You don't need a snowsuit in a sling either - your warmth and possibly being tucked in your coat is enough with a hat and footed trousers and/or socks is fine.

[usefully]

I keep Ds's coat on of its a short journey, and take it off if it's a longer journey or we're going somewhere on the motorway.

I would always use a snowsuit in a sling. Gets down to -15 sometimes and it's just too cold not to.

[SaggyAndLucy]

The accident where my friend's baby came out of the seat was not one motorway, or even at speed. she was going round a roundabout!

[AnythingNotEverything]

It doesn't get to -15 in Northern England where I am.

[SaggyAndLucy]

If we are slinging it baby goes inside my coat. She's toasty. we keep each other warm!