Car seat and coats

[Sobiaf]

Hi all,

First time Mum and just wondering the best way to keep baby warm going out and about in the car seat and around in the pram. I used to put a coat on her in the car seat but then read that it's best not to as the straps need to be as close to baby as possible.. but then when transferring from car seat to pram I'll have to put a coat on before doing this?

Am I overthinking this lol just seems quite a long winded process

Anyone else just keep a coat on at all times?

You are overthinking it. I see mums bundling up their children to walk the ten yards from the nursery door to the car and then either have to take it all off again or put the child in the car seat in a snow suit or coat (dangerous).

It's rarely that cold in this country that a three second transfer from car seat to pram, or trip from the front door to the car is going to result in a child being uncomfortably cold. At least, my children have survived!

Do you mean putting the car seat onto pram base? Use blankets

If you look for cosy car seat blankets on Facebook, you will find lovely blankets fir babies, and toddlers

car seat blankets.
and ordinary blankets.
and not using the car seat in the pram.

Yes, you are right. Coats are dangerous in car seats but only bulky coat. Go shopping and get your baby a very thin waterproof jacket, this will keep him/her warm along with vest and top, also safe to wear in the car seat. Bring a nice blanket for when in the pram and remove when putting the seat in the car. I will warn you though, a baby shouldn’t be left in a car seat for over half and hour as it slows down their breathing and is very dangerous. If they baby is small I would look into buying a carrycot for your pram and leaving the car seat in the car. There is also a blanket called morrick and it’s crash tested to be used in the car seat with your baby. I think it’s the only one that is crash tested to be honest! Hope this helps, I was there once before myself, it’s a mind field!🙂

We rush DS3 into the car with just his normal clothes on, get him strapped in, then put his coat on backwards over the straps, iyswim. So arms in, edges of coat tucked around his body, hood under his chin.

I have two children in car seats and the backwards coat thing has never occurred to me! Thanks for this, good tip.

for new borns you can get special blankets that have slot holes for car seat straps so the blanket totally cocoons them and you can flap them open or closed as the weather requires. e.g. morrock

We got a car seat cozy toes.

www.johnlewis.com/maxi-cosi-pebble-baby-car-seat-footmuff-concrete-grey/p1837387?s_kwcid=1dx39700018918415230&tmad=c&tmcampid=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjNjgBRAgEiwAGLlf2vugD3znXKmNrC76xg3zqX95uYujChUjNWstXug5MylJQmZqieEuxBoCTvQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Please please don’t leave your child in a coat in their car seat.

My mom knitted baby a blanket for the car I just tuck it round him. He's a happy little dude in it

Ive bought some tuppence and crumble star wraps for the car.

Watching crash test videos of the dummys wearing coats still haunts me.

I just use blankets tucked over. Tbh I'm as paranoid about overheating as I am about the coat/straps/accident issue - cars warm up quickly and blankets can be kicked off.
Also, it's really not that big a deal to slip a coat on/off as you take them in or out, if you need to!

I also second a Tuppence and Crumble star wrap - they are amazing!

For older toddlers, I just put mine in his seat without his coat (though sometimes with hat at his insistence) and a big fleecey blanket over him once he's fastened in - he then just kicks it off when he's warm.

We have a foot muff that goes completely up and around the head ( a clevamama one). Actually I very rarely use a coat anymore, just two jumpers (one with a hood£, which I keep on in the car, and the the foot muff is plenty warm on all but the coldest of days.

Definitely don't just leave the coat on in the car. The consequences if there was an accident could be unthinkable (watch crash test videos if you need convincing).

DD has always just had a jumper over her outfit to keep her top half warm then a cellular blanket (so it's breathable) over her lower half.

Babies are generally like little hot water bottles so I think a few minutes in a cold car before it warms up is ok.

Before DD started walking she barely ever wore a coat at all. In the pram she would be wearing a jumper and hat and be snuggly warm with a blanket and the pram cover. In the pushchair we've got a really good quality winter footmuff which coped well last winter.

Just make sure they have warm clothes on, wrap them in a blanket, put a hat on them, then run like a crazy lady to the car and strap them in (blanket/coat on top of straps, not under!). All whilst realising the 5-10 seconds they are outside will not freeze them to death but you continue doing it anyway

When you get where you are going either get them in their coat from the back seat, or once they are reliably standing then stand them up outside the car and put their coat on and them put them in the pram with a blanket.

You do not need those stupid massive snowsuits - unless you are actually letting them crawl in the snow, and they certainly don’t need them when you are walking round Tesco.

You also don’t need a specific car seat blanket/cosy toes. Any blanket is fine, just tuck it in under their legs at the sides, looser over the feet so they can kick but it won’t come off.

Thanks all! I was just confused as I've seen both at my baby sensory class - coats and no coats! I use a thick blanket at the moment so will just continue using that :)

We use a wallaboo. It's amazing. No coats as others have said. I have a poncho I throw on her as soon as I'm out the car as it's quick to get on and off (youngest if 3!) When I'm on school run. Good luck.