Logistics of coats and car seats - I know I'm overthinking!!!

[Rosebud1302]

As the title says really! Now it is getting so much colder in the mornings, what do you find is the best way to do with car trips in the morning and wrapping up warm? I take my 13 month old to nursery in the car. I literally have to get to my house, into the car, and out at nursery the other side. But I don't want to be putting a coat on and off for these short periods, however I also don't want to put nothing on him as it is so chilly. Especially when we first get outside and into the car. What is the best way to handle cars and coats?! 😄🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Don't use the coat, use a blanket instead.

A thick fleece jacket and blanket on legs, hat, scarf and gloves. It doesn't have the same safety issues as an air filled coat.

I put DD in the car in a cardigan then put a blanket over her that’s been on the radiator then just cover her with a coat as I take her into nursery.
If it’s icy I’ll try and heat/defrost the cat before we get in although where I used to live we couldn’t and that was fine

They aren't supposed to have coats on in car seats. Use a blanket or coat put on top once strapped in.

You don’t want a coat on them in the car seat as they are too bulky. So I would lift out to car, put in seat, drape coat over for warmth, arrive, put on shoes and coats and then take off at nursery door. If you only have 1 and park outside the nursery then just carry them if you can’t be bothered to put coat on. And carry /drape coat over if it’s raining.

I go by:
carry = no coat /shoes or a coat draped over them
Walking themselves = shoes and coat

You should never use a car seat with your child if they have a coat on. It needs to be removed for safety.

The best way is having a nice warm blanket over them in the car, also their coat with be toasty warm from the car heater when you put it on them.

A fleece jacket is a good idea and a blanket if really cold. Avoid puffy jackets in the car and check the fit of the car seat isn't loose when it's warmer.

Love everyone telling OP not to put a coat on in the car seat when she clearly already knows that - if she didn't she'd just leave the coat on and not have a problem.

The independent wrote an article about what is safe and what's not. It's thick, puffy or heavily insulated coats that are the issue, usually what we call winter costs. But macs and thin coats are fine, no different really to your child wearing a vest and a jumper in the car.

If I were you, I would get him something like a mac with a thin cotton lining that creates warmth but is very thin. Use that for the nursery runs and put a hat, gloves and scarf on him as well. The scarf will sit out of the harness so no issue there.

Just make sure that underneath his coat, he is only wearing a vest and some sort of thin long sleeve top or a thin jumper rather than a really thick jumper.

You can check if it's safe by fastening him in as tight as you think or would usually fasten him in where he seems very secure then put your hand down the inside on his coat. If your hand struggles to get past, you're good to go. If your hand easily goes down the inside of the coat and past the harness, there's an issue.

Usually a thin coat with a thin jumper underneath will work fine. You can always put a winter coat inside his bag if the nursery plan on taking him outside.

Toddlers actually feel the cold less than us as they have very thick skin compared to us so I think he would be warm enough with that on in the car and for the small tip to and from the car

Thank you everyone, I love the blanket idea warmed up and put over the harness for particularly chilly days. Yep I am aware about the no thick coat rule hence my post :)

@AMAM8916 that is all really great advice thank you! I decided on warming the car up before he got in this morning and just a warm hoodie which seemed to be adequate just to get him in between home and nursery. I always take a coat with him to play outside in.

Thanks everyone!!

Hoodie and a blanket. They really won’t freeze. Even in the coldest days I’ve never needed to put a coat on either of mine to go to and from nursery.

Blankets

I have a blanket that fits into the car seat. It has holes for the straps to come through. The blanket stays in the seat, you strap baby in and wrap him up. It’s even got a little good to keep his head warm xx

www.amazon.co.uk/DOUBLE-SIDED-BABY-WRAP-TRAVEL-BLANKET/dp/B01FXZHGO4/ref=asc_df_B01FXZHGO4/?hvlocphy=9046605&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=310689257189&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos=1o2&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-706262534350&hvrand=16200836587109156623

Like this one

@Wordie that blanket is really cute!!! Thank you for sharing the link