Coats in car seats

[Ginfilledcats]

Hi, but if a random one really.

I remember when my little one was born there was loads of pictures and advice not to put babies in coats in car seats because of the risk of the harnesses not being tight enough with a coat on (because they'll compress in a crash and throw baby forward) it was fine when she was a baby as she had a star blanket thing I'd wrap her in.

But she's 18m now and kicks blankets off. But if I put her in the car without a coat she freezes until the cars warmed up.

Am I being a PFB mum not putting her in a coat in the car or is this normal?

What do you do?

Just felt so bad yesterday, she had a vest top and cardigan on, but sat dithering in the back whilst I defrosted and drove off to nursery!

I put a cardy on mine, but has a vest and a jumper on aswell.
Warm the car up before you put her in.

Both of mine just wear jumpers, hoodies or thick knitted cardis at this time of year, hats on in the car for short journeys too. I'd keep persisting with the blanket though, they do grasp it eventually.

Never have coats on, just blankets. Puffy coats don't allow sufficient tension on the straps and kids can come free in heavy impact accidents.
Can you tuck the blanket under the seat or keep in place with pegs or hair comb clip.

You aren't being a PFB mum! No coats here either. I know the chances of being in an accident are slim and it's not nice them being a bit cold but for the sake of a few minutes it's not worth the risk to me. My daughter is 2.5 and wears her coat to walk out to the car then knows to take it off before she gets in.

Our car does warm up within a few minutes though. Can you pop out and get the car warming up before she gets into it if it takes a bit longer?

This is the reason they shouldn't wear coats in cats.

www.google.com/search?q=kids+wearing+coats+in+car+seat+crash+tests+&client=ms-android-samsung-ss&sxsrf=AOaemvJea8MpN3jbu_XXDDJ5VCieuRDT0w%3A1636094252780&ei=LNGEYcn7Lo6jjLsPr-S7qAs&oq=kids+wearing+coats+in+car+seat+crash+tests+&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAM6BAgAEEc6BAgjECc6BQghEKABOgsIABCxAxCDARCRAjoFCAAQkQI6CwguEIAEEMcBEK8BOggIABCABBCxAzoHCCMQ6gIQJzoNCC4QxwEQ0QMQ6gIQJzoFCC4QkQI6CAguEIAEELEDOgQIABBDOg0ILhCxAxDHARCjAhBDOgsILhDHARCvARCRAjoHCAAQyQMQQzoFCAAQgAQ6CAgAEIAEEMkDOgUIABCSAzoECAAQDToHCAAQyQMQDToGCAAQDRAKOgcIABCABBAKUL8KWJD3AWDPgAJoCXABeAGAAegBiAGbK5IBBzQ1LjEzLjGYAQCgAQGwAQ_IAQjAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#

Put a warmer jumper on or something (not too thick) but never coats and hoodies as the padding and hood stop the straps sitting right. Definitely not PFB it's just safety. Even adults shouldn't wear thick coats in the car

If you’re really bothered about her being cold for a few minutes then put a hot water bottle in the seat before leaving. Then the seat is warm and she can hold the water bottle in the car for extra warmth.

Mine are 6 and 3 and never wear coats in the car and have never been super cold unless it was below freezing out, then they’re happy for a blanket.

I put DD in a hoodie and then lay her coat over her like a blanket once she is strapped in.

I put a sweatshirt and hat on my toddler on cold mornings and then put his coat on when we get out. I’ve noticed other kids at nursery get out of the car in their coats already and I wondered was I being OTT about it so glad to hear I’m not!

No coats here either. I add another light weight jumper and remove it before adding the coat on arrival, or put a slightly thicker jumper on in the car and swap to a thinner one plus coat when we get out.

I got round this by putting DD in a fleece. Thin enough to be safe but a warm layer.

Put the coat on backwards, on top of the harness, after strapping them in! Keeps them warm, less easy to kick off than a blanket, and safe.

I tend to assume that my DS will soon learn to keep a blanket or similar on if he gets too cold for too long.

Thanks all that's reassuring. I mentioned it at work yesterday and the other mums looked at me like I was crazy and said I was being precious!
Glad to hear I'm not, will continue with no coat! Will try the hat and water bottle!

@Ginfilledcats

Thanks all that's reassuring. I mentioned it at work yesterday and the other mums looked at me like I was crazy and said I was being precious! Glad to hear I'm not, will continue with no coat! Will try the hat and water bottle!

I got told I was precious for making sure the straps were tight enough that they didn't slip off the shoulders, people will make comments if you do something different to them and they feel judged (even if you weren't judging). Don't worry about them just do what you feel is safest. I'm rear facing mine until 4 or 5 and I get frequent comments on it but I just shrug and say it's safest and my choice and they usually stop....to my face anyway

I don't put a coat on mine in the car, she is the same age.
I've got her a frugi snuggle suit which is sort of sweatshirt/hoodie thickness but an all-in-one so thin enough to wear under the harness but nice and warm.

Definitely no coats. And it's really not thawing they are cold. Car warms up pretty quickly.

No coat of here either! And I wouldn't do what @BlibBlabBlob suggests either as it will make it harder to get them out quickly should the need arise. We're also doing ERF.

My child is 4.5 and I still won't put a coat on when she is in her car seat with the seat belt.

I did use one of the below blankets until she was about 3 which helped with the kicking off.

morrck.com/

@BlibBlabBlob

Put the coat on backwards, on top of the harness, after strapping them in! Keeps them warm, less easy to kick off than a blanket, and safe.

This

Absolutely not being precious!
I really hate seeing tiny babies in car seats with big snowsuits, coats on!
At that age my dd would wear a zip up fleece over her vest & t shirt. On colder days scarf and gloves too and a woolly hat!

On cold days my baby and older child have normal clothes including jumpers and hats and mittens/gloves on but no coat in the car. I think I put the coat over the top on freezing days with my oldest. If she kicked it off then she'd learn it's colder off. I only did that for short journeys as I'd worry they'd get too hot once the car warmed up on long journeys.

I don't put DS in a coat in the car seat. I've had comments from people saying I'm mean as he will be cold but I wouldn't risk it for his safety personally.

I put DS in thicker jumper or hoody plus a blanket, but he usually kicks that off if he doesn't fall to sleep. The car warms up to the set temp pretty quick so it doesn't really stay cold for long.

Do what you believe is best for your child and dont worry about others! X