Can I put a coat on my baby in a car seat if I'm not going in a car?

[gonewithtthewind]

So, I'm going to a new group today which is only a 15 minute walk away and then I'm going to my friends after who is picking me up in her car. Obviously I know she can't wear a coat in the car seat but can she wear her coat on the walk there in the car seat as we won't be in a car? Like is that safe? She won't get too hot ect? I won't put her in the coat and car seat when I get in my friends car, just for the walk to group! Sorry if this is a stupid question!

Do i just put a blanket on her?? I'm worried about her getting too hot and weather it's still safe when not in a car.

Yes you can - the issue with coats and car seats is that the straps aren't snug to the body when there's a thick coat in the way, and so the baby is not as safe in an accident. If you're not going in a car that's fine

I'm confused as to what you're asking. My DCs are teens now so maybe the rules have changed, but I don't understand why she can't wear a coat in a car seat whilst in the car?

Definitely put ger in the coat whilst outdoors, it's nippy now, and make sure she's snuggly in the car too.

It makes the straps too lose as the coat stops the straps from the car seat going tight enough onto them, I think. So they shouldn't wear it while in the car as it's not safe x

If you aren't in a car your baby won't be subject to car crash style impact forces, so there wouldn't be a safety issue with wearing a coat as long as you adjust the straps correctly when they are then in the car.

Of course, it's totally fine!

They should be ok because the no coats or snowsuits in car seats rule is to do with coats compressing in the event of a crash. Coats on in car seats mean the child isn't secure because the straps aren't tight enough.

If you're clipping the car seat to a pram base and walking you're fine.

It's because winter coats tend to have a lot of padding and air in them. On impact in a collision, the force would push the air out and flatten the coat meaning the carseat straps would no longer be tight enough to hold the child in.

OP is quite right to not have her DC wear a coat in the car. You can just keep them warm with a blanket instead.

Ah, interesting to know, thanks for the explanation.

Thinking back, I never would have put mine in a thick coat in the car anyway, they'd have got too hot, but always pleased to learn something new in case I'm ever in this position with someone else's child in my car 😊

Definitely wrap her up whilst walking though x

Just do the usual checks to make sure they aren't to hot... they get warmer in a car seat than a pram.
And readjust the straps when putting them in the car!

Sorry to hijack your thread but the no coat in the car advice, is it age dependent? I mean is there an age when kids can wear coats in the car seat or (booster seat) again without it impacting safety?

No it’s not age dependent and even as adults we shouldn’t do it. But if you have to because you street park and live somewhere really freezing (not UK freezing, thinking more like when I used to live in Chicago) then open the coat so at least the front of the belt is against your body.

But OP you’re definitely fine with the coat on when the car seat is on the pram- as PP says it’s about the forces in a crash.

It's only downy puffy coats (ie those which hold a lot of air) that are the issue (so eg fleece, solid wool are not affected)

Also it's only infants - look at the relative size of body to thickness of coat. I can't find an upper age to relax about puffa jackets, but every single piece of advice references child seat straps, not adult seatbelts.

I would assume it's no different than them wearing a coat whilst in the buggy or pram

It's completely different. You are unlikely to be walking at more than about 3-4 mph, or running maybe at twice that. Even if you jogged in to a tree, you're v unlikely to come away with a worse injury that bruised feelings and maybe an actual bruise.

Car crashes are rarely at speeds that slow (that's the sort of little bump if you reversed in to a bollards) - and the forces on the body at 20/40/60 mph are completely different.

Op wasn't talking about being in a car...
I was answering her original question of whether she can WALK with baby in car seat.

Yes I would when walking, but make sure to do the straps up firmly still as it helps baby to breathe better in the car seat.
If baby is too loose in the seat, because of the positioning they can slump down without you realising and restrict the airways.

Yes it's fine, don't worry.

It's really only the crash protection that is a problem with wearing a coat in the car. The idea of them overheating really comes from this chain of interactions:

• Person 1 explains about not wearing a coat in the car seat for crash safety reasons
• Person 2 says they can't possibly take their child's coat off because they will get very cold, and being cold is much more likely than crashing so they will focus on that.
• Person 3 says that car seats are warm anyway and the child will "probably overheat" in a coat.

It's not really a concern, it's just a refutal to an argument. But also, they are talking about a baby being in a rear facing seat, not yet able to speak, not having good temperature awareness, maybe falling asleep and you've put them in the car in their seat and put the heating on for the adults' comfort. Over that journey, if the baby IS overheating, the adult probably won't be aware because you can't easily see them and they can't tell you.

When you've got the car seat on the pram and you're walking around outside, it's totally different. You're looking at them and can stick a finger into their hood to feel their neck/chest to check if they are overheating.

I think your plan makes sense :) Enjoy your baby group.

Through my sister I know the rules have changed about coats in car seats, but to alleviate your concerns OP she will be fine if she has a coat on while not in the car.

FWIW, my 2 kids always wore coats in car seats, travelling miles in the car and they're both OK.

So, when not in a car, she'll be fine.

It does affect adult seatbelts too, it's just less dramatic of an effect. If you're wearing a coat then your seatbelt will be too high up which causes more of a chance of a submarining type injury because the belt won't hook onto your pelvis as it should. But it's a much milder issue for adults because you'll still probably be restrained, which is probably why you don't see PSAs about it. With young children where the ratio of coat thickness to body size is much larger, it can literally make the straps so loose that the child is ejected.

What @InTheRainOnATrain said is correct - ideally take the coat off, but if you can't take it off then open it at the front or at the very minimum pull the coat up and out of the seatbelt on the lap part.

You can do this for children in booster seats too but it's better to take their coats totally off.

I have a video if you want but it's only in German.

Thank you everyone! Sorry if it was a silly question, I was more worried about her overheating but she was fine in her coat for the walk. Didn't realise it was as cold as it was out 😊

You might already be aware but I haven’t seen anyone else mention to make sure you don’t leave baby too long in car seat. I’m pretty sure for young babies it’s max 30 min and older babies 2 hours. Just as you mentioned walking somewhere then driving somewhere. I’ll post the lullaby trust link below. Sorry if I am repeating something you already know

https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/car-seats-and-sids/

Sorry just seen you’ve already been. Will leave the link in anyway in case anyone else ever searched as it wasn’t something I knew until after having my baby! X

She's 9 months, I only did a 15 minute walk and then she was out of it for an hour and a half and then in it for 20 minutes on the way to my friends. But yeah I know about the 2 hours 😊

@BertieBotts thanks for the information. I speak German so if you could link the video that would be great. Thanks