Everyone knows how important it is to bundle up their little ones before heading out into the cold. Seeing a toddler wobble around in a puffy coat and pom-pom hat is adorable! There’s one place, though, that your little one shouldn’t wear a wear thick coat this winter: in their car seat or booster seat.
Child safety seats are designed to keep children secured in their seat in the event of a collision. The straps need to be snug against the child’s body. When the child is wearing a bulky coat, there’s much more slack between the harness and the child’s body. The more layers there are between your child’s body and their seat belt or harness, the more danger they’re in if you get into a collision.
So, what should you do instead of buckling up with a bulky coat? There are several options.
For babies in car seats, you can strap them in as usual and tuck a warm blanket around them on top of the harness. This will keep your little one warm and safe.
Another option is to let your child wear their coat while walking out to the car, then taking it off before buckling up or getting in their child safety seat. Once they’re safely strapped in, they can wear their coat backwards over the chest straps. This is a great option for kids who may forget their coat if it’s not attached to them!
This applies to anyone in the car. Bulky coats and jackets will flatten out on impact, leaving way too much space between your seat belt and your body. It may be a little inconvenient to take your heavy coat off when you get in the car, but it will be more than worth it in the event of a collision.
Stay warm (and safe!) this winter season!
Want to learn more?
Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Are you a mature driver interested in a discount on your auto insurance? Do you have a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?
Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.
Everyone knows how important it is to bundle up their little ones before heading out into the cold. Seeing a toddler wobble around in a puffy coat and pom-pom hat is adorable! There’s one place, though, that your little one shouldn’t wear a wear thick coat this winter: in their car seat or booster seat.