In the winter, we like to wrap up warm and cosy- especially when we brave the great outdoors. But that doesn't mean everywhere outdoors!

As ever at SnoozeShade, safety is always at the forefront of our minds. Regular readers and SnoozeShade customers will know that all of our products are subjected to very rigorous safety testing which goes above and beyond what is required according to nursery standards. But we don't stop there.

We care about sharing the right information to ensure that parents are aware of guidelines when it comes to other aspects of their baby's safety too, not just when using our products.

We want to let you know why your child does NOT need a coat in the car seat.

Your Child's Winter Coat is Thick

Winter coats are thicker and more padded than other items of clothing; this goes for baby snowsuits too. When heading out of the house and into a cold car on a frosty morning it's only natural that you want to be wrapped up. The problem with puffy coats is that they are unsafe to wear with a baby car seat harness; their puffiness can mean that the harness is too loose around your child, which makes it ineffective and dangerous in a collision.

If the harness is too loose, your child can move more than is safe to do whilst driving. If a collision occurs, your child's coat will be compressed by the crash and the loose harness means that they may not be properly protected and could be thrown around or even ejected from the seat. 

How To Determine If Our Child's Coat Is Too Thick

Always stay on the side of caution and remove your baby’s coat or snowsuit before you strap your child into their car seat.

How puffy is too puffy? Try this simple trick to see how much looser the harness could be with the coat on. Strap your child into the car seat with their coat on and tighten the harness until you can just fit two fingers between the straps and your child's chest. Then undo the harness, take your child out without adjusting the straps and remove the coat. Strap your child back into the car seat and see how tight and secure the straps are now. If there is more than a two-finger space between the harness and your child's chest, you should always remove the coat before your journey starts.

Safer Car Journeys 

How can you ensure your child is warm enough and still safe every time you take a car journey?

Place a blanket over your baby when you leave the house on cold days and after you've strapped your child into their seat securely, place it over the harness. Then warm the car up and remove the blanket.

Do the same thing yourself and never wear a coat in the car. That way, you’ll always know just how warm it is in the car and you know that your baby won’t be too cold – or worse, too hot.

Further Reading:

Safe Baby Sleep in Winter
What Temperature Should my Baby's Room Be
Can My Baby Sleep Safely Outdoors