Coats and Car Seats

Friday November 9, 2018

’Tis the season! It can be safe for kids to wear their coats in their car seats, but only with the proper precautions.

Kids will be all bundled up to stay warm and cozy and then climbing into their car seats. But wait! The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wants to remind parents about proper car seat and coat procedure.

Wearing coats, heavy sweaters, and fleeces can prevent a snug and very important fit of the harness, which has to be tight at the shoulders and hips every time. "You might think your child is securely snug in the car seat when, in fact, the harness is not tight enough because there is so much air in the coat or clothing," says Kelley Mapes, Certified Passenger Safety Technician. A simple solution to this problem is to adjust the harness while your child’s coat is off. Unbuckle the harness, put the coat back on and then rebuckle.

There are three steps to a proper fit, every time.

1. Your child’s back and bottom should be flat against the car seat. Do not put anything behind them or under them (like a blanket or small pillow).

2. Buckle and tighten the harness so that it is snug.

3. Be sure to position the chest clip to be level with your child’s armpits.

Of course, there may be different options depending on your specific situation or car seat, so check with your manufacturer and your specific car seat manual if you have questions.

And remember, the safest ride for a child is to use a car seat correctly, all year long! Staff at the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency are trained, through Safe Kids Worldwide, as Certified Passenger Safety Technicians.