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Car seat safety: The problem with puffy coats

Dec. 6, 2024—Brrr! Keeping your child warm and cozy in the car on cold winter days is a must. But so is safety, no matter the season. That's why it's important to make sure your child's winter wear won't make their car seat less effective.

Puffy coats and snowsuits are the problem. When a child wears a bulky winter coat while using a car seat, the coat can keep the harness straps from fitting snugly, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The result is that, in a crash, the child could slip through the straps and out of the safety seat.

Help your child have a warm, safe ride

Follow these tips from the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Dress your child in thin layers instead of a bulky coat. For example, thin tights could be worn under the pants. A sweater or a thermal-knit top can be worn under a thin jacket. Use mittens and a hat for extra warmth.

Check that the harness is snug. Sometimes layered clothing can make it harder for the straps to fit right. Pro tip: You should not be able to pinch the harness strap at your child's shoulder. If you can, it's too loose and you should tighten the harness some more.

Use a blanket or a coat for added warmth. After you have properly secured your child, you can cover them with a blanket or a coat on backward (be sure to leave your child's face exposed).

All-around car seat safety

Car seats help keep kids safe in a crash, studies show. But there are many car seat options. And many parents don't know how to use these lifesaving restraints correctly—potentially putting their kids at risk. View this infographic for tips on installing and using a car seat safely.

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Preventing Child Passenger Injury." https://www.cdc.gov/child-passenger-safety/prevention/index.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Risk Factors for Child Passengers." https://www.cdc.gov/child-passenger-safety/risk-factors.
HealthyChildren.org. "Buckle, Don't Bundle Children in Car Seats This Winter." https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/7797.
HealthyChildren.org. "Car Seats: Information for Families." https://healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx.
HealthyChildren.org. "Winter Car Seat Safety Tips: Keeping Kids Safe & Warm." https://healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Winter-Car-Seat-Safety-Tips.aspx.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "Keep Your Little Ones Warm and Safe in Their Car Seats." https://www.nhtsa.gov/keep-your-little-ones-warm-and-safe-their-car-seats.
Safe Kids Worldwide. "The Pinch Test." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44HT8prdjHg.
Safe Kids Worldwide. "Right Fit for Your Child's Car Seat." https://www.safekids.org/tip/right-fit-your-childs-car-seat.