Will you buy a winter coat for your LO?

[LDSmomma]

Since you must take the coat off for the car seat, should I even bother buying a winter coat for DS to wear from the door to the car, then from the car to the door, just to be taken off once in the heat?

[dislocator3972]

I don't take her coat off. It's too cold. I just adjust the straps every time to fit snugly over whatever she's wearing.

Besides, sometimes I want her to wear a coat when we go for a walk.

I have 2 coats, 2 (2?) snowsuits, ans 2 pais of snowpants for my DD. She's 3 months.

[Angelorum]

I was just coming here to post a question about how you bundle your babe for the cold weather. Things were so much easier in the summer when he was born and there were less clothes in the way when it was time to nurse, or change a diaper.

[Abraisme]

No, I don't use a coat for my 4mo. I use a one piece fleece suit and leave the straps adjusted so that it fits with her in it. I will use a coat once she's a little older and walking.

[Katie T]

You shouldnt use a coat in the carseat. I got a coat for walks & playing outside but used a blanket when he was younger. This year I made long ponchos so I can pull them up, buckle then tucck around there sides & legs.

[Chamomile Girl]

Originally Posted by Katie T

You shouldnt use a coat in the carseat.

Are we talking shouldn't use a big poofy coat, or shouldn't use any coat? If its the latter then wouldn't sweaters and fleece also be verboten? Where do you draw the line?

I have a fleece bunting that I am planning to use in the car. I haven't had to yet because here it just got cold...literally just today. Brrrrr. Up to this point I have been using baby hoodies.

[Kelly1101]

Whether or not we use a coat in the car-seat depends on how far we're going. An hour trip, and I'll just cover her with a blanket, then take off the blanket when the car heats up. A fifteen-minute trip, well my car hasn't heated up in that time, so the coat stays on.

I reckon you could always bundle instead, but since her preferred baby carrier is a Snugli Comfort Vent, (kind of like an ergo or baby bjorn, but cheaper and not as nice, haha), bundling doesn't work as well for longer walks (larger parking lots or whatnot).

One thing to remember, though, is lose the hat in the car, and have it outside (unless it's a very young infant, in which case, keep the hat in the car, too, unless it's super-hot in the car).

[Peony]

Sweaters or fleeces are fine in a carseat, bulky jackets or snow suits are not ok. They will compress in a crash and then the straps will be too loose.

I don't buy a big jacket for a baby. I have a fleece jacket or a fleece bunting that I can use. I usually just put a sweater on DS and then either cover him up with a blanket and dash inside or wrestle the fleece jacket on as well when we get somewhere. Jackets and carseats are a huge PIA. I ran errands with just two of the kiddos yesterday in a snowstorm, in the car, off the jackets, into the seat, drive 2 minutes, repeat. I loathe winter time.

[Katico]

I had a hard time finding a coat or snowsuit that wasn't big and puffy - most places we go I am carrying her in the sling and those puffy slippery suits just won't do.

So, I ended up buying a really cute wool peacoat from old navy for her - will work for the sling and isn't bulky so it will be ok for the carseat on really cold days. We will still do a sweater/blanket most times in the carseat though.

I bought a pair of fleece pants that match the coat and are big enough to pull over her fully dressed.

[SuzyLee]

We used a fleece snowsuit most of the time (car rides, etc) at that age. If it was super cold or we were going for a walk or something, we put a second fleece jacket on top of the snowsuit.

Now that he is 2, we do use a regular coat. I realize it is safest not to (heck it is safest for adults not to as well!) but we have to be practical. He is bigger so it is easier to get the straps tight, and since he now walks (very slowly!) in and out of stores, I need him to be plenty warm. It isn't possible for me to be taking his coat on and off every time get him in and out of the carseat (and plus he would freeze his butt off).

[Katie T]

From whatt I was told as long as you can strap baby in w/out the coat them put the coat on w/out adjusting the straps its fine. There are threads on the family saftey forum that dicuss this w/posts from carseat safety techs expertice.

[Michigan Mama]

With my LO I don't use a coat, even in Michigan. i just cover him up with a blanket... We also have one of those carseat cover things that will keep him toasty once it gets colder.

I do use a coat for my 2 yo and just snug everything up as tight as I can in the car.

[red and lulu]

dd just wears a Patagonia fleece bunting... it's warm to go from house to car, and not bulky enough that the straps have to be readjusted. She can wear it in the ergo too.

[tabrizia]

We got DD a fleece coat from Hanna Anderson for going out to the car and when it is cold and we are only going to be outside for a few minutes.

[Auraji]

DD has a fleece bunting. Depending how cold it is I decide how I dress her underneath it. She also has a faux shearling jacket that she wears. It's not bulky to put her with it in the car seat.

[GoestoShow]

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Edited by GoestoShow - 1/3/11 at 12:20pm

[AKislandgirl]

She always wears a fleece coat or snowsuit. That works well for errands. We have a warmer puffy snow suit for walks. We wait to put this on her at the trailhead. Depending on your lifestyle and location you will have different needs. We plan to take DD snowshoeing in the backpack so we have lots of warm gear, we also do lots of walks in the cold.

[darcytrue]

I have a one piece soft suit that I keep in the car and when we stop somewhere if I know I'm going to be carrying DD then I will slide her in to it. If she is being worn by me then I cover her with a blanket once she is in the sling if we are in the cold for long. If I carry her inside somewhere in her carseat then put a blanket over her. She gets sweaty easy so I don't put anything heavy on her while in the car since I turn up the heat.

[mamadelbosque]

I have a thickish fleece that ds1 had for ds2, and my mom just got him a bulky one-piece snowsuit thing that fits him about perfect now - so it'll be useless in a couple more weeks when we *might* actually want such a thing. I told her I'd return it but whatever

[GreenGranolaMama]

My MIL just got us this one piece super soft LL Bean one piece she found at Goodwill...but the best part... it totally looks like an Ewok from Starwars!!! I mean it is suppose to look like a bear, but screams Ewok lol. Needless to say, this is DHs new fave baby garment...
Here he is sleeping in it after a shopping trip... http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...a/PICT0094.jpg


We have a winter coat for him that my MIL also bought that he has yet to wear...and we have two other snow suites in the same size, but I think I am gonna toss them on Freecycle just in case there are some babes out there w/o one.