Fleece coats for carseats in the winter

[blumooned]

I've read the threads about not wearing coats in carseats & completely understand not to do the puffy coats. So, DS will need a fleece "carseat coat" then, right? Can anyone show me what they use (links please!)? I think I have an idea of what to get but am not 100% sure.

Would this work? Is it warm enough?
What about this one? This one is a sweater - would that be more or less warm than fleece?

Thanks so much for any help!

[Marissamom]

How cold does it get where you live? what you need in 50 degree weather is different then what you need in 30 degrees weather, is different than what you need in 0 degree weather. We live where it's in the teens and twenties part of the winter, so we'll be layering, probably a fleece hoody or shirt with a fleece coat, and a blanket over. and avoiding going out in the coldest weather if possible.

[DahliaRW]

I agree that it depends on what hte weather is like where you are. I just bought fleece coats at a local store for my boys, and layer underneath as needed.

[WindyCityMom]

We do a lot of wool Wool unders, cotton layer on top of that, then another layer of wool (a thick sweater, but usually somewhat felted so it's not puffy or anything. A younger child can be brought to the car in a blanket (if you're carrying them) to save the hassle of taking a coat off before strapping in, and an older child's coat can just be taken off once they're in the car. This is what we do, and I live in cold, cold Chicago. Brrr!

[MJB]

Originally Posted by Marissamom

How cold does it get where you live? what you need in 50 degree weather is different then what you need in 30 degrees weather, is different than what you need in 0 degree weather. We live where it's in the teens and twenties part of the winter, so we'll be layering, probably a fleece hoody or shirt with a fleece coat, and a blanket over. and avoiding going out in the coldest weather if possible.

You must be a southerner.
We just moved to KY from MI. It was 42 out this morning and I went out in jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. The baby was in cotton PJs with a blanket over her in the carseat. I'd say you don't need a coat at all until it's in the 30s. A fleece in the car with a blanket is plenty for my kids in any weather (although if it's below 10º I try to warm the car up before we leave). The heat kicks in before we get hypothermia. They can also put their big coats on backwards once they're strapped in.

The fleece would be warmer than the cotton sweater. Also, we're big fans of polyester long underwear for the cold and that's totally carseat safe. And hats and mittens and scarves.

[confustication]

It's in the 30s here in the mornings, and my kids are still cozy with a sweater...

I want to make them each a fleece poncho to layer over as well- probably with a hood. I think those are super functional for car seat use- lift the back over the back of the seat and do up the straps under the front. The kids stay warm and safe.

[justKate]

Burrr, OP, Iowa is COLD!

We live in Tx right now, but FWIW, I bought something like this from REI. I can't tell if its the same weight as the one at Old Navy or not. The one I linked to is really expensive, but they had the fleece on sale last week and I think I only paid $18 for something just as nice....

[Marissamom]

Originally Posted by MJB

You must be a southerner.
We just moved to KY from MI. It was 42 out this morning and I went out in jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. The baby was in cotton PJs with a blanket over her in the carseat. I'd say you don't need a coat at all until it's in the 30s. A fleece in the car with a blanket is plenty for my kids in any weather (although if it's below 10º I try to warm the car up before we leave). The heat kicks in before we get hypothermia. They can also put their big coats on backwards once they're strapped in.

The fleece would be warmer than the cotton sweater. Also, we're big fans of polyester long underwear for the cold and that's totally carseat safe. And hats and mittens and scarves.

not southern, we get snow oct-may some years. can go as low as 0 degrees for the high. by in the teens and tweenties part of the winter I mean for 2-3 months, with 1-2 weeks from 0-10 degree highs. And it's super dry here, so for my with it's 15 degrees I can't breath the air directly without it drying out my airways enough to give me issues breathing deeply for a week. also DD and I are both thin, so get cold really easily. I mentioned 50 degree weather because I have friends in all parts of the country, and I do know people who break out their coats in 50 degree weather. at that point I might layer a hoody for part of the day (morning and evening, because if we have a 50 degree high our low is probably in the 20s.)

[MammaB21]

I'm not quite sure how I'm going to work this in the Minnesota winter. It's typical to see temps below 0 in our coldest months, and it's not like we can just stay inside for two months straight. I'm especially concerned about my 4 year old. I can bundle the baby up in blankets before we go out, but my 4 year old has to walk from the house to the car and she's going to need a warm coat.

[tankgirl73]

If DD's coat is too bulky for the car seat, we take it off in the car and put a blanket over her (until the car warms up, when she can take the blanket off if she wants).

[sunnygir1]

Originally Posted by MammaB21

I'm not quite sure how I'm going to work this in the Minnesota winter. It's typical to see temps below 0 in our coldest months, and it's not like we can just stay inside for two months straight. I'm especially concerned about my 4 year old. I can bundle the baby up in blankets before we go out, but my 4 year old has to walk from the house to the car and she's going to need a warm coat.

Just put her in a warm coat. It's not that big a deal for a 4yo to take the coat off in the car to get in the seat.

I use layers. Onesie or tee shirt and long underwear, long sleeved shirt and pants, sweater or sweatshirt, thick socks or two pair, big coat or blanket. The big coat or blanket comes off in the car and goes over the child strapped in the car seat. Hats, and mittens can go a long way too!

It's not going to kill any of you to feel cold for a few minutes while getting strapped in; just cover up that skin with a couple layers and close the door to the vehicle if possible for those -40F wind chill days! I love the minivan for this. It's a bit awkward, but you can all get in with warm stuff on, shut the door to strap in and recover, then get out to go to the driver's seat.

You have to have the warm coat for playing outside anyway, just use a light coat or warm sweater underneath for car rides (and skip the snow pants for the car). I do ALWAYS bring boots, coats, snow pants, hats, mittens, scarves, Ergo, and warm blankets in the car in case of a breakdown or accident.

[blumooned]

Thanks for the input so far!

Sorry I forgot to mention: we're in Iowa. It's not cold yet, but winters can get to below zero with even colder windchills. Obviously, we'd probably not go out unless necessary in the worst stuff. I think normal winter days are teens to twenties (degrees F).

[an_aurora]

Originally Posted by MammaB21

I'm not quite sure how I'm going to work this in the Minnesota winter. It's typical to see temps below 0 in our coldest months, and it's not like we can just stay inside for two months straight. I'm especially concerned about my 4 year old. I can bundle the baby up in blankets before we go out, but my 4 year old has to walk from the house to the car and she's going to need a warm coat.

My girls just walk to the car with their coats on, then take them off to buckle.

[MacKinnon]

We're in Michigan and it's pretty cold throughout the winter. When we are home we pre-heat the car with a remote start. We just go out in coats, strip them off and buckle up. I made big fleece tie blankets for them in the car that they use to cover up, but if we forget them we use their coats backwards. They won't leave their fleeces on in the car, even though I tell them it's OK, they don't like how it feels all bulky under their harnesses. Oh, and I agree about the van being nice because you can climb in, shut the door, and buckle them up. That's how we do things around here!

[Friday13th]

We do a thin fleece coat to the car and in the car and then if we're going to be out for longer than it takes to run across the parking lot into a store DS throws on a down vest when we get out of the car. We're in MA so it's gets fairly cold, I also wear a fleece coat as my primary outerwear, unless we're playing in the snow or something.