Talk to me about winter coats in car seats!

[MunchiesMom]

I live in the midwest and have researched car seat safety with winter coats to no end. However, I've never found a solution for DS wearing a coat in the car seat that I'm comfortable with! What do you all do - what's the safest option?

In the past, I've put DS in a warm fleece (only) in the car sear. Then as we're running into a store I'll put a big, bulky coat over his fleece before we exit the car and make a deash to the inside. But winter is just starting and I am already so done with lugging the coat, fleece, my coat, hats, gloves, etc in and out of the house. I could leave the bulky stuff inthe car, but it's freezing if I leave it in the car.

Any ideas?

[KempsMama]

We live in MN, so we deal with "real" winters.  I use fleece for both boys, and pre heat the car before we go anywhere.  I wrap the baby in a blanket when going in and out if it's really cold.  My toddler doesn't get too cold if he's wearing the fleece and a hat. 

[Llyra]

We do what you've been doing-- the kids wear fleece jackets, with the bulky coats over. When they get to the car, I slip them out of the coat, buckle them, and then put the bulky coat on backwards. I can't warm the car up ahead of time, since my car is parked at some distance from the house. Then when we get where we're going, I turn the coat around and put it back on properly. It's a real pain in the neck. If it's not too cold, of course, they just wear the fleece but often that's just cruel, especially considering that I park like I said away from my house.

It's an especial pain in the neck when it's multiple children. I've seen neat things like ponchos especially designed for the car seats, but I can't afford those. So we make do.

[mamadelbosque]

I buy those coats that have two parts -fleece inner and then a bulky outer. This time of year we can get away with just the inner, but once it gets colder, they wear both to the car, then take the outer off and wear just the fleece in the car, then put the outer on when we get out.  Its a PITA but it works!!

[carmen358]

Are there car seat covers available for convertible car seats (like the bunting type bags that fit over the infant seats)? We have the true fit convertible and I would love to have something that just stays in the car.

[Llyra]

Originally Posted by carmen358 

Are there car seat covers available for convertible car seats (like the bunting type bags that fit over the infant seats)? We have the true fit convertible and I would love to have something that just stays in the car.

There are a few, but most of them are ones that put a layer behind the child, which is not really all that safe.

[mama2soren]

Originally Posted by carmen358 

Are there car seat covers available for convertible car seats (like the bunting type bags that fit over the infant seats)? We have the true fit convertible and I would love to have something that just stays in the car.

Not really.  There are car seat ponchos, which are safe if you make sure that the back of the poncho is draped over the back of the seat instead of coming between DD's back and the car seat.  What about having a super soft fuzzy blanket to keep in the car to tuck around her after buckling?

I assume you use your heater to keep the car at a comfortable temperature for you.  Your DD probably doesn't need another layer if you're warm enough.  It's just as unsafe for adults to wear puffy jackets in the car.  So, if you're comfortable in your thin layers, she probably is, too.

[dbsam]

 What about having a super soft fuzzy blanket to keep in the car to tuck around her after buckling? 

This is what we've always done.  However, since my children have gotten older I've become sort of lax about the coat issue when we go to school.  They are so rushed getting out of car-line in the mornings, I have been having them wear their coats in their car seats.  My children are older (6) but are still in a five-point harness, I guess I really shouldn't have them wear their coats on school mornings.

[carmen358]

Good point. We do have a great heater in our car and it actually never gets below zero all that often.

[llwr]

I saw on a you tube about winter car seat safety that you could have the coat on, but unzipped, and the belts go on the shoulders and across the lap under the coat.  Then you fasten the coat over the belt.  I've been doing that with thinner coats like wool.   You could try it and check if it introduces slack.  Sorry I don't remember exactly where it was.

It seems to me like the problem is getting situated in the car -- not actually driving in the car.  Unless you have a van or maybe just one seat in the middle, you end up with the door open and the freezing air blowing through the car and you're freezing because you're still outside.  At -40 I'd think frostbite could be an issue just in the couple of minutes it takes to get buckled in if the door is open and you need gloves off to operate the buckles.

[leighi123]

Originally Posted by dbsam 

 What about having a super soft fuzzy blanket to keep in the car to tuck around her after buckling? 

This is what we've always done.  However, since my children have gotten older I've become sort of lax about the coat issue when we go to school.  They are so rushed getting out of car-line in the mornings, I have been having them wear their coats in their car seats.  My children are older (6) but are still in a five-point harness, I guess I really shouldn't have them wear their coats on school mornings.

Thats where the poncho thing is good - you can always have them carry coats if they need something for recess or whatever, but for the car into the school, the ponchos are easier than a coat anyway!