Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!)

An Aurora · 12-12-2010, 02:57 PM

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*More pics in post #15
*Please see my blog for more pictures--I am limited to the number of pics I can post in a single post on here!

I took some pictures today to share with another forum, and thought I would share here.

This is Mali, my five year old, wearing her normal outdoor gear: snow bibs, and a warm winter jacket:

She is buckled in securely, with the straps tightened so that they pass the "pinch test":

Without loosening the straps, this is how she fits without the snow pants and coat:

Look at all that slack! In a crash, puffy coats and snow suits will compress in a crash, introducing slack.

In a crash, the chest clip is designed to break or move down. So if that happens...

...her shoulders very easily fit through the shoulder straps.

...and this is how much movement it would allow. She could easily be ejected from the seat.

Here is Scarlett, my three year old, wearing her normal gear: snow bibs and her warm coat.

Straps are snug, and pass the pinch test: my fingers slide right off the strap and I cannot pinch a horizontal fold in the strap.

With the coat and bibs removed:

She is easily able to wriggle free.

So how do we keep them warm and safe? For babies, a good-quality fleece one-piece outfit with a long-sleeved onesie or cotton pajamas is a good start. If you are using an infant seat, choose a shower-cap style cover for it, as these keep the wind and cold off your little one without introducing slack into the harness. You can also tuck blankets over the baby, and the shower cap cover will keep them in place--but once the car warms up, don't forget to unzip the cover and loosen the blankets so baby doesn't get overheated! The "bunting" style bags should be avoided, since those go between the car seat and the child, and that extra bulk will compress in a crash much like the puffy coats.

For older children, choose smart layers. My kids wear tights under fleece pants, a long-sleeved shirt with a good-quality fleece jacket over top, and if it's windy, a light-weight windbreaker. Don't forget warm boots, a cozy hat, and mittens!

Here's Mali all ready to go:

Here she is buckled in:

After she's buckled, I tuck her warm winter coat around her, and she kicks it off after the car gets warm.

If you're not sure your coat is ok to use in the car, try the test I showed above: buckle your child into the car as you normally would, tighten the straps until they pass the pinch test, then without loosening the straps remove the child, take off all those warm layers, and rebuckle to see how much slack is in the harness.

twinsmom · 12-12-2010, 03:03 PM

Great pics. Thanks for that. Looks like it was a lot of work!!

lovemybabies924 · 12-12-2010, 03:34 PM

good job! love it

chimpmandee · 12-12-2010, 03:49 PM

Nice thorough tutorial, and easy for parents to understand. Great work!

rachelandtyke · 12-12-2010, 04:42 PM

Thanks for sharing that! It really is amazing (and scary) the difference!

Mommy2Marcus · 12-12-2010, 04:43 PM

Awsome job & great pictures. I think alot of people understand visual better than type.

Notaclue · 12-12-2010, 04:50 PM

Thanks!

I shared it on FB!

Angela · 12-12-2010, 05:53 PM

Do you mind if we share?

An Aurora · 12-12-2010, 06:43 PM

Yes, please feel free to share!

Kac · 12-12-2010, 10:15 PM

Great pictures. Thanks for all of the info!

aisraeltax · 12-23-2010, 10:56 AM

thank you!

TechnoGranola · 12-23-2010, 11:27 AM

Awesome thanks! Apparently I've given too much rep in the last 24 hours, but when I'm able you'll be getting some!

njkj · 12-23-2010, 12:29 PM

I shared on facebook

geekKT · 12-23-2010, 01:36 PM

Really nice visual! Thanks!

An Aurora · 12-23-2010, 02:06 PM

All buckled in, ready to go. This snowsuit looks pretty harmless, and is a good deal less puffy than many you see out there.

With the snowsuit removed:

Here's the little sweetie in her other ride (the Evenflo Symphony convertible seat):

Harness is nice and snug:

With the snowsuit removed:

Yikes!

I don't have a small infant (my baby is 18 months old, *sniff*) but some fellow car seat nerds have given me these photos to demonstrate safe, warm infants!

Here is a brand new baby ready to head home, safely buckled and using a shower cap style cover:

Here is another teeny guy wearing warm clothing, with the shower cap style cover unzipped.

All zipped up, ready to go!

For an older baby, warm layers with a blanket over top is perfect!

In the infant seat...

...and in the convertible

crunchierthanthou · 12-23-2010, 02:26 PM

Thanks, Anna!

and i think it's worth noting that you live in Alaska. Even in the coldest climates, no one needs those puffy coats inside the harness.

An Aurora · 12-23-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crunchierthanthou

Thanks, Anna!

and i think it's worth noting that you live in Alaska. Even in the coldest climates, no one needs those puffy coats inside the harness.

Yes, I agree.

mcomommy · 12-23-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notaclue

Thanks!

I shared it on FB!

gigi · 12-23-2010, 02:52 PM

Just a quick question... in the pics with older kids and puffy coats, are you tightening in the harness as much as you can, or just tightening it until it "passes" the pinch test?

I'm totally on board with the intent of your post (my 3.5 year old son never wears coats in the car), I'm just curious.

An Aurora · 12-23-2010, 02:57 PM

I tighten until it passes the pinch test, just like I do when they are not wearing coats. It is unnecessary to tighten the harness beyond passing the pinch test.

12-12-2010, 03:03 PM	#2
twinsmom Carseat Crazy Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York Posts: 521	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Great pics. Thanks for that. Looks like it was a lot of work!! __________________ My loves, my life

12-12-2010, 03:34 PM	#3
lovemybabies924 CPS Technician Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,094	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) good job! love it __________________ STACY Mom to: Sage-9, Nevaeh-6.5, Junior-5, Nayeli-1.5

12-12-2010, 03:49 PM	#4
chimpmandee CPST Instructor Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Minnesota Posts: 772	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Nice thorough tutorial, and easy for parents to understand. Great work! __________________ -Mandy CPST-I, Special Needs trained Mommy to two boys A ~ 7.5 years, 50 lbs ~ Boostered in his FR85 & ParkwaySG K ~ 4.5 years, 36 lbs ~ RF in his RXT, FF in his MA70

12-12-2010, 04:42 PM	#5
rachelandtyke Senior Community Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,264	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Thanks for sharing that! It really is amazing (and scary) the difference! __________________ DD1: 7.7, 40 lbs and 46 in, Vivo and HBTB DS: 3.8, 30 lbs and 37 in, rfing RA50 and EFTA DD2: just arrived! KF30

12-12-2010, 04:43 PM	#6
Mommy2Marcus CPS Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Alabama Posts: 2,370	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Awsome job & great pictures. I think alot of people understand visual better than type. __________________ Krista Mommy 2 Marcus, 6 years old, 48 inches tall, 40-42lbs, 16 inch torso & riding in a Graco Safety Surround!!

12-12-2010, 04:50 PM	#7
Notaclue Carseat Crazy Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 166	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Thanks! I shared it on FB! __________________ Julie, Proud Navy Chief's wife and Mom to ^i^ Caleb, Born sleeping Jan 5, 2003 E 7yrs 56lbs HBTurbo, and SSK Monterey, L 6 yrs 37lbs HBTurbo, and Graco Nautilus, R 10 months Britax B-safe

12-12-2010, 05:53 PM	#8
Angela CPS Technician Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,457	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Do you mind if we share? __________________ Mommy to L - 6.5 yrs old, 70 lbs, & 48" Booster cruising in a Frontier 85, Compass B505, & Evenflo Big Kid F - Newborn, 7 lbs, & 20 inches riding in an Orbit G2 infant seat & Keylime Coccoro

12-12-2010, 06:43 PM	#9
An Aurora CPS Technician Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 5,999 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Yes, please feel free to share! __________________ Anna~CPST, RN & mom to 3 awesome kiddos

12-12-2010, 10:15 PM	#10
Kac CPS Technician Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 2,301	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Great pictures. Thanks for all of the info!

12-23-2010, 10:56 AM	#11
aisraeltax Carseat Crazy Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 835	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) thank you! __________________ Rachel, mom to 4 boys, 20, 13, 5 and 2 5.5 RF'ing in Britax Multi Tech...2.5 RF'ing in Radian XT

12-23-2010, 11:27 AM	#12
TechnoGranola Forum Ambassador Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 5,607	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Awesome thanks! Apparently I've given too much rep in the last 24 hours, but when I'm able you'll be getting some! __________________ TechnoTeen * Adult seatbelt and driver's seat TechnoKid * Clek Oobr & Graco Nautilus booster TechnoBaby * Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible

12-23-2010, 12:29 PM	#13
njkj Senior Community Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Silverdale, Wa <3 Posts: 593	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) I shared on facebook __________________ Nikki, Navy wife to Kevin and Mom to Jacob 6/05, 50in, and 52lbs riding in a Monterey and a Turbo and Grace 11/09, 36in, and 30lbs riding in a Nauti (rear faced for 2y and 10 1/2 months) Baby Emily 7/12 , riding in a BV70

12-23-2010, 01:36 PM	#14
geekKT Carseat Crazy Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 272	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Really nice visual! Thanks! __________________ Mom to J - 3 years - 32lbs in a Storm RXT and A - 2.5 months - 12lbs in an Abstract O's Via/Retro Geo TFP both RF in our '06 Sedona

12-23-2010, 02:06 PM	#15
An Aurora CPS Technician Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 5,999 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) All buckled in, ready to go. This snowsuit looks pretty harmless, and is a good deal less puffy than many you see out there. With the snowsuit removed: Here's the little sweetie in her other ride (the Evenflo Symphony convertible seat): Harness is nice and snug: With the snowsuit removed: Yikes! I don't have a small infant (my baby is 18 months old, sniff) but some fellow car seat nerds have given me these photos to demonstrate safe, warm infants! Here is a brand new baby ready to head home, safely buckled and using a shower cap style cover: Here is another teeny guy wearing warm clothing, with the shower cap style cover unzipped. All zipped up, ready to go! For an older baby, warm layers with a blanket over top is perfect! In the infant seat... ...and in the convertible __________________ Anna~CPST, RN & mom to 3 awesome kiddos

12-23-2010, 02:26 PM	#16
crunchierthanthou Moderator - CPS Technician Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,604	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Thanks, Anna! and i think it's worth noting that you live in Alaska. Even in the coldest climates, no one needs those puffy coats inside the harness.

12-23-2010, 02:52 PM	#19
gigi Carseat Crazy Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 887 Blog Entries: 4	Re: Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!) Just a quick question... in the pics with older kids and puffy coats, are you tightening in the harness as much as you can, or just tightening it until it "passes" the pinch test? I'm totally on board with the intent of your post (my 3.5 year old son never wears coats in the car), I'm just curious.

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Winter coats and car seats (very pic heavy!)

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