winter coat issues fleece isn't working (am I doing something wrong?)

Babywearing Meghan · Oct 9, 2009

Last year I got so sick of people coming up to me in parking lots with the "oh don't you think they are going to be cold if you take their coat off" and having to explain the dangers of winter coats in car seats, while they walked off rolling their eyes or urged on acting like my child would for certian die of hypothermia if I left the coat off..

This year I went on a mission to find coats that had the shell and the fleece liner, I finally found them for all three kids. The other morning it was nippy when we left to bring Julianna to school so I had them wear the fleece parts.. Well try as I might I can not buckle the harness over the fleece part, I have to loosen it, so off went the fleece liners.. I thought fleece was ok? Is it not? Do I over tighten the harness maybe normally? I can be a freak about the harness being tight..maybe its too tight? the fact that I can't buckle it over fleece made me wonder? any input would be great.

Mommy0608 · Oct 9, 2009

It's okay if you do have to loosen the harness just a little bit. Fleece is thin, but what makes it a safe option is that it's not really compressible, as opposed to puffy-style jackets. Having the straps tight over the fleece is appropriate and safe, even if you have to slightly loosen the straps when the child is wearing it. Just make sure that the fleece is flat against the child (not bunched up) and flat behind the child's back so that the child is still sitting as far back as possible in the seat when buckling.

Hope this helps.

Minnesota · Oct 9, 2009

Mommy0608 said:
It's okay if you do have to loosen the harness just a little bit. Fleece is thin, but what makes it a safe option is that it's not really compressible, as opposed to puffy-style jackets. Having the straps tight over the fleece is appropriate and safe, even if you have to slightly loosen the straps when the child is wearing it. Just make sure that the fleece is flat against the child (not bunched up) and flat behind the child's back so that the child is still sitting as far back as possible in the seat when buckling.

I couldn't have said it better myself! Please do not worry about a little fleece coat - you understand about harness tightness, and your kiddos will be safe and warm!

thepeach80 · Oct 9, 2009

Were the coats open or zipped? I tend to leave them open and then pull them through for less bulk. There's a pic here somewhere.

christineka · Oct 9, 2009

Good info to know. I think I tend to overtighten the harness too.

thepeach80 · Oct 9, 2009

How in the world are you doing the 3 across w/ those Vivos?! I tried it in my van and there was just no way I could get the Vivo buckled!

swtgi1982 · Oct 10, 2009

Yea, I would not worry about a fleece either since many kids wear a fleece shirt as a shirt and it is not much thicker anyways.

Gypsy · Oct 10, 2009

Do this: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTVPqn0aR8&feature=related"]YouTube - How to SAFELY wear a winter coat in a car seat[/ame]

Babywearing Meghan · Oct 10, 2009

I tried open and closed, I foundthat with it open it actually made it worse cause of the bulk of the collar bunching up under the harness.. it might work better, tonight for Fiona cause we are using the frontier (I tried it when she was rfing in her radian.) so since the straps will be above her shoulders she might be ok.

Nolan might be harder still, but I will give it a shot again.. I won't worry about loosening the straps for fleece! thanks so much!

fyrfightermomma · Oct 10, 2009

I found even with very thin fleece you still have to loosen a teeny bit. I have a feeling most of us
overtighten the harness to begin with, so honestly that tiny bit doesn't worry. It's not gonna eject my child and the material isn't compressible so it's not going to get any looser.

Otherwise the unzipping works well too but that got old for me

Jennifer mom to my 7 · Oct 10, 2009

fyrfightermomma said:
I found even with very thin fleece you still have to loosen a teeny bit. I have a feeling most of us
overtighten the harness to begin with, so honestly that tiny bit doesn't worry. It's not gonna eject my child and the material isn't compressible so it's not going to get any looser.

Otherwise the unzipping works well too but that got old for me

:yeahthat:

I know that I sometimes have the harness overtightened (well "almost" overtightened, if you know what I mean). So, I take solice in the fact that these are the rear facing kiddos, and they are so much more safe that way, that a harness a tad loose won't really affect them that much. Plus, fleece really isn't compressable, like a down jacket would be.

by a tad too loose, I mean I still can't pinch any, but I can get a finger under it

winter coat issues fleece isn't working (am I doing something wrong?)

Babywearing Meghan

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Mommy0608

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christineka

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