Car Seats and the Winter

The best way to start this post is to congratulate all the new moms and the soon to be mothers. I know the Fall has just begun, but all the new babies and soon to be are what I call Winter babies.

During this time of year most of the questions deal with dressing the baby fro the car seat.

As in prior posts, it is important to remember that nothing should ever be between your child and their car seat that did not come with the seat. NO headrolls, NO pads and especially - NO Bundle Me. The Bundle Me should not be used as it alters the straps of a child seat. It is not considered a safe product. In fact on the label, the Bundle Me says not to use if it interferes with proper use.

No snowsuits or heavy puffy jackets. Babies do not play in the snow anyway - in fact, short of throwing the baby in a snow pile, the baby will not be in the snow. The reason is that the snowsuit and the jacket add extra distance between the seat strap and the child.

Lastly, as of November 23, the new child seat law goes into effect - all children under the age of 8 must be in a seat - this includes a booster.

Re: Car Seats and the Winter

Thanks for the Tips!

But... I thought the Bundle Me was suppose to be Good b/c it WASN'T inbetween the baby and the straps... No?

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So then we strap them in and cover the baby and seat with a warm blanket? How do we keep them warm?!!! I also thought that the bundle me went over the straps, but honestly don't really know since I am not due till March!

And on the whole 8 year old thing, I teach Kindergarten and so many of them are tiny! We weigh them and compare them to a big pumpkin for math and most of them are under 40 lbs. I can totally see how keeping them in some form of a seat would save their lives.

Message edited 10/6/2009 8:27:09 PM.

Re: Car Seats and the Winter

The problem with the BundleMe is not the front but the back. The back of the Bundle Me alters the straps so that they do not remain horizontal on the shoulders, but rather the become vertical off the shoulders.

It does nothing more than what a blanket can do. As far as keeping the baby warm, remember, the car has heat, your house has heat, the mall has heat. The exposure to the outside is minimal at best. Use a blaket, colder days, use 2. Remember, you can always make a baby warmer, you cannot make them cooler.

We are not only concerned with something between the top straps and the baby, but also between the baby and the seat. When a carseat is tested for safety, what you see is what you get. Nothing should ever be placed between the baby and the seat.

As far as 8, no it is not excessive. Keep in mind, as far as front facing seats, the longer a child is in a 5-point harness the safer. While many children may outgrow a car seat, most are too small to sit in the car withour anything. The purpose of a booster is to make sure that the lap belt is on the lap and not high, and that the shoulder belt is on the shoulder.

Re: Car Seats and the Winter

Thanks for the update!

The state trooper that assisted my car seat installation said that this product is a great alternative to the bundleMe - the Kiddopotomus Posh Pouch. It has elastic and goes OVER the seat, not around the child.

http://www.kiddopotamus.com/p_fsposh.php

Is this correct info?

Message edited 10/6/2009 9:49:54 PM.

Re: Car Seats and the Winter

Yes, he is correct. This particular product does not interfere with the safe operation of the car seat.

The only comment I have about products like this - are they necessary though? Can the money be better spent on other necessities? It really does nothing more than a blanket - and trust me - you all must have 100 of those by now. I have 3 draws filled with blankest given to my kids.

Your Aunt Tilly started to knit one for your kids the day you were born.

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Tuesday I will be having a seat check in Merrick then one in the 5-towns over the next 3 weeks

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wow! i had a few people recommend the bundle me so i registered for one. I guess i should go return it.

i live in pa..our township installed the base and seat for us last week. they also recommened NONE of those mirrors to go in the back of the car b/c in an accident they become flying objects. So we're returning the mirror we bought.

(i also think another mirror in the back would be confusing to the driver.)

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I am suggesting the use of blakets for the infant carrier. Older children can wear jackets, just try to avoid the "puffy" type

Message edited 10/7/2009 9:02:28 AM.

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I just found this full back booster that goes to 120lbs, and 63" (5'3"), so there are definitely plenty of options available.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8135735

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Re: Car Seats and the Winter

Great post

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HERE IS A RANT OF MINE --

DO NOT CONFUSE SAFETY AND WHAT THW LAW SAYS!!

Just because the law says up to 8 does not mean at 8 you take the child out of the seat. As the law comes closer I will start a new thread.

Message edited 10/8/2009 12:34:27 PM.

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Message edited 10/8/2009 1:48:41 PM.

Re: Car Seats and the Winter

As per Sweettooth - those things are great! My friend lives in Milwaukee and used one with her DD and was really happy with it (and their winters make ours feel balmy).