Stupid question: Coats and convertable car seats?

Because that dreaded time of year will be here before we know it...

How does the coat-carseat thing work? Last year DS had something that went over his carrier so he never wore a coat. Now he's 9 months old and in a convertable car seat and will need a coat this winter. Can he wear it in the car seat or do I have to take it off in the car and how does that work with keeping the baby warm? What do you do?

Re: Stupid question: Coats and convertable car seats?

I've always auto started the car so it would warm up, take off their coats when we get in and put them on again when we are getting out. If the car was cold I laid the coat over them like a blanket. It's kind of a PITA but I wasn't comfortable with them wearing coats in the seat. It's such a habit now they automatically take off any jacket or coat as soon as they get in the car.

Re: Stupid question: Coats and convertable car seats?

Depends on the coat I think. If its a bulky or puffy jacket, then no, I think it's unsafe. It leaves too much space between your child's body and the straps.

If its a thinner jacket, like a fleece, I think it's ok.

I always warmed up the car and just carried DD;'s jacket from the house to the car. I kept a blanket in the car for times when I couldn't warm it up. And sometimes, depending on the situation, she would wear her jacket on the walk to the car, I would take it off, then put it back on again when we were getting out of the car. Annoying, but safer IMO.

Re: Stupid question: Coats and convertable car seats?

DS never wore a bulky coat in the carseat. He went into a convertable carseat at 5 months, in January. Yet, we always took his coat off before he went into the seat. Only times he wore a coat while the car moved, was a windbreaker or sweatshirt.

Re: Stupid question: Coats and convertable car seats?

They can wear non puffy coats in the seat - otherwise you should take them off. I was told jackets like Gaps warmest coat is a no no for the car seat - but things like fleeces, or non bulky coats like the lands end squall were okay. You want something that doesn't compress the coat when you put them into the seat.

Re: Stupid question: Coats and convertable car seats?

Thanks for clearing that up for me! Seems like a pain but I'd rather be inconvenienced a little than DS not to be safe.

Re: Stupid question: Coats and convertable car seats?

Posted by LittleBlueBug

Thanks for clearing that up for me! Seems like a pain but I'd rather be inconvenienced a little than DS not to be safe.