5 Winter Car Seat Safety Tips for Parents

As winter rolls in and temperatures drop, it’s important to adjust your car seat safety habits to ensure your child stays safe and warm. While it’s natural to want to bundle your baby in cozy winter gear, certain items can interfere with the proper functioning of a car seat. Here are some essential tips to keep your child both safe and warm this winter:

1. Avoid Bulky Coats and Outerwear in the Car Seat

While it may seem like a good idea to keep your child in their puffy winter coat during car rides, thick coats can create a dangerous situation. The extra bulk can prevent the car seat harness from fitting snugly against your child’s body, leaving them less secure in the event of a crash.

Why it’s dangerous:

  • When you tighten the harness over a thick coat, there’s extra slack between your child and the harness.
  • In a collision, the harness could shift or loosen, and your child could be thrown forward, potentially causing injury.

What to do instead:

  • Dress your child in thin, warm layers like a thermal shirt, fleece jacket, or sweater that won’t interfere with the harness.
  • Use a blanket or a thin jacket over the harness after it’s tightened, but make sure the harness is snug against your child’s chest and hips.

2. Use a Car Seat Cover or Winter Blanket

Rather than relying on thick coats, you can use other methods to keep your child warm. A thin, fitted car seat cover or a blanket can be used to keep your child comfortable without compromising safety.

3. Check the Harness Fit Regularly

Cold weather can cause the straps on your child’s car seat to loosen, and if your child is wearing multiple layers of clothing, you may not notice. Always double-check that the car seat harness is snug enough to keep your child secure.

How to ensure proper harness fit:

  • The harness should lie flat against your child’s chest, with the shoulder straps positioned at or just below their shoulders (for rear-facing seats).
  • You should only be able to fit one finger between the harness and your child’s collarbone.
  • The chest clip should be at armpit level.

5. Warm Up the Car Before Getting In

If possible, warm up the car before placing your child in their car seat. Not only will this make the ride more comfortable, but it can also help avoid the sudden chill of getting into a cold car. You can also consider keeping a spare pair of gloves, hats, or blankets in the car to keep your child comfortable during trips.

Learn more about Car Seat Safety.