I've been over the importance of having your car seat(s) properly secured into your vehicles, how tight is actually tight enough when strapping your kids into your properly secured seat and now I want to demonstrate the importance of removing bulky winter wear BEFORE putting your child into their car seat.
This is Rylan. Rylan is strapped into her seat wearing her winter coat.
I can only fit one finger between the middle buckle and her chest. It's tight. Which is why she's pouting... and yelling, "It's too tight!" :)
Now see what happens when I take her coat off and do not adjust her straps.
There is way too much give in these straps. No matter how tight you try, they will never be tight enough with a coat under them. During a collision, the coat/snow suit becomes compressed. There have been cases of children having been ejected from their car seat during a collision while their coats remain in the car seat. I don't mean to frighten anyone, I just want to make sure that all of the babies I know, and know of, are safely strapped in this winter.
What is recommended is putting your child in the car in what they would normally be wearing indoors. Strap them in (tightly!) and cover them with a blanket, or I just put their coats back on them backwards and tuck it around their legs. I have been working on plans for a car seat safe coat, hopefully I'll get one finished soon so I can show you.
I know my kids complain that they are strapped in too tightly every time I put them in their seats. It's tempting to loosen it off for the sake of a quiet car ride, but not a risk I'm willing to take. I usually give the straps a little jiggle, and let them think that it's been loosened. Works like a charm! So far!
Please, spread the word about this. Let's keep our kids safe this winter!
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