How to practice car seat safety in cold weather conditions

When it comes to packing up for car journeys in the cold, it’s obvious that we want ourselves - and our children - to stay warm. 

However, a key item of clothing, although vital when the temperature drops, actually can impact our children’s safety when in the car. 

A common question asked by parents is, “Can infants wear coats in car seats?”. The answer, unfortunately is that no, coats and car seat safety do not pair well together. 

Any bulky items such as puffy coats, or snow suits, need to be removed before placing your child in their child car seat or child booster seat, in fact this also applies to adults, who should also remove their puffer coats when getting into a car. 

As such, the team here at Group 1 Automotive have shared their tips on how to keep your child safe and comfortable when driving in the winter.

According to car seat rules in the UK, all children must use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. However, there are some lesser known tips on kids car seats, particularly around winter, that parents should be aware of.  

Take off their coat

Although vital for protecting kids from the cold weather, children cannot wear coats when in a car seat. 

Coats with thick padding or hoods mean that your child will not be strapped into their car seat properly - allowing gaps between them and their harness. This means that if you were to find yourself in an accident, your child is not secure and their seatbelt can move, leading to serious injuries. 

When putting any little ones in the car, remove any thick jackets, puffy coats or snowsuits before strapping them into their kids car seats - you can then lay the jacket or a blanket over them, once they’re strapped in, to ensure they’re not cold.  

Layer up

Kids and babies in particular, generally need to wear more layers than adults, as they run colder. So, layering up your child in thin layers can be the perfect way to keep them warm without any thick coats needed. 

Thermal layers, or materials such as fleece and wool can keep your child warm without adding bulk to their outfit. 

Tighten the straps

Remember, even if you think your child is firmly in their harness, test the straps. Check your child’s car seat straps by seeing if the belt can be pinched or folded - if it can, this is too lax and needs to be tightened.

To be sure that it’s tight enough, try the pinch test. At your child’s collarbone, see if you can slip your hand underneath the straps of their car seat. You should only be able to fit one or two fingers in between your child and their harness. 

Pack an emergency bag

Keep an emergency bag in your car. You can fill this with spare clothes, hats, gloves, and extra blankets. This means that you won’t have to panic about your child not having their coat - you have everything they need to stay warm already!

This can be a great way to plan for any unexpected journeys or a sudden temperature drop, and will leave parents feeling prepared in the cold weather. 

Consider any car seat accessories 

You can also get child car seat covers that’ll help keep any infants warm. However, you should always be cautious on accessories that weren’t made for your specific car seat as they will not have been road tested together. 

You should only use a car seat cover if it doesn’t have a layer that goes underneath your child, or between them and the harness - as remember, anything bulky will impact their safety.