December 31st, 2018 / 0 Comments

During the winter, you might be tempted to use covers or inserts in your child’s car seat to keep them cozy and snug. But are these coats and covers safe to use in car seats? We asked Lorrie Walker, Safe Kids Worldwide training manager and technical advisor.
The short answer is no. Car seat manufacturers advise parents not to use any product in the car seat if it isn’t made by the manufacturer.
“There are a lot of aftermarket products that don’t meet flammability standards,” says Walker.
Walker says it is very difficult to secure your child if he is wearing a winter coat or lots of layers. “You can’t get a good fit in the harness with a puffy jacket. You’re restraining the jacket and not the child.”
She recommends draping your child’s coat over the car seat, after you have buckled him in securely.
Walker suggests a simple exercise to test your child’s car seat:
If the harness is loose without the coat on, your child is not being restrained properly. While this process takes a few minutes, it’s an easy way to check.
If possible, you should warm up the car before putting your child in during the extremely cold winter. You can also drape coats and blankets over your children AFTER tightly securing their car seats.
Finally, you should keep a few items on hand, in case you get stuck for long periods of time. Walker recommends the following items for your cold-weather emergency kit:
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