January 3, 2011
Well,” the weather outside is frightful…” whether you like it like this or not, winter weather will be here for a while. The question is what to do about bulky jackets when we buckle children into their car seats. Sometimes Grandparents or Aunts may do things differently from the parents.
I know that I want my children to be warm and they need to wear their jackets when they leave the house. I’m sure we can all agree on this. BUT THEY DON’T FIT IN THE CARSEAT WITH THEIR JACKETS ON! I know that the harness needs to fit snugly on the chest at armpit level in order to properly restrain children in a crash. If they are wearing puffy jackets, the harness straps will be tight to the jacket and not the body. All that puff will compress in a crash and the harness will not be tight enough to do its job.
I have found a few suggestions that you may find helpful in handling this dilemma:
1. Whenever possible, warm up your car before putting the child in. (Don’t forget to open the garage door before starting the car).
2. Remove his jacket before buckling the harness in the car seat.
3. Keep a blanket in the car for the child to use.
4. Consider purchasing a thinner, yet still warm jacket that may fit better in the car seat.
5. Dress the child in layers, so even without the jacket, he will be comfortable in the car.
6. Another alternative is to unzip the jacket completely, buckle the harness and pull each side of the jacket out from under the straps, to the sides. This should allow you to tighten the harness more securely.
7. Here’s a test: Try buckling the child into his car seat with the bulky jacket on. Pull the straps tight. Now remove the child from the seat without loosening the straps. Remove the coat and return the child to the seat and see how the harness straps fit. Do not tighten. If the straps seem loose, or you can pinch loose strap fabric (webbing) at the shoulder, then the harness is not secure enough to keep your child safe in a crash.
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