See nhtsas child passenger safety recommendations to find out how to select the right seat for your childs age and size. Sleeping bags like the bundle me are also problematic because the thick layer behind the back adds extra slack to the harness. A bulky coat can result in the harness being too loose to be effective. In a car crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the harness.
Get a tuneup and be sure to check the battery levels in your vehicle. Free pdf pattern and step by step picture tutorial included to make this cute and functional cape. Oct 17, 2017 a car seat poncho is like a hooded cape with an opening in the front. Turn pot handles inward, toward the back of the stove. If they still fit in their car seat and have not outgrown it refer to manufacturers guidelines for weight and height requirements you do. We tell you how to protect your child when its cold outside. We know that you want your little ones to stay cozy during the winter months, but big coats can affect the fit of the car seat harness. Keep your kids safe this winter with this winter car seat safety tip as well as the best and safest ways to keep your child warm in the car. When riding in the car, babies and children should wear thin, snug layers rather than thick, bulky coats or snowsuits. If you follow me on twitter youve probably seen one of my tweets trying to educate parents about not putting winter jackets on their kids while harnessed into their car seats.
Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the united states. His segment shows the dramatic results of a car crash at 30 mph with a crash dummy inappropriately strapped in because of a puffy winter coat. Winter brings cold weather and potentially slick roads, but families still need to travel every day. An illustrated guide that offers tips to become a safer and more efficient driver in adverse weather conditions. Information about winter safe driving and shareable resources in a variety of formats. Dec 12, 2019 but bulky winter coats and car seats are a dangerous combination. A car seat poncho is like a hooded cape with an opening in the front. A simple booster seat is at little cost and com plies with. Download and print our winter driving brochure pdf and view a winter driving tips video 2. Head start program directors, health managers, and parents can determine the type of car or booster seat a child requires based on the childs height, weight, and age. Caltrans is encouraging motorists traveling to or through the mountains this winter to be prepared for winter driving conditions. Children are among those most at risk winter car seat tips to help reduce the risks of burns. The best way to keep your child safe in the car is to use the right car seat in the right way. Winter car seat safety the danger you may be putting your child in when travelling in the car this winter.
Winter coats and snowsuits change the way a child fits into the car seat. Make every car safety seat snug to the vehicle, so it cannot move more than 1 inch in any direction. Ensure that the children safety seat is properly fitted to the. A lot of parents dont know the dangers of having their children wear big winter. Mar 05, 2015 find out the correct way to put your child in their car seat during the winter days for more info check out betsy v po box 750707 forest. Thick coats and snowsuits reduce car seat safety as a general rule, winter coats shouldnt be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. To keep your child warm, consider dressing the child in a few thin layers, as well as socks, shoes, gloves, and a warm hat. Its important for the car seat harness to be nice and snug to protect your child, and those bulky layers can actually prevent the harness from being tightened properly.
However, thick winter coats can reduce the safety of the childs car seat. Here are some car seat safety tips to protect your most precious cargo. Winter safety tips from the american academy of pediatrics. If you are stopped or stalled in wintry weather, follow these safety rules. Also provided is information on vehicle systems, driver preparation, winter driving techniques maximizing traction, maintaining safe following distance and changing speed smoothly and additional hints and precautions helpful to drivers of front. We want to avoid having a lot of bulky clothing inside the harnessing system in the child restraint. As a general rule, winter coats shouldnt be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. Proper use of child safety seats american family physician. Thick winter coats or snowsuits can keep your baby warm but they can compromise your childs car seat safety. Nov 22, 2019 according to the american academy of pediatrics, a winter coat can compress in the event you get into an accident, creating extra room between your child and their car seats harness.
Winter car seat safety is on many parents minds this time of year. Instead, lay the jacket or a blanket over children. Buckle, dont bundle children in car seats this winter american. Because in a crash all the bulk will squish down and the harness straps will be loose. Be sure to check with local authorities on tire chains.
The car seat ladykeep kids warm and safe in the car seat. Start the season off right by ensuring your vehicle is in optimal condition. In order for car seats and boosters to function properly, the straps need to remain tight against the childs chest. Thats why its so important to choose and use the right car seat correctly every time your child is in the car. The national highway traffic safety administration nhtsa website provides a quick reference for the proper use of child car seats and booster seats. As a general rule, bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn underneath the harness of a car seat. Car seat technicians say to put nothing thicker than a sweatshirt on your child under the. Certified child passenger safety technicians with childrens hospital of illinois are available to answer questions and provide education and instruction on car seat usage and installation. Follow these important steps to choose the right seat, install it correctly, and keep your child safe. There are many safety risks caused by these aftermarket products. Car seats are not made to be used with bulky clothes.
Car seat safety brochure pdf to pick the right car seat for your child use this tool. No one wants to break down in any season, but especially not in cold or snowy winter weather. Without the straps being appropriately secured, a child can be thrown from the seat upon impact. Blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins and other loose bedding should be kept out of an infants sleeping environment because they are associated with. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. Babies should not wear winter coats in their car seat because this decreases. Content editor winter is a tricky time for car seats.
The straps of the carseat harness need to fit snugly against the childs chest. In a car crash, fluffy padding immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the. We know that you want your child to be warm and cozy during the cold winter months, but we do recommend that you remove any heavy clothing or coats before securing your child in their car seat. The car seat manufacturers state in the instructions not to use bulky clothing or to add anything between the shell of the car seat and the baby. After placing the child in the car seat, tighten the harness first, and then place a blanket over the straps. There are many things i am passionate about in life and particularly passionate about as a mother. As alisa baer, md awesome pediatrician and car seat safety expert behind the car seat lady explains on her site, most winter coats and snowsuits add about 4 inches of bulk to the car seat harness straps. Another option is to put the childs coat on backwards over the. Its something i became passionate about when jack was a baby, and i havent really let go of it since. Jun 23, 2017 safety groups warn about the dangers of putting kids into car seats in the winter time who are wearing padded winter clothing, and its a real challenge for parents to find simple and convenient.
Check out ontario 511, the pretrip planning tool that lets drivers know about events that may impact their travel on provincial highways. Jan 23, 2016 this child car seat poncho pattern is perfect going out and about its so soft and comfortable like wearing a favorite blanket. Car seat safety facts keeping children safe this material is provided for informational purposes only and does not purport to address every possible legal obligation, hazard, code violation, loss potential or exception to good practice. Visit your mechanic for a tuneup and other routine maintenance. Apr 25, 2020 thick winter coats or snowsuits can keep your baby warm but they can compromise your childs car seat safety. A checklist for parents on how to properly check a car seat. To keep children safe, the american academy of pediatrics aap urges families to buckle up young children in a car seat in the back seat. To learn more and find a free car seat inspection station near you, please visit the child car seat inspection station locator. Department of national highway and traffic safety administration. Without a child seat, children are three times more likely to be. Safety groups warn about the dangers of putting kids into car seats in the winter time who are wearing padded winter clothing, and its a real challenge for parents to find simple and convenient. The straps of the car seat harness need to fit snugly against the childs chest. Posters and other promotional materials to encourage the use of appropriate.
Find out the correct way to put your child in their car seat during the winter days for more info check out betsy v po box 750707 forest. Ill be the first to admit that im kind of a crazy car seat lady. Get your car seat checked by a professional for free or visit mndps. Car seat checklist for parents pdf safe kids worldwide. Before you go nhtsa national highway traffic safety. Car seat safety in winter car seats are not made to be used with bulky clothes.
Learn more in these updated tips to help drivers keep safe. Even though the harness may seem snug on your child while wearing a coat, in the event of a crash, the coat could compress, creating slack in the harness that allows your child to move about in the seat. Bulky coats can compress in a crash and create a loose car seat harness. December 27, 2019 study findings highlight need for all preterm infants to undergo car seat screening. Putting your kids in puffy winter coats into their car seats could put them in. Winter safety tips for children the dangers of winter coats and car seats how to keep your child warm and safe as the coldest part of winter approaches, parents bring out their childs bulky winter coats to keep children warm during vehicle travel. If all back seats are occupied by children under 4, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat. Those big puffy coats or extra thick blankets could. The padded car seat bag and any added padding behind the baby can cause the harness to become loose around the baby. Here is a simple way to see if the coat is too big to wear under the harness. Snowsuits and puffy coats can make car seats less safe.
The best seat for your child is one that meets federal safety standards, has a 5 point harness system, is priced within your budget and fits your childs age, weight and height. In a crash, a loose harness can cause the child to be ejected. But bulky winter coats and car seats are a dangerous combination. Recently on the today show, jeff rossen did a segment on car seat dangers during the winter. According to the american academy of pediatrics, a winter coat can compress in the event you get into an accident, creating extra room between your child and their car seats harness. Dec 12, 2016 as alisa baer, md awesome pediatrician and car seat safety expert behind the car seat lady explains on her site, most winter coats and snowsuits add about 4 inches of bulk to the car seat harness straps. Tips for winter car seat safety winter weather is here, but before you put the baby in a car, dont bundle her up too much. All coats and clothing will compress in a crash, but thicker winter coats can compress. The dangers of winter coats and car seats consumer reports. We need to understand the risk winter coats pose when a child is in a car seat, so i put together a video to better illustrate the point, along with 6 safer choices on how to keep your kids well. Consider buying snow tires or chains for the tires, as your travel dictates. Adorable car seat poncho pattern free with picture tutorial. All parents want to make sure their baby is safe and warm in the car seat. Parents should ask the hospital to assess whether it is safe for their baby to travel in a baby seat before they are discharged.
Keeping our baby warm and comfortable in the cold winter months it is important. Make sure car seats and booster seats are properly installed and that any children riding with you are in the right car seat, booster seat, or seat belt for their age and size. Car seats and boosters provide protection for infants and children in a crash, yet car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to. Jan 20, 20 there are many things i am passionate about in life and particularly passionate about as a mother. Avoid bulky clothing such as heavy winter coats under car seat harness straps. We bundle up our children to help them brave the elements, but a bulky coat and a car seat can. It is not advisable to leave a child sleeping in a car seat at home. See nhtsas child passenger safety recommendations to find out how to select the right car seat for your childs age and size. Make sure car seats and booster seats are properly installed and that any children riding with you are in the right seat for their ages and sizes. For more information about child car seats, including details of the law, visit. It can be used to view road conditions on 549 highway cameras or as reported by our field staff, forecasted driving conditions which display. In central illinois call 18772776543, then press 1 for more information or to schedule an appointment for a car seat check. Blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins and other loose bedding should be kept out of an infants sleeping environment because they are associated with suffocation deaths.
Bulky clothes such as winter coats create slack in the harness. The temperature is beginning to drop outside, and children are being bundled up in thick winter coats and snowsuits to keep them snug and warm in the cold weather. Although many parents know child safety seats are important, more than 80 percent of seats are misused. Michigan child passenger safety laws michigan law requires all children younger than age 4 to ride in a car seat in the rear seat if the vehicle has a rear seat. If the car has no back seat, move the front seat back as far as possible, turn off the airbag, and use the right child safety seat. Jan 26, 2016 recently on the today show, jeff rossen did a segment on car seat dangers during the winter.
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