Winter Car Seat Safety

I wanted to share this article on winter car seat safety, from Canadian Parents, and Transport Canada. I found recently that a lot of people aren't aware of this car seat safety fact.

How to keep your little one safe and snug in his car seat this season

By Cara Miller

It's the time of year when Canadians are donning down-filled jackets and snowsuits to keep warm in the bitter cold. But did you know that the some winter outerwear can be dangerous if worn in a car seat? Read on for tips to keep your little one safe and snug this chilly season. 

The compression factor

When a child is placed in a car seat with a bulky jacket the harness straps are loosened to accommodate the thick material.  Even though the straps appear to be tight, in the event of a collision, the bulky jacket or snowsuit can become compressed, causing the child to be ejected from the car seat or incur injuries from the slack in the harness straps.

Transport Canada issues this warning: Bulky snowsuits can affect the harness with respect to additional compressibility. When using winter clothing, ensure the harness system is tight, compressing the material to ensure a snug fit. 

How safe are the insertable winter car seat bags that thread through the car seat's harnesses and are these safety-tested for use?

Transport Canada warns against using car seat bags: Any additional padding behind the child can induce both slack in the harness and additional compressibility. The Standard, which regulates children's restraint systems, only allows for a certain amount of compressibility in the foam and material used. By increasing this amount, during a collision the additional foam/material can compress to the point that the harness system becomes very loose and therefore no longer is capable of restraining the child. 

Child seat manufacturers state in their instructions not to use bulky clothing and never add anything between the shell of the restraint and the child. The padded car seat bag can re-route the harness system and add slack and increase compressibility. Check with the car seat manufacturer before using and ensure that the product does not compromise the harness routing path.

Also remember with all aftermarket products, there are no safety requirements applicable to these products in the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Cushions Safety Regulations. All manufacturers of child restraint systems and/or infant restraint systems state not to use any product that did not come with the restraint system unless manufactured specifically for that seat by the manufacturer themselves. This would also include head huggers and strap covers.

What about toddlers and preschoolers?

Samantha Johnson, mother of three and a child restraint systems technician in Edmonton, says, “My four-year old son wears a sweater in his car seat, and we bring his coat along. Even though it seems like a pain, it’s best for your child to take his coat off once he’s in the car.

How do I know if my child's outerwear is too bulky?

Put your child in his car seat with his winter jacket on and fasten and tighten the harnesses. If you can fit more than one finger between the strap and your child’s collarbone once the jacket is removed, the straps are too loose and the coat is too bulky. Finding a thinner jacket specifically for use while in the car is the safest option and you can take along a heavier coat for when you need it out of the vehicle