Puffy Coats Pose Hidden Risk for Kids in Car Seats According to Intermountain Health

This time of year, parents may find themselves reminding kids to put their coats on before going outside. But when it comes to babies in car seats, it’s best that they leave the coats off.

“Even in the coldest weather, it’s important to leave bulky or puffy coats off of babies and young children when buckling them in so their car seat straps or harnesses fit as close to their bodies as possible,” said Michelle Jamison, community health programs manager at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital.

“Bulky layers create space between the body and the seat which can limit the harness’ effectiveness,” Jamison said. “When car seat straps fit loosely, children can be injured – or even ejected – in a crash. This is true for older kids in booster seats, and even adults wearing thick coats under their seat belts. Bulky coats should always be removed before buckling up, whether you’re a child or an adult.”

If you’re wondering how puffy is too puffy, Jamison recommends doing a practice test at home. Put the child in their coat and harness them into their car seat. Do a pinch test at the shoulder straps to check for tightness by pinching your fingers to test for excess webbing. You shouldn’t be able to pinch any extra strap.

Then, take the child out of the car seat, take the coat off, and re-buckle the child into the seat. Do the pinch test again and see how much webbing you can pinch. Again, you shouldn’t be able to pinch any excess webbing.

Here are some alternatives to bulky coats that parents can use keep little ones safe and warm during the car ride:

• Always make sure the car seat or seat belt’s harness is snug, comfortable, and closely fitting to the child’s body.
• Never use any after-market products that go between the child and the car seat.
• Dress your child in layers (undershirts, leggings, base layer), and use a sweatshirt, a thin fleece, or a thin bunting suit in place of a bulky coat. If you’re doing an outdoor activity, pack the bulky coat separately and put it the child on once you’re outside.
• Once the child is properly buckled in, place a coat backwards on the child, or a blanket over the child
• Use a cover over the top of the car seat, as long as neither the shoulder harness straps nor the crotch buckle route through it.
• Use a car seat coat designed to be worn specifically in harnessed car seats.
• Have your child wear a hat and gloves.

As a reminder: Keep children in rear-facing car seats as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height contained on the manufacturer’s sticker on the side of your car seat.

For more information, visit PrimaryChildrens.org/safety.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.