Can Children Be in Car Seats with Winter Coats?

No one likes driving in the colder months, but it’s something most of us have to do! There’s a lot that can be done to make your winter driving safer, from increasing stopping distance to stocking your car with a cold weather emergency kit. However, it’s not just what you drive and what you pack that keeps your family safe riding in the winter it’s how you dress your car seat riders. 

If you’ve done any research on car seat safety, you probably read somewhere that winter coats and car seats don’t mix. But, is this true? And, if kids can’t wear car seats in cold vehicles, how can you keep them warm and safe in winter? If you’ve been confused or stressed by this, don’t worry We have all the answers!

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Can Children Be in Car Seats with Winter Coats?

No matter the age of your child, it’s important for parents and caregivers to know how to dress kids safely for winter car seat rides. This is crucial, because the wrong clothing may keep your child warm, but they can actually compromise car seat safety! 

In this post we’ll explain exactly how to dress your child to keep them safe and comfortable when the temperatures start to drop. Here’s what you need to know:

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Are Winter Coats Safe in Car Seats?

Standard bulky, puffer jackets aren’t safe for the car seat. This is because even if you tighten the harness straps and perform the pinch test, there’s still secret (and dangerous) gapping between the car seat harness and the child. Your child’s coat is a safety risk in the car seat! 

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Why No Winter Coat in Car Seats?

Puffy, bulky coats are made to compress. That means in a crash, the force will compress the fabric, providing a lot of extra space for violent movement. Basically, despite going through all the steps to get your child properly secured in their car seat, your child is not safe in their car seat! The car seat harness can’t keep them snug and safe with puffer fabric or other bulky clothing materials. 

However, we understand putting your child in just a long-sleeved tee isn’t going to cut it in certain climates and weather conditions. Luckily, there is a safe way of putting your child in warm clothing without compromising their safety. Below, we’re sharing some options for keeping your child safe and warm at any stage of the car seat journey: 

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What Should Baby Wear in Car Seat in Winter? 

Thin Fleece Layers

At any age, you can dress your child in thin fleece layers to keep them warm in their car seat! A long-sleeved fleece shirt with a fleece quarter zip overtop is probably plenty to keep your kids comfortable in a heated vehicle. You could even add additional fleece coats or jackets on top of those if you need more warmth! 

Bunting Bodysuits

For littles, bunting bodysuits are a great choice! They’re often made of fleece too, and can be zipped up over their outfit of the day. These bodysuits often include fold-over mittens and a hood to keep them super cozy in any weather! 

Lightweight Puffer Jacket

Bulky coats are the problem, but a lightweight puffer jacket can still be safe as long as there’s not a lot of room for compression! A lightweight puffer over a sweatshirt or fleece pullover can be another good method of safely bundling your child up for winter road trips!

Car Seat Poncho

Blankets thrown over a car seat can seem like a simple enough solution . . . until they end up on the floor five minutes into your drive. The idea is a good one, but instead of a standard blanket, use a poncho! The child will get a warm hood and a cozy blanket that won’t interfere with car seat buckling at all!  

BuckleMe Car Seat Coat

If you need a traditional coat for your lifestyle or climate, there is a solution! The BuckleMe Car Seat Coat is safe to use with car seats and provides the warmest solution.

Car Seat Swaddle

For an infant, you can also swaddle them in their car seat to keep them warm, safe, and cozy. Buckle your baby into their car seat as usual, choose a blanket that’s the appropriate weight for the weather, and tuck the swaddle under the baby’s arms and legs. For more detailed instructions, here’s how to swaddle a baby in a car seat.   

Hats and Gloves

Hats and gloves don’t interfere with car seat buckling, so don’t be afraid to use this winter gear! Although we don't recommend infants wear hats in the car, you can find hats and gloves that are appropriate for the weather for your older kids! 

Winter Car Seat Cover

For infant car seats, use a winter car seat cover. The seat cover should stretch over the top of the seat, NOT tuck or fasten behind the baby under the harness straps. This would not be car seat safe. Luckily, there are many car seat covers to choose from that don’t compromise safety and instead stretch over the top! You should remove this when you get into the vehicle unless the manufacturer of your car seat makes the winter car seat cover you are using.

Keep your children safe on every winter car ride with these tips! 

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It’s not safe to dress a child in a traditional coat while they’re in the car seat. However, there are plenty of ways to keep your child safe in their seat and warm despite the frigid temperatures! You can find a whole catalog of car seat safe winter gear on Safe in the Seat’s Amazon Shop. And, if you need more vehicle winter safety tips, check out these posts:

• Winter Road Trip Safety Tips
• How to Bundle Up for Winter Weather
• Best Winter Products
• How to Keep Baby Warm in Car Seat

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