Did you know that down jackets and coats represent a risk for babies when they are installed in their car seat? A video shows that in the event of an accident, the risk of being ejected is greater.
The winter cold is very present, and it wouldn’t occur to us to take off our children’s coats before putting them in the car. Yet that is what must be done! All childcare brands affirm it: the safety device will not be optimal when wearing heavy winter clothing. Indeed, even if you have the impression that your baby is safe and well wrapped up, even with a soft layer that will also act as a shock absorber in the event of an impact, this is not the case. It’s even quite the opposite. The harness is then not adapted to his corpulence, but to the size of his coat, which is often voluminous. Besides, if you take off his coat and sit your child in his car seat, you will be able to see the difference between his little body and the belt. The risk is that the straps (too wide therefore) slip on the coat in the event of an impact, propelling the child out of his seat and to the front of the car. It is therefore recommended to take the time to remove the coat from your little one, before installing him correctly in his car seat, in order to adapt the straps to his size and not to his jacket.
- Each time you put your child in their car seat, check that the harness is tight before setting off;
- Remove the baby’s coat before installing him in his car seat, arrange the straps properly and put the coat on him; or cover baby with a blanket placed over the straps;
- Also remove the big towel hood which, like the coat hoods, does not allow baby to pull his head back, which will tend to fall forward more.
- In any case, a child must be properly secured in his car seat, even for very short journeys and remember to change the car seat as soon as it is no longer suitable for the size, weight and morphology of your child. child.
If baby is comfortably and safely in his car seat, it is certain that without his coat, he risks being very cold. That’s why you can cover him with his coat by putting the sleeves on him in front, while sliding the sides well on each side so that he doesn’t slip. An operation that can also take time, to make it simpler and faster, you can leave a cover specially provided for this purpose, or invest in a Angel’s Nest, with openings that allow the passage of straps. If you are able to do so, you can also preheat the car for a few minutes before getting in.