Why Winter Coats Shouldn’t Be Worn in a Car Seat: Keeping Kids Safe and Warm the Right Way

When the temperatures drop, most parents naturally reach for a warm winter coat before heading out the door. But when it comes to car seat safety, that cost puffy jacket can actually put your child at risk.

Whether you have a newborn, a busy toddler, or an older child in a booster, bulky winter clothing can interfere with how your child’s car seat or seatbelt is designed to protect them. Here’s what every parent needs to know.

For Newborns and Infants: Small Shoulders, Big Risks

Newborns and babies have tiny, soft shoulders that make proper harness fit especially important. When thick clothing or snowsuits are worn under the straps, several safety issues arise:

• Straps can slip off: Hoods and padded shoulders can push the harness off your baby’s smaller, rounded shoulders.
• The harness may look tight but it isn’t: Puffy clothing adds bulk that compresses in a crash, leaving dangerous slack between your baby and the straps.
• Overheating is a real concern: Babies can quickly get too warm in thick layers, especially once the car heats up.

Safer alternative: Dress your baby in thin, fitted layers and place a warm blanket over the harness once they’re securely buckled in.

For Toddlers: Puffy Coats Hide Dangerous Slack

Toddlers often move to extended rear facing (the safest option) or forward-facing seats but the same rule applies: no bulky coats under the harness.

Here’s why: to buckle a child in with a thick coat, you usually have to loosen the harness. In a crash, that padding flattens instantly, leaving space for your child’s body to move too far forward.

Even a small amount of extra slack can make a big difference in how well the harness protects them.

Try this test:

1. Buckle your child in with their coat on and tighten the harness.
2. Unbuckle, remove the coat, and re-buckle without adjusting the straps.
   You’ll see how much extra room there is, space that could be dangerous in a collision.

Safer alternative: Have your toddler wear thin, warm layers and keep a blanket or their coat over them once buckled.

For Booster-Seat Kids: The Right Belt Fit Saves Lives

Older children who are in high back booster seats using the vehicle’s seatbelt - bulky coats can cause equally serious problems.

• The lap belt may sit too high across the stomach instead of the strong hip bones.
• The shoulder belt may shift off the chest or across the neck.
• The padding compresses in a crash, leaving the belt dangerously loose.

When the seatbelt doesn’t sit properly, it can’t do its job of protecting your child’s most vital areas.

Safer alternative: Have your child remove their coat before buckling up. Once secure, they can wear the coat backward over the straps or use a blanket to stay cozy.

Puffy winter coats and car seats don’t mix - for newborns, toddlers, or older children. The extra bulk can prevent harnesses and seatbelts from fitting properly and compress during a crash, leaving dangerous slack.

By removing bulky layers and securing your child snugly every time, you’re giving them the best protection possible on every ride.