So this will probably blow up into a HUGE debate...BUT...Car Seats & Snowsuits/Winter Coats (edited with pix added)
Winter Coats and Car seats...
I see A LOT of people saying 'don't put your child in a car seat in a winter coat or a snowsuit, it's dangerous.' I have asked my child's DR and even the Head of the NICU unit she was in when she was born. Both say it is assining and perfectly fine to place your child in their car seat with their snow suit or coat as long as when they aren't wearing it you readjust the straps. I have searched online and I only see parents opinions...no car seat crash test with a winter coat or snowsuit with a child being ejected from their seat...
SOOOO....Who puts their child in their car seat with a snow suit or Coat...and who doesn't?
***I need to add, my Daughter is normally in her fleece, she is a little furnace and our car gets heated fairly quickly, I do carry along her snowsuit if I know it will be REALLY cold though. But I am not against putting her in a coat or snowsuit if the weather is cold...
***Another edit...Our carseat was installed by the police dept AND a certified car seat tech who even told us (because she was only 4lbs 1oz the day we took her home) that we could take a washcloth and roll it up in the crotch area as well (we didn't) There are 6 Dr's in her Pedi office and they all say it is fine. Along with the head of NICU. I asked simply because a lot of people on my Facebook have been posting about it. I have googled and can not find anything but parents videos. Is there a video with the actual crash test dummies???
******Personally, my Daughter goes in the carseat depending on weather. Normally she is just in a fleece or a light snow suit. I have had her in a thick snowsuit on extremely cold days. When I brought her home the end of September we had her in her regular car seat just to carry her to the car. She was too small for her regular seat and a car seat tech that was working with a police station gave and installed a preemie car seat for us. The first picture is in what she sits in now (now she is a 10lb 8oz 4m old) The other pictures are her in our car in her preemie seat the day she came home and the day after to her Dr appt. Then one of her preemie car seat and one of her the day after we brought her home and now at 4 months on our small dog (oh no!! lol yes, I hear how it is so unsafe from my Mother in Law...) AND before anyone bashes me about her straps above her shoulders...This was a brand new Graco Preemie car seat we got from a certified car seat tech who installed it in our car at a car seat and inspection site. He put the pool noodles there. I never even knew they made Preemie car seats, this is a 2lb and up and on the smallest size it can go, the lowest strap slot as well. For about 2 months she traveled in her preemie seat then we would transfer her to her 'big girl seat' when we were going into the store or wherever...yes, take her out, put her in the other, put it in the cart the whole shabang...but she didn't travel in her infant seat until she was just over 5lbs. (Graco Snugride 35)
Here are a few more of her winter attires....
My children wore snowsuits in their (forward facing) carseats and I have even been in an accident that squashed the back of my car, and broke my engine in half, with my oldest in the car who was two at the time with a wool snowsuit. We both came out of it with minor injuries.
What people fail to realize is that yes, clothing can compress in an accident, if you have the child in a down coat, but it depends on the material of the clothing as well. Also I was told that it didn't make any difference if my child was in a rear facing or forward facing carseat because I was hit from the rear and my car was thrown into a tree. I had impact at both ends. Have any of you ladies who don't turn your children to a forward facing carseat ever wonder why you rarely see any video of a rear impact car crash with a rear facing car seat? Well the reason is all accidents don't happen from a head on collision and the same thing that could happen in a forward facing seat with extension of the neck can happen with a rear facing seat if you are hit from the back. Not to mention the danger from internal injuries if the knees of a child goes into their chest or abdomen.
Also, a doctor or nurse, or firefighter is just as certified to give instructions on a carseat as a tech, because they are all given the same training. carseat techs receive a few hours of training anywhere from 3-5 days. Nurses, doctors, and firefighters usually receive the same amount of training. Just all in a one to two day course.
We did winter coats when we lived in cild areas. But never had to adjest anything to get them in. We also had our seats cked by proffesionals and was fine.
Even those who are not volunteers may well not know. DH is a firefighter (no volunteers in the city he works in) and only 2 of the firefighters in the entire department have gone through the training to be a carseat tech. Carseat tech training is not part of the regular fire or EMT training (DH is an EMT as well and is training to be a paramedic- no car seat training).
Quoting mommaslilmen:
And as for emt's or firefighters....MANY in this country are volunteer and are NOT taught the proper in and outs. Ok they may know how to install ypur seat (can't say that for a single firefighter in my first due) but they still don't know about not using after market products, when to move straps up, when to properly switch seats ect. Those who do...kudos and I hope they are teaching others, I really do
Our last pedi said it was a danger. I have seen pictures that prove to me it is a danger. That coat will flatten. But you know what, I would like to see crash dummy video just out of curiosity, wonder if they have that on youtube.
Even if they don't, and even if it can go either way, I look at a situation as a mother, examine the variables, and I make a informed, semi-instinct based decision. My gut says its not killing anyone to use my car's heater. Ever. Not even maybe. It might kill my kid if I use the snow suite. Comeon' now.
Quoting deepthinker:My children wore snowsuits in their (forward facing) carseats and I have even been in an accident that squashed the back of my car, and broke my engine in half, with my oldest in the car who was two at the time with a wool snowsuit. We both came out of it with minor injuries.
What people fail to realize is that yes, clothing can compress in an accident, if you have the child in a down coat, but it depends on the material of the clothing as well. Also I was told that it didn't make any difference if my child was in a rear facing or forward facing carseat because I was hit from the rear and my car was thrown into a tree. I had impact at both ends. Have any of you ladies who don't turn your children to a forward facing carseat ever wonder why you rarely see any video of a rear impact car crash with a rear facing car seat? Well the reason is all accidents don't happen from a head on collision and the same thing that could happen in a forward facing seat with extension of the neck can happen with a rear facing seat if you are hit from the back. Not to mention the danger from internal injuries if the knees of a child goes into their chest or abdomen.
Also, a doctor or nurse, or firefighter is just as certified to give instructions on a carseat as a tech, because they are all given the same training. carseat techs receive a few hours of training anywhere from 3-5 days. Nurses, doctors, and firefighters usually receive the same amount of training. Just all in a one to two day course.
And after reading many replies I just want to say that I am a RN with a bachelors degree and some masters work completed and have had zero training on car seat safety in any of my training (not even a paper handout).
I wouldn't be taking my kids to a pedi so arrogant as to give advice on a topic they have no education or training in. It's sad that so many parents follow the advice of their kids' doctor so blindly.
Quoting my4littlegirls:read the car seat owner manuel. THey say in there that bulky clothing is not allowed
Quoting cnlsmommy:
Registered nurse here with a bachelors degree and some masters degree work under my belt. I've had training at 3 separate institutions across 2 states and take over the required continuing education credits annually, never once been offered even 1 hour of car seat training. Not even through my OB or ped rotations. Not even a movie or a hand out, nothing.
Quoting deepthinker:My children wore snowsuits in their (forward facing) carseats and I have even been in an accident that squashed the back of my car, and broke my engine in half, with my oldest in the car who was two at the time with a wool snowsuit. We both came out of it with minor injuries.
What people fail to realize is that yes, clothing can compress in an accident, if you have the child in a down coat, but it depends on the material of the clothing as well. Also I was told that it didn't make any difference if my child was in a rear facing or forward facing carseat because I was hit from the rear and my car was thrown into a tree. I had impact at both ends. Have any of you ladies who don't turn your children to a forward facing carseat ever wonder why you rarely see any video of a rear impact car crash with a rear facing car seat? Well the reason is all accidents don't happen from a head on collision and the same thing that could happen in a forward facing seat with extension of the neck can happen with a rear facing seat if you are hit from the back. Not to mention the danger from internal injuries if the knees of a child goes into their chest or abdomen.
Also, a doctor or nurse, or firefighter is just as certified to give instructions on a carseat as a tech, because they are all given the same training. carseat techs receive a few hours of training anywhere from 3-5 days. Nurses, doctors, and firefighters usually receive the same amount of training. Just all in a one to two day course.
I said they receive the same training as a tech. I didn't say that all staff is given training but nursery staff at hospitals HERE are required to have a person trained in carseat safety on staff at all times, and receive the same training as any other carseat technician.
have this mother in law......
- tnkrbell860
on Jan. 21, 2013 at 8:47 PM