It is about the time of year that we are needing winter coats & I was told that I should not put my kids in coats because the seat will not work properly. This advice is coming from my BIL & sister who do not put there 60 pound 7 year old in a booster. I live in an area that it can be way below zero & am just wondering what is best?

By Kaye on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 10:42 am:

You want the car seat straps snuggly on your child, only enough the get 2 fingers under it, a bulky coat can keep you from getting them tight. A better alternative is to layer your child, get in the car take off the big coat, carry a blanket and toss that on top after they are secured in. As far as a 60 pound 7 year old...how does he sit on the seat, is he tall, etc? I have a 60 pound 10 1/2 year old, she isn't in a booster, hasn't been for some time, the seat belt fits her correctly, she can sit still for long periods of time, etc. There are a lot of factors for moving your child from one car seat to the next, not just weight and age, but height, maturity, car type, etc.

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 10:54 am:

Although I don't agree their 60 lb., 7 yr. should be out of a booster, they have the right idea about winter coats. Bulky, winter clothing is not recommended in car seats because it interferes with the proper functioning of the harness. In fact, no one should wear bulky winter clothing in the car. The thick insulation compresses during a crash which = a loose harness or seat belt, which in turn means less crash protection. Polar fleece or Thinsulate is acceptable because it's warm but not thick or bulky. We live in New England so I totally understand the COLD issue. Another option is to buckle the child into the car seat and put his/her coat on backwards over the harness. This is what my kids do, until it gets really cold.

Q57: Can my child wear a winter coat in their carseat?
Generally, no. For safety, the harness straps must remain tight on the child's shoulders regardless of any clothing. You can put a blanket over the child, OUTSIDE the harness straps or put your child's coat on backwards after they are in the seat. For infants in cold weather, an aftermarket "cozy" that zips over the infant carrier rather than fitting under the child is another solution.



Trina
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 11:07 am:

The current recommendations for booster use are until a child is at least 4'9" and 80-100 lbs., depending if he/she passes the 5 STEP TEST or not.

The 5-Step Test

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?


If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection. Your child will be more comfortable, too!

BoosterSeat.gov

NHTSA - Boosters

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, September 23, 2004 - 11:20 am:

Kaye, you're correct about the harness needing to be snug. The current recommendation is no more than 1 finger under the shoulder strap at the collar bone. A LOT of parents have the harness way too loose!